For one night, the people who spend their days cooking, serving and creating Cairo’s favourite dining experiences will be the ones getting celebrated. F&B Awards Egypt is returning for its second edition on 13 November 2026, and this time, the celebration is taking over the courtyard of the Police Museum at the Cairo Citadel. With a historic setting, familiar food brands competing for awards and a catering experience that promises to be a show of its own, this is shaping up to be quite the night.

“The industry will recognise, the people will decide, and Egypt will celebrate,” says Peter Boules, CEO and Founder of F&B Awards and F&B Summit. “Holding the night at the Citadel tells everyone how seriously we take the people behind Egypt’s food and hospitality.”

When Catering Becomes Part of the Show

Picture a 12th-century fortress, an open-air courtyard overlooking Cairo and a guest list filled with chefs, restaurant founders and hospitality professionals. With an audience like that, the food cannot simply be another part of the event. It needs to be an experience in itself. That’s where LOriental Moments, the ceremony’s official caterer, comes in. Known for pioneering Theatrical Hospitality in Egypt, LOriental Moments is bringing its signature approach to the F&B Awards, turning the traditional catering experience into something much more memorable.

Think canapés moving through the courtyard on illuminated, sculptural serving pieces, dishes being finished right in front of guests and carefully choreographed service that makes each course feel like part of the evening’s entertainment. Rather than simply bringing food to the table, the team is making the presentation part of the occasion.

“An awards night is the industry’s own red carpet,” says Sherif Hussein, Co-founder and CEO of LOriental Moments. “The guests are chefs, founders and operators who have seen every buffet line there is. The service can’t feel like something happening next to the ceremony. It has to feel like part of it, and that’s exactly what Theatrical Hospitality was built for.”

And this approach extends well beyond the upcoming ceremony. LOriental Moments has written a white paper on Theatrical Hospitality and now introduces the concept to hotels and hospitality operators internationally under the name Theatrical Hospitality by LOriental. Of course, behind all the impressive presentation is one important principle: the food must be able to stand on its own.

“Theatre is the part guests notice first, and the part we earn last,” Hussein explains. “Every piece of choreography in that courtyard is designed around a dish that already works on its own. The lights only go up on food we’d be proud to serve in the dark.” So while guests can expect a visually exciting dining experience, the creativity begins with what is actually on the plate. 

This Year, Your Favourite Food Spots Need Your Vote

One of the biggest changes to the F&B Awards Egypt 2026 is that the public finally gets a say in who wins. For the first time, diners can support their favourite restaurants, cafés, brands and food concepts through the Fav app, with public votes joining the decisions of an industry jury. There are 14 awards across four categories, recognising different sides of Egypt’s food and beverage scene, from Coffee House of the Year to Experiential Concept of the Year.

And the winners will be taking home one of four distinctive trophies, each representing an award category: the Bowtie, the Spotlight, the Glass & Dish and the Gear & Nut. So, if you’ve been waiting for your favourite coffee spot or homegrown brand to get the recognition it deserves, now is your chance to get involved.

Recognise Any of These Nominees?

The first seven announced shortlists are filled with names that Cairo’s food lovers will probably recognise.

In the Quick Service Restaurant of the Year category, Fino, Takosan and Howlin Birds are among the contenders.

Meanwhile, Hara Hachi Bu and Berro’s Brasserie are competing in the Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year category.

For coffee lovers, Twenty Grams, Seven Fortunes and AM:PM are among the names in the running for Coffee House of the Year.

If you’re more interested in Cairo’s homegrown food brands, Fostok, Amis Bakery and Oh My Brownie have made the shortlist for Homegrown Brand of the Year.

And because a food brand’s personality doesn’t stop at its menu, STRIP, Wingo and Common Burgers are competing for Social Media Presence of the Year.

The awards also recognise products that have made their way into people’s everyday routines. Eishna and Scrunch are among the nominees for Food Product of the Year, while Dose and Drink Electro are competing in the Beverage Product of the Year category.

Altogether, the first seven published shortlists feature 49 nominees, with plenty of familiar names hoping to take home an award.

Meet the Jury Behind the Awards

While the public gets to vote, the winners will also be determined with the expertise of a five-member industry jury.

The panel brings together some of the leading names in the region’s food and beverage sector: Ahmed Samy, Chief Executive Officer of Edita Food Industries; Chris Abboud, General Manager of Beyti, an Almarai subsidiary; Luay Torky, Co-Founder of Saal Food Group; Mohanad Khedr, Founder and CEO of Linah Group; and Reif Othman, Founder of Hotaru Holdings.

Together with the public vote, the jury will help recognise the brands, concepts and professionals making an impact on Egypt’s food and hospitality industry.

The Big Night at the Citadel

The F&B Awards Egypt 2026 will take place on 13 November at the Police Museum courtyard, Cairo Citadel, with 14 awards spread across four categories. Four distinctive trophies, the Bowtie, Spotlight, Glass & Dish, and Gear & Nut, will represent the award categories, while 49 nominees across the first seven published shortlists compete for recognition.

Five jury members, representing major food and beverage businesses from Edita to Hotaru Holdings, will join the public in deciding the winners. And bringing the culinary experience to life will be LOriental Moments, the ceremony’s official caterer and the company behind Theatrical Hospitality in Egypt.

Ready to Have Your Say?

With a spectacular historic setting, 14 awards, familiar food brands and a catering experience designed to entertain as much as impress, the F&B Awards Egypt 2026 is giving the country’s hospitality industry a celebration of its own. And this year, you don’t have to be part of the industry to get involved.

Cast your vote through the Fav app and follow F&B Awards Egypt for ceremony updates and the winners on the night. After all, Cairo has plenty of opinions about food. Now there’s an award ceremony where those opinions can count.