Photo Caption: The selected school students of the Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy gathered for the programme’s orientation at The People’s Place

St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, Thursday 9th July 2026 – The Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) is proud to announce the launch of the Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy 2026, an immersive six-week culinary development programme designed to equip aspiring young chefs with the skills, confidence, and real-world experience needed to pursue careers in the hospitality industry.

From July 13 to August 21, 2026, fourteen high school students will be placed at participating hotels and restaurants across Antigua and Barbuda, where they will train alongside experienced chef mentors. Through hands-on learning in professional kitchens, participants will gain practical culinary skills, workplace experience, and valuable insight into the dynamic world of hospitality.

During today’s programme orientation the students were officially introduced to their chef mentors and assigned to their respective hotel and restaurant partners, marking the beginning of their six-week culinary journey.

The Academy is more than an internship programme, it is an investment in the future of Antigua and Barbuda’s hospitality industry. By connecting students with industry professionals, the initiative provides meaningful exposure to culinary careers while fostering discipline, teamwork, creativity, and a passion for excellence.

Following the internship, participants will put their newly acquired skills to the test during a culinary evaluation , taking place August 25–28, 2026. The programme will culminate on September 3, 2026, when the top participant will be named the 2026 Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef at the Academy’s Awards Ceremony.

Also joining the internship programme is Tamarlie Williams, Culinary Arts student at ABCAS Muriel O’Mard Campus – School of Tourism and Hospitality and the 2024 Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Competition champion. As part of his continued culinary development, Tamarlie will complete a six-week internship with The Rocks Group, gaining valuable hands-on experience alongside seasoned chefs.

This year also marks an exciting milestone with the introduction of a regional partnership between the Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association and the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA).

Through this collaboration, the top participant of the Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy 2026 will earn the opportunity to travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2027 to participate in the Junior Lit’l Chefs Program, under the umbrella of the TCI Hospitality Adventure Camps, where they will gain hands-on experience with industry chefs while learning alongside young culinary talent from the destination. In return, the Turks and Caicos Hotels and Tourism Association will send its top Junior Chef to Antigua and Barbuda in 2027, establishing a reciprocal exchange that strengthens regional collaboration and creates new opportunities for young culinary professionals.

Patrice Simon, Executive Director of the Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association, said the Academy reflects the Association’s commitment to investing in young people and building a strong pipeline of hospitality professionals:

“The Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy is about much more than learning to cook. It is about discovering talent, building confidence, developing life skills, and creating opportunities that can shape careers. Through the dedication of our chef mentors, hospitality partners, and sponsors, we are empowering young people to explore their potential while strengthening the future of our tourism industry. We are especially excited to introduce our partnership with the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association, which expands opportunities for our students and reinforces the value of regional collaboration.”

The ABHTA extends its sincere appreciation to family of Ted Isaac, whose generous contribution through the legacy of the late Ted Isaac has provided the funding that made the Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy possible. The Association also gratefully acknowledges Global Ports Holding for its valued sponsorship and PLH Barbuda for its partnership, both of which have played an important role in bringing this programme to life.

The Association also thanks its participating hotel and restaurant partners for opening their kitchens and investing their time, expertise, and mentorship in the next generation of culinary talent. Participating hotel and restaurant partners include Blue Waters Resort & Spa, Charr’d Antigua, Cocos Hotel, Galley Bay Resort & Spa, Hammock Cove Antigua, Hermitage Bay, Hodges Bay Resort & Spa, Jumby Bay Island, Keyonna Beach Resort, Royalton CHIC Antigua, St. James’s Club, The Hut at Little Jumby, The Rocks Group, and The Verandah Antigua.

The Taste of Wadadli Junior Chef Academy 2026 officially begins on July 13, 2026, and the public is invited to follow the journey on the ABHTA’s Instagram and Facebook pages @antiguahotels.