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The James Beard Foundation has announced a new partnership with American Express and Resy while naming them the official credit card and reservations platform as well as presenting sponsor of the 2026 James Beard Awards.
This multi-year collaboration is designed to support not only the prestigious awards program, but also a wide range of the Foundation’s flagship initiatives and events. At its core, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening and celebrating independent restaurants and the people behind them.
As presenting sponsor, American Express and Resy will play a central role in the 2026 James Beard Awards, one of the most respected honors in American culinary culture. The ceremonies (covering Media, Impact, and Restaurant and Chef Awards) will take place June 13th to 15th in Chicago. The awards recognize excellence across the food and beverage industry, highlighting chefs, restaurateurs, journalists, and changemakers shaping the future of dining.
Independent restaurants are widely seen as vital contributors to local economies, cultural identity, and community life. This partnership aims to amplify support for those businesses through increased visibility, resources, and programming.
Beyond the awards themselves, American Express and Resy will also serve as presenting sponsor of Taste America, a nationwide event series that showcases emerging culinary talent. The program features the annual TasteTwenty cohort (chefs identified as rising stars) through curated tastings and intimate dining experiences in cities across the country.
The collaboration extends into year-round efforts, including support for broader Foundation programming and new initiatives developed with the JBF Institute. These efforts will focus on:
- Elevating emerging and established culinary talent
- Expanding training and educational opportunities
- Supporting advocacy within the restaurant industry
- Strengthening connections across the independent restaurant community
The partnership will also include support for Platform by the James Beard Foundation, which is a show kitchen and educational space located at Pier 57.
Additional details about the partnership are expected to be announced following the conclusion of the 2026 awards season. For now, the collaboration signals a significant investment in the future of independent dining in the United States.
Anthony’s Take: By joining forces, the James Beard Foundation, American Express, and Resy are reinforcing their shared mission to champion independent restaurants. Through expanded programming, national events, and the continued prestige of the James Beard Awards, the partnership aims to create lasting impact across the culinary landscape.
(Featured Image Credit: American Express and James Beard Foundation.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
