MasterChef Australia 2026: The Culinary Journey So Far and Who’s Been Eliminated
The iconic MasterChef Australia kitchen is once again abuzz with the dreams and aspirations of talented home cooks vying for the coveted title and a substantial prize. As the competition intensifies, the heat in the kitchen rises with every mystery box and pressure test. This season, the esteemed judging panel of Poh Ling Yeow, Andy Allen, Sofia Levin, and Jean-Christophe Novelli are back, bringing their signature blend of expertise, humour, and heartfelt guidance. Adding to the excitement, the season promises a star-studded lineup of guest judges, including global personalities and culinary legends, all set to elevate the standard of cooking to unprecedented heights.
As the culinary battles unfold, one by one, contestants face the ultimate test, and sadly, some must bid farewell. Here’s a comprehensive rundown of everyone who has been eliminated from MasterChef Australia so far in 2026.
Perfect Pairings Week Heats Up: Olaolu Departs
Episode 25 – June 2
Perfect Pairings Week brought a thrilling elimination challenge where contestants had to choose one of five classic flavour combinations to showcase in a 60-second cook. The pairings on offer were chilli and lime, pineapple and coconut, maple and bacon, soy and honey, and orange and fennel.
- Casper, Luke, Hannah, Dot, and Grace opted for the popular orange and fennel combination.
- Emily, Jack, and Petro chose chilli and lime.
- Olaolu went with pineapple and coconut.
- Lydia selected maple and bacon.
- Jackie decided on soy and honey.
While the judges noted Casper’s impressive orange and fennel dessert and Lydia’s inventive stuffed savoury Loukoumades, concerns were raised about Luke’s unfamiliarity with the papillote cooking method for his fish, and Olaolu’s trifle, which appeared to lack texture. Despite strong performances from Lydia, Aaron, Hannah, and Casper, it was Olaolu who was eliminated. His coconut and pineapple trifle was criticised for not fully showcasing the intended flavours and was deemed “incredibly basic” for this stage of the competition.
Mystery Box Mayhem and Immunity Earned
Episode 24 – May 31
Perfect Pairings Week continued with a Mystery Box challenge that tested the contestants’ ability to think about culinary duos. They were presented with two options: a silver “Home” box filled with comforting ingredients and a gold “Restaurant” box designed to inspire their inner chef.
Initially, ten contestants chose the “Home” box, while six opted for the “Restaurant” box. However, Hannah later switched to the “Restaurant” box, seeking to improve her chances after the judges announced that top dishes from each box would receive immunity from the upcoming elimination. The ingredients for these boxes were curated by MasterChef alum Matt Sinclair and Daniel Dobra. The “Restaurant” box was generally perceived to offer more exciting and impactful ingredients.
The challenge wasn’t an elimination, but the two standout dishes earned immunity. Pat secured immunity from the “Home” box with his stuffed chicken Maryland, while Annabel claimed the top spot from the “Restaurant” box with her exceptional duck dish.
French Flair and Immunity for Vinnie
Episode 23 – May 27
Following a demanding relay challenge, the contestants who emerged victorious had the opportunity to win a coveted immunity pin. This week’s challenge saw them joined by Season 1 star Justine Schofield, who tasked them with creating French cuisine – a prospect particularly exciting for judge Jean-Christophe. A twist in this challenge meant the judges would only taste the dishes at the end, unaware of who had prepared them.
Under immense pressure, Jack decided to tackle a traditional lobster bisque, concerned about developing enough flavour in the limited time. Hannah, typically strong with desserts, took a risk with a savoury duck a la ronde. Casper opted for roast chicken with baked potatoes and braised leeks, while Vinnie chose to create pate en croute, a dish Justine described as one of the most complex choices.
The judges were astounded by Vinnie’s terrine, with Jean-Christophe expressing disbelief at the amount of work accomplished in such a short timeframe. Vinnie’s exceptional execution earned him the immunity challenge win.
Team Relay Challenge: Purple Team Excels
Episode 22 – May 26
The dynamic and notorious team relay challenge saw contestants divided into teams, competing for a chance to cook for immunity in the following episode. In this challenge, each contestant had 20 minutes to contribute to a single dish, with the first person setting the direction before handing over to the next. The key ingredient for all dishes was Greek yoghurt.
- Team Purple: Jack led with a basil-crusted rack of lamb, Hasselback potatoes, carrots, and a yoghurt drizzle, leaning into the Nostalgia Week theme.
- Team Green: Dot focused on dessert with a panned galette featuring yoghurt, orange, and thyme ice cream.
- Team Blue: Alyona prepared roasted, marinated Greek chicken with potatoes, Greek salad, and tzatziki dressing, meticulously setting up stations for her teammates.
- Team Red: Petro drew inspiration from his Greek and Cypriot heritage, making pork skewers with a tzatziki sauce.
As the challenge progressed, tension mounted with each handover. Upon tasting, the judges found Team Blue’s dish to be somewhat mismatched. While Team Red’s pork skewer combination was praised, Team Green’s upside-down pear tart, though delicious, was deemed undercooked. Ultimately, Team Purple’s basil-crusted lamb secured them a spot in the immunity cook-off.
Family Tree Challenge: Miin Eliminated
Episode 21 – May 25
This week’s elimination cook was particularly emotional. The contestants were greeted by a large tree adorned with fairy lights and photos, representing a family tree. This poignant display prompted reflection on their roots, family, and the cultural connections forged through food, bringing many to tears.
The challenge was to create a dish inspired by their family tree, with an added incentive of a $10,000 prize for the winner. Dot and Aaron were safe, having won immunity.
Olaolu, tapping into his Nigerian heritage, prepared Efo Riro with silverbeet and semolina, a traditional Yoruba soup, inspired by his father’s love for such meals. Miin showcased his Malaysian heritage with his mum’s family recipe, Kiam Chye Ark, a salted vegetable duck soup. Due to time constraints, he used a pressure cooker and planned to serve it with noodles.
Despite his intentions, Miin struggled with the noodles, which repeatedly fell apart. The judges were most impressed by Olaolu, Petro (who made Cypriot raviolis), and Anabel (who presented corn agnolotti). However, Luke’s paella turned into an overcooked risotto, and Miin’s noodle issues led to their critiques. Olaolu’s brilliantly executed dish earned him the win, while Miin was eliminated, acknowledging he anticipated his departure after the noodle failures.
Nostalgia Week Begins with Dim Sim Delights
Episode 20 – May 24
Nostalgia Week kicked off with a visit from social media superstar Vincent Yeow Lim, also known as Dim Sim Lim. He first held a masterclass on making traditional pork and prawn dim sim. The main challenge then commenced: with just 60 minutes, contestants had to create any dish using the full pantry and garden, with the crucial requirement of including one steamed element. The top 10 dishes would be judged, with the top two receiving immunity from the next elimination. Aaron’s Asian-flavoured fish roulade with prawn farce and Dot’s chicken momos impressed the judges, earning them immunity.
Chou Farci Pressure Test: Lucy Eliminated
Episode 19 – May 20
A high-stakes Pressure Test awaited Miin, Vinnie, Jackie, and Lucy as they faced guest judge Rosheen Kaul’s intricate chou farci. This multi-layered cabbage dish, featuring caramelised zucchini purée, morel and shiitake duxelle, and a delicate vegetable stock rice, takes hours to prepare. Jackie, holding an immunity pin, wisely chose to play it, leaving Vinnie, Lucy, and Miin to battle for survival.
The seven-page recipe proved daunting. Lucy, despite a methodical approach, fell behind due to her meticulous attention to detail. While her presentation was stunning, her flavours were unbalanced, and her mousseline and cabbage were undercooked. Vinnie maintained his composure but made a risky decision to remove a ring mould during steaming, potentially compromising his layers. The judges found his seasoning too heavy-handed. Miin struggled early, misplacing shiitake mushrooms, and faced plating disaster when his chou farci split. Despite these setbacks, Miin’s dish surprised the judges with its bold flavours and balance, earning him the top spot. Sadly, Lucy was eliminated, becoming the sixth contestant to leave the competition.
Around the World Invention Test: Casper and Luke Shine
Episode 18 – May 19
Continuing “Around the World Week,” an invention test challenged contestants to fuse the cuisines of two chosen countries into a single dish. The bottom four dishes would face elimination. Luke, seeking to redeem himself after previous critiques, impressed with a bold fusion of Australian and Spanish flavours, creating a strawberry gazpacho with kingfish and native ingredients. Poh praised his refreshing and accomplished dish. Casper also excelled with his “whacky” Japanese dolmades, a Japanese-Greek fusion that captivated the judges. Casper, Alyona, and Dot were named the top three dishes.
However, things unravelled for Jackie and Lucy. Jackie’s initial South Korean and Chinese fusion was deemed too similar, and her pivot to Italian resulted in a steamed fish dish lacking Italian flavours and an overcooked fish. Lucy’s Vietnamese iced coffee cruller suffered from a burnt coffee crumb, losing its key flavour. Miin and Vinnie joined Jackie and Lucy in the subsequent elimination cook-off.
Mystery Ingredient Challenge: Kanika Eliminated
Episode 17 – May 18
During “Around the World Week,” contestants faced a 75-minute challenge involving mystery ingredients paired with five countries: Vietnam (lemongrass), Mexico (corn), Lebanon (eggplant), Japan (miso), and Italy (tomatoes). Jackie, despite holding an immunity pin, was questioned by Jean-Christophe for her overly sweet miso and pumpkin cake. Vinnie, a natural with Italian cuisine, impressed with his tomato pasta sauce. Annabel also shone with her seared scallops with corn butter and salsa macha, though she served only three scallops to four judges. Lydia’s stuffed eggplant with lamb was deemed “magnificent.”
Emily, Annabel, Lydia, and Pat were the standout performers. Olaolu, Jackie, and Kanika found themselves in the bottom. Kanika’s prawn taco, missing its essential tortilla, along with a bland sauce and excessive elements, led to her elimination, making her the fifth contestant to go.
Around the World Week: Rick Stein’s Influence
Episode 16 – May 17
“Around the World Week” challenged contestants to create a dish inspired by global cuisine within 75 minutes. A key twist required them to incorporate at least one ingredient from guest judge Rick Stein’s mystery box, which included snapper, lamb, crab, zucchini, potatoes, spinach, stilton cheese, chickpeas, passionfruit, and mango. The pantry and garden were closed, but an extensive spice rack was available. The 12 most visually appealing dishes would be tasted, with the top four earning immunity.
Miin embraced the spice challenge, while Alyona felt overwhelmed. Casper’s mango and chilli ice-cream with passionfruit granita earned a rare handshake from Andy Allen. Grace, despite concerns about undercooking her snapper, delivered a stunning result. Casper, Grace, Miin, and Alyona secured immunity.
Viral Wonders Week: Jackie’s Winning Sandwich
Episode 15 – May 13
As Viral Wonders Week concluded, MasterChef alum Khanh Ong set a challenge to create an epic sandwich with a visually impressive cross-section and explosive flavour in 60 minutes for an immunity pin. The immunity pin holder had to decide whether to play it before the cook began. Vinnie, a self-proclaimed panini king, was disappointed to miss out. Annabel, Aaron, Hannah, Lydia, Jackie, and Miin competed.
Lydia’s moussaka sandwich, Hannah’s nduja chicken sandwich, and Miin’s roti john impressed. However, Jackie’s bulgogi Philly cheesesteak with kimchi mayo and apple “blew the judges away,” with Poh calling it “bloody amazing” and Andy declaring it “absolute dynamite.” Jackie successfully met the brief.
Street Food Challenge: Team Orange and Blue Shine
Episode 14 – May 12
The first epic service challenge saw contestants split into teams of three to create a viral-worthy dish for a pop-up food stand, judged by social media food critic Lily Huynh. Teams had two hours to design, prep, and cook. Luke’s bold decision to make tortillas from scratch for his team’s tacos, despite never having done so, was a gamble.
Team Orange (Miin, Annabel, Jackie) impressed with pork rendang tostadas. Team Red (Grace, Pat, Luke) served a crying tiger beef taco; Luke’s tortillas were praised, but the dish lacked sauce. Team Blue (Lydia, Hannah, Aaron) pivoted to a crispy pork belly roti taco, earning praise even from Jean-Christophe. Team Purple (Emily, Vinnie, Petro) delivered Asian fish tacos, but inconsistencies in cooking were noted. Team Green’s cheese ball vada pav was deemed too rich. Team Yellow’s mango pandan mochi crepe missed the mark on texture. Team Orange and Team Blue emerged as the top teams, advancing to battle for immunity.
Viral Ingredients Challenge: Alita Eliminated
Episode 13 – May 11
Viral Sensations Week continued with social media personality Victoria Minell (@recipesbyvictoria) presenting her top five viral ingredients: cucumber, burrata, pistachio, rice paper, and gochujang. Contestants had 75 minutes to hero one ingredient in an innovative way, aiming to create the next viral food sensation. The top dish would go to the immunity challenge, while the weakest would be eliminated.
Dot impressed with her smashed prawn san choy bow using rice paper. Alyona took a significant risk with a sour cream and avocado ice-cream with pistachio crumb, earning her Top Dish of the Day and a fast track to the immunity challenge. Alita’s dumpling lasagne, inspired by a TikTok trend, struggled to come together, with the burrata creating a wet texture. Alita was eliminated, with Victoria noting the clashing cuisines.
Fruit Celebration Dessert Challenge: Grace Wins Immunity
Episode 12 – May 10
Viral Wonders Week kicked off with dessert sensation Catherine Zhang challenging contestants to create a fruit-celebrating dessert in 75 minutes. Presentation was key for viral potential, and the top dish would earn immunity. Casper worried his fruit sando choux buns were too simple, while Pat’s ambitious ice-cream and jelly dish, including a fish sauce caramel, was praised for creativity. Jack and Grace presented top dishes, with Grace ultimately winning immunity for her inventive all-lemon dessert. The remaining contestants faced a black apron cook-off.
Family and Self Representation: Bella Eliminated
Episode 11 – May 6
The six contestants from the two weakest teams from the previous challenge – Bella, Hannah, Alyona, Pat, Lydia, and Olalou – returned to compete individually for their place in the competition. The challenge was to create a MasterChef-worthy dish representing themselves and their family, with 75 minutes on the clock. The least impressive cook faced elimination.
Bella’s ambitious apple and cinnamon entremet suffered from time constraints, forcing her to cut it from the mould. Hannah faced scrutiny from Jean-Christophe regarding a crucial ingredient in her sticky date pudding. Lydia impressed the judges with her Avgolemono soup. Ultimately, Hannah and Bella were in the bottom two. Hannah’s butterscotch sauce was deemed “unpleasant,” while Bella’s dessert was compromised by time. Bella, a young dessert specialist, was eliminated, with Poh expressing her disappointment.
First Team Challenge: Turquoise Team Dominates
Episode 10 – May 5
The first team challenge of the season saw contestants split into teams of three and tasked with creating a family feast, including at least two mains, three sides, and a dessert, within 75 minutes. The turquoise team – Dot, Alita, and Miin – impressed with a Middle Eastern-inspired feast, including Dot’s mum’s cauliflower salad. The purple team – Emily, Lucy, and Aaron – also received praise for their cohesive Chinese menu. The pink team (Pat, Lydia, Olalou) struggled with flavour, and the navy team (Alyona, Hannah, Bella) overpowered their dishes with heavy sauces. Both the pink and navy teams faced elimination.
Quick Carb Challenge: Belinda Eliminated
Episode 9 – May 4
During Family Favourites Week, judges showcased their go-to “quick carb” dishes. Contestants had just 36 minutes to create a standout weeknight dish using one of these bases. Annabel impressed with pan-seared barramundi and pilaf rice. Lucy’s “fakeaway” noodles and Petro’s prawn moilee also earned praise. Vinnie’s lamb cutlets and flatbread were undercooked, and Olalou’s lamb koftas were dry. Belinda’s last-minute pivot to a smash burger using flatbread, lacking caramelisation and flavour, ultimately led to her elimination.
Breakfast Bonanza with Andy Cooks: Aaron and Kanika Shine
Episode 8 – May 3
Family Favourites Week began with a surprise visit from viral cooking sensation Andy Hearnden (Andy Cooks). After demonstrating three egg preparations, the challenge was to create the ultimate morning dish, with Andy tasting only the 12 most appealing plates. Aaron’s fish congee, made with risotto rice, was named Dish of the Day. Kanika’s uttapam, inspired by her aunt’s breakfasts, was lauded for its vibrant flavours. Annabel, star-struck by her TikTok idol, forgot essential ingredients in her prawn and scallop toast. Aaron, Kanika, Dot, and Alita were named the top four, earning immunity.
Maggie Beer’s Pastry Pressure Test: Jeff Eliminated
Episode 7 – April 29
The season’s first Pressure Test featured national treasure Maggie Beer, challenging Jackie, Jeff, Pat, Luke, and Vinnie to master her sour cream pastry. Contestants had free rein over the filling. Luke’s pastry became too wet, while Vinnie had to rethink his gremolata accompaniment. Luke impressed with a Boeuf Bourguignon pie, and Pat delivered a chicken curry pie. Luke was praised for his advanced cooking skills at just 19. Jeff’s Hong Kong chicken pie, however, missed the mark with undercooked pastry and an unbalanced filling, leading to his elimination.
Cereal Invention Test: Dot, Aaron, and Petro Excel
Episode 6 – April 28
The first Invention Test of the season tasked contestants with transforming cereal into delicious dishes. The five least impressive dishes would face elimination. Dot wowed with a “Trio of Corn Flakes” featuring meatballs, polenta, and a pangrattato topping. Vinnie’s Coco Pops shell cannoli was deemed too grainy by Jean-Christophe. Casper’s Froot Loops recreation, using fried blue spirulina ravioli in a panna cotta “milk,” was hailed as the most inventive dish. Dot, Aaron, and Petro were named the top three performers. Pat, Jackie, Jeff, Luke, and Vinnie faced the next elimination challenge.
First Elimination: Megs Departs
Episode 5 – April 27
The first elimination challenge had a heartfelt theme: creating a dish that offered a taste of the judges’ home kitchens and homelife. Casper was safe after winning immunity. Jackie, who had accidentally cut her finger and couldn’t plate her intended duck, presented a shallot pancake. Megs plated prawns with herb butter, crispy potatoes, and crostini. Sadly, Megs’ prawns were uncooked, and her crostini lacked appeal, leading to her elimination. The competition had already seen the Top 40 reduced to the Top 24, with the stakes now significantly higher for the $250,000 AUD prize. Casper was the first to secure an immunity pin.
