The Albany Chefs’ Food and Wine Festival: Wine and Dine for the Arts announced its 2026 Rising Star Chefs that will participate at the January 22–24, 2026 event. The Rising Star Chef Competition presented by the Times Union’s Table Hopping Blog highlights the Capital Region’s most talented emerging chefs and celebrates the next generation of culinary leaders shaping the local food scene.
The 2026 Rising Star Chefs are Parker Zellars, chef, [farmacy] restobar; Richard Lyman, chef de cuisine, The Roosevelt Room; Adam O. Shumway, head chef, The Hollow Bar + Kitchen; and Dylan Burkhart, executive sous chef, Noah’s Italian.
The Rising Star Chefs will be featured during the festival’s Grand Tasting and Seminar events on Friday, January 23, and Saturday, January 24. During the two sessions, chefs will prepare a signature dish for festival attendees to enjoy.
“The Rising Star Chef Competition is a cornerstone of the Albany Chefs’ Food and Wine Festival and an opportunity to showcase the depth of culinary talent in the Capital Region,” said Marcus Q. Pryor, board president of Albany Wine and Dine for the Arts. “These chefs bring innovation, skill and fresh perspectives to the festival, and we are proud to feature them during the Grand Tastings and Seminars.”
The organization also announced the menu for the Grand Gala Disco Ball, one of the festival’s signature events, has been finalized. A separate lineup of signature chefs will prepare the globally inspired menu for the Gala.
Proceeds from the Albany Chefs’ Food and Wine Festival benefit Albany Wine and Dine’s 2026 arts beneficiaries, supporting local arts organizations throughout the Capital Region. Tickets for the festival are now on sale, and a limited-time holiday discount is available online.
The Albany Chefs’ Food and Wine Festival brings together chefs, restaurateurs, beverage producers and food enthusiasts to celebrate the Capital Region’s culinary community while raising funds in support of the arts.
