No World’s 50 Best ceremony in 2020

Usually during this time of year we are sharing news of cookbook award nominees and winners, along with other food industry awards. This year, however, everything seems to be in limbo. IACP is postponing their awards ceremonies, the James Beard Foundation hasn’t even released its list of nominees, and now we learn that there will be no ceremony until at least 2021 for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards.

It would seem rather strange to announce a list of the world’s top restaurants when the majority of them are currently shuttered. Even prestigious establishments worry whether they will be able to remain viable if the doors are closed for too long. There are a lot of unanswered questions, such as whether restaurants will qualify for government relief funds, will landlords be flexible when it comes to rent payments, and whether staff will depart for greener pastures elsewhere.

In the announcement for the World’s 50 Best, the organizers said that instead of working on the ceremony, they will put their energy toward creating “impactful initiatives that will help the world work together in this time of need,” and “bolster businesses, while continuing its editorial campaign to support restaurants, restaurant workers and chefs.”