The Mediterranean Yacht Show (MEDYS) has once again brought together some of the finest luxury charter yachts and crews in the industry, with this year’s highly anticipated Chef Competition delivering another impressive display of culinary creativity.
Held during the annual charter yacht showcase in Nafplion, Greece, the Chef's Competition remains one of the most closely watched events of the show, celebrating the talent and innovation found onboard today’s leading Greece yacht charters.
Bringing together chefs from across the attending fleet, the MEDYS Chef Competition challenged participants to create dishes that reflected this year’s culinary theme, "The Greek tomato, reimagined", while demonstrating technical precision, presentation, and originality under pressure.
Recognized as one of the largest crewed yacht charter shows in the world, the Mediterranean Yacht Show provides charter brokers and industry professionals with the opportunity to explore the latest yachts available for Mediterranean yacht charters ahead of the summer season.
Alongside yacht inspections and networking events, the annual Chef Competition has become one of the defining highlights of the show. Open exclusively to chefs working onboard participating charter yachts, the event is divided into categories based on yacht size, allowing crews from across the fleet to compete on equal footing.
For MEDYS 2026, chefs were tasked with producing dishes that reflected the official competition theme around tomatoes, while also showcasing creativity, local Mediterranean influences, and practical execution within the limitations of a yacht galley.
The judging panel included respected chefs from Delta Restaurant Athens (Greece's only two-Michelin-star restaurant) and the Michelin-starred Pelagos at Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens, who evaluated each entry on presentation, taste, originality, and overall interpretation of the brief.
In addition to the culinary awards, the competition also includes a Tablescaping category, recognizing the presentation and styling of onboard dining experiences that form such an important part of the motor yacht charter experience.
Luxury yacht charter PALATIAL secured first place in the MEDYS Platinum category, with Chef Konstantinos Tsiatsios delivering one of the highlight culinary performances of the competition. The 141.1ft (43m) CRN charter yacht is well known within the Mediterranean charter fleet for her large guest capacity, expansive entertaining spaces, and focus on high-end hospitality, making the award a fitting addition to her charter credentials.
Second place was awarded to Chef Nikolaos Petroutsos aboard 120ft (36.58m) charter yacht RINI V. Combining contemporary onboard comfort with classic Mediterranean charter styling, Posillipo yacht charter RINI V impressed judges with a menu that balanced modern presentation with regional culinary influences. The recognition added further visibility to the yacht during this year’s MEDYS showcase.
Chef Andreas Peponis claimed third place in the Platinum category for 106ft (32.31m) luxury yacht charter WOMBAT. The yacht, which caters to luxury Mediterranean and Mykonos yacht charters, drew attention during the show for both her guest amenities and onboard dining experience. Judges praised the thoughtful execution and creativity demonstrated throughout the competition entry.
Sailing catamaran yacht charter ALMA claimed first place in the MEDYS Golden category thanks to Chef Barbara Makrinikola’s winning entry. Known for offering relaxed luxury charters in the Mediterranean, ALMA combines contemporary onboard living with spacious outdoor areas designed for alfresco dining and island-hopping itineraries. The yacht’s culinary program formed a key part of her presentation during the show, with the award highlighting the growing importance of elevated dining experiences onboard charter catamarans.
Power catamaran charter D2 secured second place in the category with a menu that impressed judges through its technical execution and refined presentation. Designed for Mediterranean cruising, and measuring up at 67ft (20.42m), D2 offers modern social spaces and a versatile layout suited to family yacht charters and group vacations. The recognition at MEDYS 2026 further reinforced the yacht’s reputation for combining relaxed charter living with a strong onboard hospitality experience.
Chef Grigoris Kalaitzakis earned third place for sailing catamaran charter SERENITY, with judges recognizing the balance of creativity and Mediterranean inspiration throughout the menu. SERENITY is known for offering guest-focused charters with spacious deck areas, open-air dining spaces, and a relaxed onboard atmosphere tailored to cruising the Greek islands and wider East Mediterranean yacht charter routes.
As charter guests increasingly seek personalized and experience-driven vacations, onboard dining continues to play a central role in the luxury yacht charter market. Events such as the MEDYS Chef Competition not only celebrate the talent found throughout the industry but also offer charter brokers valuable insight into the service standards and creativity available onboard today’s leading yachts.
With another successful edition completed, MEDYS once again reinforced its position as one of the Mediterranean charter calendar’s most important industry events.
To find out more about securing your next Mediterranean yacht charter, contact your preferred yacht charter broker today for more details on up-to-date availability and yacht charter costs. Or, keep searching by browsing over 4,000 yacht charters on YachtCharterFleet.
Charter Yachts That Attended MEDYS 2026
27m
Azimut
2021 / 2023
31m
Cantieri di Pisa
2003 / 2017
28m
Benetti
2014 / 2019
31m
Falcon Yachts
2005 / 2021
31m
Custom Line
2007 / 2025
31m
Cantieri di Pisa
2004 / 2021
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