Constance Festival Culinaire 2026 : A Spectacular Ending for the 19th Edition

The 19th edition of the Constance Festival Culinaire has come to a close, marking another remarkable chapter in the story of one of the Indian Ocean’s most prestigious gastronomic events.

Held from 13th to 21st March across Constance Belle Mare Plage and Constance Prince Maurice, this year’s festival brought together an inspiring line-up of Michelin-starred chefs, renowned pastry experts, and passionate culinary talents from across the globe. More than a celebration of excellence, the 2026 edition stood out for its spirit of transmission: a meaningful exchange of savoir-faire between international masters and Constance Hotels & Resorts teams.

Throughout the week, Constance team members demonstrated their expertise in a series of high-level competitions showcased creativity, precision, and innovation across multiple disciplines, from gastronomy and pastry to table arts. These moments were complemented by exclusive masterclasses and culinary demonstrations, offering guests and teams alike a rare opportunity to engage directly with some of the world’s most celebrated chefs and artisans.

The much-anticipated Awards Ceremony, held on Saturday 21^st March, crowned the remarkable talents behind this year’s standout creations across the festival’s signature competitions.

The winners of this 19^th edition are:

Régis Marcon Trophy

• 1st Prize – Sebastien Grospellier, France and Soniya, Constance Lemuria, Seychelles
• 2nd Prize – Simone Cantafio, Italy and Chamara Udumulla, Constance Halaveli, Maldives
• 3rd Prize – Kristian Vangen, Norway and Rita Meme, Constance Ephelia, Seychelles

Deutz Trophy

Simone Cantafio, La Stua de Michil, Corvara in Badia BZ, Italy

Pierre Hermé Trophy

Valrhona Chocolate Artistic Piece Trophy – Pascal Hainigue, from L'Auberge de l'Ill, a two-Michelin-star restaurant, and named Pastry Chef of the Year 2025 by Le Chef Magazine, France.

(The artistic piece was crafted using a bespoke Valrhona chocolate, specially developed for Constance Hotels & Resorts, highlighting the festival’s commitment to excellence and innovation in pastry artistry.)

• 1st Prize – Alban Guilmet, France and Alexsandra Lacharmante, Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius
• 2nd Prize – Yann Brys, France and Yogesh Halkory, Constance Prince Maurice, Mauritius
• 3rd Prize – Pascal Hainigue, France and Dasun Wanasingha, Constance Moofushi, Maldives

Jars Arts de la Table Trophy

• Yovilen Etwaroo, Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius

Constance Café Gourmand Trophy

• Geetanjalee Dalwhoor, Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius

Best Island Chili Cake (Gâteau Piment)

• Mr Dharvesh Mungur 

Best Island Banana Fritter (Gâteau Banane)

• Ms Meena Boodhun

More than a competition, the Constance Festival Culinaire continues to serve as a powerful platform for growth, nurturing talent and elevating standards across all Constance Hotels & Resorts. By fostering direct collaboration between internationally acclaimed chefs and in-house teams, the festival plays a key role in shaping the future of culinary excellence within the hotel group.

This year, under the esteemed presidency of Pierre Hermé and Régis Marcon, the jury once again upheld the highest standards of rigor and creativity, celebrating not only technical mastery but also emotion, storytelling, and authenticity on the plate.

With this 19^th edition, the Constance Festival Culinaire not only celebrated excellence but also set the tone for an even more anticipated milestone ahead. The 20^th edition promises to be a landmark celebration of gastronomy.

Save the date: 19 – 27 February 2027.