Top Chef is going where it's never gone before.

Pack your bags! Top Chef is going to an exciting new location for Season 16.

The culinary competition will be heading to Kentucky next season. We'll see a brand-new batch of cheftestants battle it out for the coveted title of Top Chef with the thriving culinary scenes of Louisville, Lexington, and Lake Cumberland serving as the backdrop. Plus, with the Bluegrass State's culinary traditions of bourbon and barbecue, this is sure to be the tastiest season of Top Chef yet.



So you better believe we're excited to see what awesomeness Kentucky brings to Top Chef in Season 16. “We are always looking for rising culinary destinations and are looking forward to planting our flag in Kentucky and soaking up a diverse region of the country that we haven’t yet explored on Top Chef,” Shari Levine, Executive Vice President, Current Production, Bravo Media, said in a statement. “Kentucky has a strong food identity and we know our incoming chefs will be inspired by the bourgeoning culinary scene, known for its innovative takes on Southern cuisine, melding flavors, and use of Kentucky’s agricultural bounty.”





If you think you know everything about Kentucky, prepare to see the state in a whole new light when Top Chef premieres. “Kentucky is internationally known for its bourbon and horses, but our rich culinary culture is an unexpected, hidden gem," Kristen Branscum, Commissioner of Kentucky Department of Tourism, said in a statement. "Our robust agricultural offerings and unique approach to food in every region of the state, combined with Kentucky’s natural outdoor beauty will surprise and delight the Top Chef viewers.”

Production on Season 16 of Top Chef is set to begin this spring with a premiere date later this year. Casting for Season 16 is currently underway. Visit Bravotv.com/topchefcasting for more information.

With four episodes left, the competition is still heating up in Colorado in Season 15 of Top Chef. Check out a sneak peek at an all-new episode of Top Chef airing Thursday at 9/8c, below.