HRC Student Veronika Georgieva and Mentor Chef Ivaylo Kolev to Represent Bulgaria at the 2026 International Young Chef Olympiad in India

HRC Culinary Academy is proud to announce that student Veronika Georgieva, together with her mentor Chef Ivaylo Kolev, will represent Bulgaria at the 12th edition of the IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO) 2026, one of the most prestigious global culinary competitions for young professionals. The event will take place in India, bringing together talented young chefs and culinary educators from around the world.

The International Young Chef Olympiad is renowned for its high standards, rigorous competition format, and strong educational focus. It provides a unique international platform where emerging culinary talents demonstrate not only technical skills and creativity, but also professionalism, discipline, and the ability to perform under pressure.

As part of the official draw for the preliminary rounds, all participating countries were recently allocated to host cities across India. Team Bulgaria has been drawn to compete in Delhi, where they will face teams from nine other nations in the first stage of the competition. The winner of the Delhi round will advance to Kolkata, where the grand finale of the Olympiad will determine the overall champion.

Veronika Georgieva’s selection to represent Bulgaria is a significant achievement and a recognition of her dedication, talent, and consistent performance during her studies at HRC Culinary Academy. Under the guidance of Chef Ivaylo Kolev, an experienced mentor and respected professional, the Bulgarian team will prepare intensively for the challenges of the Olympiad.

Participation in the International Young Chef Olympiad aligns with HRC Culinary Academy’s mission to provide students with international exposure, real-world professional experience, and opportunities to compete at the highest level. Events of this scale allow students to benchmark their skills against global standards, exchange knowledge with peers from different cultures, and build valuable professional networks.

The participation of the Bulgarian team in the Olympiad is made possible with the support of HRC’s partners from Ludogorsko Pile, whose commitment to quality products and the development of young culinary professionals plays an important role in encouraging excellence within the industry.

HRC Culinary Academy extends its best wishes to Veronika Georgieva and Chef Ivaylo Kolev for a successful and inspiring performance at the IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad 2026. Their participation represents not only a personal milestone, but also an important moment for Bulgarian culinary education on the international stage.