MasterChef Australia
MasterChef Australia: Season 18

Air Date

April 19, 2026

Episodes

57 episodes

MasterChef Australia

Season 18

Episodes

Auditions: Group 1

1. Auditions: Group 1

April 19, 2026
79 min

MasterChef Australia returns with auditions and 40 of the country's best home cooks are ready. Tonight 20 cooks have 90 minutes to cook their dream dish in order to win one of the 10 aprons on offer.

Auditions: Group 2

2. Auditions: Group 2

April 20, 2026
58 min

Another 20 home cooks enter the MasterChef kitchen to compete for 10 aprons on offer. For those who miss out, they learn there will be one final chance to cook for the last four aprons tomorrow.

Auditions: Second Chance

3. Auditions: Second Chance

April 21, 2026
53 min

Tonight, the 20 remaining hopefuls have a second and final chance to cook their way into the competition. Just who will score themselves one of the final four places?

Mystery Box: Jimmy Barnes

4. Mystery Box: Jimmy Barnes

April 26, 2026
75 min

Aussie Rock legend Jimmy Barnes set this season's first mystery box, inspiring the Top 24 with seasonal ingredients they love to cook with. Dish of the day will see its maker safe from elimination.

Elimination Challenge: Family Favourites

5. Elimination Challenge: Family Favourites

April 27, 2026
50 min

In the first elimination of the competition, 23 cooks will show the judges a window into their homelife, through a favourite dish that they cook at home for their loved ones.

Invention Test: Cereal

6. Invention Test: Cereal

April 28, 2026
48 min

It's the return of a MasterChef classic with an Invention Test challenging cooks to create an inventive dish using cereal.

Pressure Test: Maggie Beer

7. Pressure Test: Maggie Beer

April 29, 2026
52 min

The bottom five cooks from the Invention Test face off in a Pressure Test set by MasterChef favourite Maggie Beer, tasked with mastering her signature sour cream pastry in a high-stakes pie challenge.

Immunity Challenge: Andy Cooks

8. Immunity Challenge: Andy Cooks

May 3, 2026
63 min

It's Family Favourites week and social media sensation Andy Cooks (chef Andy Hearnden) is on the hunt for the ultimate breakfast, in an immunity challenge cook with 60 minutes on the clock.

Elimination Challenge: Reinventing Carbs

9. Elimination Challenge: Reinventing Carbs

May 4, 2026
49 min

In an elimination challenge centred on reinventing the judges' quick carb midweek dinner recipes, mistakes and time pressure sends one cook home.

Team Challenge: Family Feast

10. Team Challenge: Family Feast

May 5, 2026
49 min

It is the first team challenge of the series, and the contestants are all eager to see how well they can work together. The bottom two teams will find themselves in the elimination the following day.

Elimination Challenge: Family Traditions

11. Elimination Challenge: Family Traditions

May 6, 2026
46 min

Six contestants face elimination as they must create a dish that represent their family food traditions to fight for their place in the competition.

Mystery Box Challenge: Catherine Zhang

12. Mystery Box Challenge: Catherine Zhang

May 10, 2026
59 min

The Top 20 compete for Immunity from tomorrow's Elimination in a fruity Mystery Box challenge set by Catherine Zhang, marking the start of Viral Wonders Week

Elimination Challenge: Viral Ingredients

13. Elimination Challenge: Viral Ingredients

May 11, 2026
49 min

Viral sensation Victoria Minell (aka @recipesbyvictoria) sets a challenge to use one of her five viral ingredients in a 75-minute cook to save their place in the competition

Team Service Challenge: Viral-worthy Dish

14. Team Service Challenge: Viral-worthy Dish

May 12, 2026
49 min

Six teams will compete in their first service challenge, tasked with creating one perfect viral-worthy dish to serve to hundreds of diners, and impress a mystery social media-star critic

Immunity Pin Challenge: Khanh Ong

15. Immunity Pin Challenge: Khanh Ong

May 13, 2026
52 min

MasterChef alum and social media star Khanh Ong sets an epic challenge to create a bold, out-there sandwich with a banging cross section, to win the first immunity pin of the season

Mystery Box Challenge: Rick Stein

16. Mystery Box Challenge: Rick Stein

May 17, 2026
59 min

It's the start of Around the World Week, and global food icon Rick Stein joins the MasterChef Kitchen to set an extra spicy Mystery Box challenge

Elimination Challenge: Cuisines from Around the World

17. Elimination Challenge: Cuisines from Around the World

9.5
May 18, 2026
49 min

In an Around the World elimination challenge, MasterChef contestants must create a dish inspired by a chosen cuisine, featuring a surprise hero ingredient revealed only after they commit

Invention Test: Fusion

18. Invention Test: Fusion

10.0
May 19, 2026
49 min

It's a fusion invention test today with the contestants having to make dish featuring cuisines from two countries

Pressure Test: Rosheen Kaul

19. Pressure Test: Rosheen Kaul

10.0
May 20, 2026
51 min

Chef Rosheen Kaul sets the first full Pressure Test for the season, with an intense, three-hour challenge

Mystery Box Challenge: Dim Sim Lim

20. Mystery Box Challenge: Dim Sim Lim

May 24, 2026
62 min

Kicking off nostalgia-themed week in the MasterChef kitchen, social media sensation chef Dim Sim Lim sets a 60-minute mystery box challenge requiring a steamed element. English

Elimination Challenge: Heritage

21. Elimination Challenge: Heritage

May 25, 2026
49 min

The MasterChef contestants must cook something connected to their heritage to avoid being eliminated.

Team Challenge: Team Relay

22. Team Challenge: Team Relay

May 26, 2026
49 min

In MasterChef's most notorious team challenge, four teams will navigate the chaos of the Team Relay to compete for a chance to cook for Immunity.

Immunity Pin Challenge: French Techniques

23. Immunity Pin Challenge: French Techniques

May 27, 2026
50 min

Guided by MasterChef Alumna Justine Schofield, four contestants put their French techniques to the test for a chance to win a coveted immunity pin.

Mystery Box Challenge: Matt Sinclair & Daniel Dobra

24. Mystery Box Challenge: Matt Sinclair & Daniel Dobra

May 31, 2026
62 min
Classic Pairs Elimination Challenge

25. Classic Pairs Elimination Challenge

June 1, 2026
50 min
Invention Test: Reese's Peanut Butter Cup

26. Invention Test: Reese's Peanut Butter Cup

June 2, 2026
47 min
Elimination Challenge: Time or Ingredients?

27. Elimination Challenge: Time or Ingredients?

June 3, 2026
50 min
Mystery Box Challenge: Curtis Stone

28. Mystery Box Challenge: Curtis Stone

June 7, 2026
62 min

Curtis Stone kicks off Aussie Classics week, with a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the cooks to have their dish stocked in Coles, as they are challenged to whip up nostalgic Pie and Ice-cream flavours.

Elimination Challenge: Pork

29. Elimination Challenge: Pork

June 8, 2026
48 min

With Curtis Stone back in the kitchen, the MasterChef contestants are challenged with cooking a dish that features pork to save their place in the competition.

Comeback Challenge

30. Comeback Challenge

June 9, 2026
50 min

It's Aussie Classics Week, and there's nothing Aussies love more than a great comeback story. Today, the previously eliminated contestants return for a chance to earn their place back in the competition.

Elimination Challenge: Aussie Native Ingredients

31. Elimination Challenge: Aussie Native Ingredients

June 10, 2026
58 min

Aussie Classics week draws to a close with an exciting day in the MasterChef Kitchen as guest judge and Aussie icon Robert Irwin sets an Aussie Native Ingredients Elimination Challenge.

Mystery Box Challenge: Adriano Zumbo

32. Mystery Box Challenge: Adriano Zumbo

June 14, 2026
61 min

It's the start of Sweet Week, and confectionery king Adriano Zumbo challenges the cooks to hero a mystery ingredient in a dessert. The top three dishes will win immunity from tomorrow's elimination.

Elimination Challenge: Ice Cream Taste Test

33. Elimination Challenge: Ice Cream Taste Test

10.0
June 15, 2026
48 min

As Sweet Week continues, the contestants take part in an Ice Cream Taste Test. The first four who guess incorrectly will land in the Round Two cook, after which someone will be sent home.

Invention Test: Air Fryer

34. Invention Test: Air Fryer

June 16, 2026
48 min

It's Sweet Week, and today's challenge is an Air Fryer Invention Test, with the top four dishes going into tomorrow's Immunity Challenge. Dish of the day will claim a $5,000 Harvey Norman voucher!

Immunity Pin Challenge: Beat the Chef

35. Immunity Pin Challenge: Beat the Chef

June 17, 2026
51 min

On Sweet Week's final day, four contestants face dessert powerhouse Jess Lemon in a 'Beat the Chef' Immunity Pin challenge, attempting to outcook one of the MasterChef kitchen's pastry prodigies.

Skills Challenge: Fish Butchery

36. Skills Challenge: Fish Butchery

June 21, 2026
61 min

To kick off Masters Week, industry icon Josh Niland gives a fish butchery masterclass, and the contestants must use one of his signature butchery techniques to prepare flathead in 75 minutes.

Elimination Challenge: Flat Iron Steak

37. Elimination Challenge: Flat Iron Steak

June 22, 2026
49 min

Masters Week continues with Michelin-starred chef Curtis Stone returning to the MasterChef kitchen for a high-stakes elimination where contestants must hero a flat iron steak.

Immunity Challenge: Tom Sarafian

38. Immunity Challenge: Tom Sarafian

10.0
June 23, 2026
50 min

Masters Week continues as hatted Melbourne chef Tom Sarafian joins to showcase his famous hummus dish, inspiring contestants to make an immunity-worthy dish to get one step closer to the Top 10.

Pressure Test: Kirsten Tibballs

39. Pressure Test: Kirsten Tibballs

June 24, 2026
59 min

In the final Masters Week challenge, four contestants compete in a pressure test set by Kirsten Tibballs to avoid elimination and secure their place in the Top 10.

Twins Challenge

40. Twins Challenge

June 28, 2026
60 min

It's Knockout Week, and our 10 cooks face the iconic twins challenge inspired by MasterChef couple Sarah Todd and Declan Cleary and their identical twin girls, Charlotte and Claudia.

Mystery Box Challenge: The Judge's Fridge

41. Mystery Box Challenge: The Judge's Fridge

June 29, 2026
49 min

As Knockout Week continues, the MasterChef judges have each filled a fridge with ingredients. Eight contestants must choose a fridge, without looking inside, and use its contents to make a dish.

Team Challenge: Fine Dining

42. Team Challenge: Fine Dining

June 30, 2026
50 min

It's Knockout Week, and two teams of three, led by Andy and Jean-Christophe, must deliver a two-course fine dining menu for 16 Coles Farmers. The losing team will head into tomorrow's elimination.

Elimination Challenge: Ingredient Choice

43. Elimination Challenge: Ingredient Choice

July 1, 2026
48 min

It's Knockout week and the first elimination for the Top 10. The seven contestants cooking must feature an ingredient chosen by one of their fellow cooks to keep their place in the competition.

Mystery Box Challenge: Sanjeev Kapoor

44. Mystery Box Challenge: Sanjeev Kapoor

July 5, 2026
63 min

Our Top 9 contestants welcome one of the most famous chefs in India, with over 150 cookbooks and 20 million social media followers, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who is here to set a Mystery Box.

Elimination Challenge: International Ingredients

45. Elimination Challenge: International Ingredients

July 6, 2026
49 min

Contestants must produce a dish featuring one of five internationally sourced ingredients that they have never used before, in an elimination cook-off. For one cook, it will be their final dish.

Immunity Challenge: Ice Cream Flavours

46. Immunity Challenge: Ice Cream Flavours

July 7, 2026
48 min

The top eight of MasterChef Australia get to select a Connoisseur ice cream to start the day. Cooking for immunity, they must cook a dessert inspired by their ice cream flavour.

Pressure Test: Sam Aisbett

47. Pressure Test: Sam Aisbett

July 8, 2026
55 min

In a high-stakes pressure test featuring Michelin-starred Chef Sam Aisbett's 'Crab Salad', four contestants must navigate complex technical components and personal errors to avoid elimination.

Mystery Box Challenge: Marion Grasby

48. Mystery Box Challenge: Marion Grasby

July 12, 2026
59 min

To mark the start of Heat Week, food and media mogul Marion Grasby returns to MasterChef for the first time in 16 years with a spicy mystery box challenge.

Elimination Challenge: Hot New Chilli Dish

49. Elimination Challenge: Hot New Chilli Dish

July 13, 2026
48 min

Heat Week continues with a looming elimination as six of the seven remaining cooks are challenged to create a hot new chilli dish in just 60 minutes.

Immunity Challenge: Hibachi

50. Immunity Challenge: Hibachi

July 14, 2026
49 min

Five cooks must prove their skill and creativity using only a hibachi, with the winner earning immunity and a spot in the Top 6.

Elimination Challenge: Head-to-Head Duels

51. Elimination Challenge: Head-to-Head Duels

July 15, 2026
52 min

It's the final day of HEAT WEEK, and four cooks face off in head-to-head duals in an elimination challenge. After two rounds of battle, the bottom dish in the final duel will send its maker home.

52. Mystery Box Challenge: One Ingredient

July 19, 2026
59 min

Contestants must choose a mystery box set by Sofia containing just one ingredient. Using just that and under-bench staples, the best dish wins immunity and the first spot in the Top 5.

53. Elimination Challenge: French Sauces

July 20, 2026
49 min

With a coveted place in the Top 5 of MasterChef 2026 at stake, contestants must personalise a classic French sauce, as demonstrated by Jean-Christophe. For one cook, it will be the end of the line.

54. Immunity Challenge: Keeping Up With Andy

July 21, 2026
47 min

It's an immunity challenge today for the Top 5 to 'Keep up with Andy' as he cooks his delicious BBQ Lamb, Burnt Eggplant Cream, and Braised Borlotti Beans dish. The top cook will go directly into the Top 4.

55. Pressure Test: Malaysian Snacks

July 22, 2026
56 min

Four of the Top 5 contestants battle it out to stay in the competition, taking on an epic pressure test set by judge Poh Ling Yeow to recreate three of her beautiful and delicious Malaysian snacks.

56. Episode 56

July 26, 2026

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, joins the MasterChef Australia kitchen today, offering some of her favourite seasonal produce to feature in a heartfelt dish, with immunity on the line.

57. Episode 57

July 27, 2026

It's elimination day, and there are two spots up for grabs in the semi-final. Emotions run high when letters and ingredients from home inspire our cooks to make a dish to keep them in the competition.