More than 250 restaurateurs, chefs, investors and hospitality leaders gathered in London this week as the Indian Restaurant Congress & Awards made its international debut outside India.
Held at the Royal Lancaster London, the event brought together some of the most influential figures in Indian hospitality from across the UK and overseas, reflecting the growing global prominence of Indian cuisine and the economic impact of the restaurant sector.
For more than 15 years, the Indian Restaurant Congress & Awards has been a key industry platform in India, recognising achievement, encouraging innovation and providing opportunities for collaboration within the hospitality sector. Its expansion to London marks a significant step in bringing together Indian restaurant operators and culinary professionals from international markets.
The event featured a series of discussions exploring the future of hospitality, international expansion, changing consumer habits, investment opportunities and the continued evolution of Indian cuisine on the global stage.
Among those taking part were several of the UK’s most recognised chefs and restaurateurs, including Atul Kochhar, Vivek Singh, Cyrus Todiwala, Dipna Anand, Romy Gill and Sanjeev Kapoor.
The gathering highlighted London’s continued importance as one of the world’s leading destinations for Indian food, with the capital home to a diverse restaurant scene ranging from family-run establishments to Michelin-recognised dining experiences.
Speaking at the event, Franchise India Managing Director Sachin Marya reflected on the platform’s growth from a domestic industry initiative to an international forum.
He said the London edition represented an opportunity to celebrate the contribution Indian restaurants have made to hospitality worldwide and to strengthen connections between operators, entrepreneurs and industry leaders working across different markets.
Alongside the congress, organisers unveiled the latest edition of Entrepreneur’s Restaurateur Global Issue, a publication showcasing hospitality businesses and industry leaders from around the world. The event also saw the launch of RestaurantIndia.uk, a business-to-business platform designed to support restaurant operators and hospitality professionals in the UK.
The audience included restaurateurs, hospitality entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers, underlining the growing economic influence of the sector. Among those attending were Rami Ranger, Kulveer Ranger and Aarien Areti.
The evening concluded with the Indian Restaurant Awards 2026, recognising businesses and individuals judged to have made significant contributions to the industry over the past year.
Among the winners were Kahani for Best Fine Dining Indian Restaurant, Benares Restaurant & Bar for Best Chef-Led Restaurant, Jamavar for Best Indian Restaurant Brand and Colonel Saab for Best Indian Restaurant (UK).
Other honours included Global Indian Chef of the Year for Sanjeev Kapoor, Global Ambassador of Indian Cuisine for Shipra Khanna and the Culinary Excellence Award for Atul Kochhar.
As Indian cuisine continues to evolve and attract new audiences around the world, the London debut of the Indian Restaurant Congress & Awards highlighted both the commercial strength of the sector and the growing influence of chefs, restaurateurs and entrepreneurs shaping its future.
