The Heart of Food: Schladming-Dachstein becomes the heart of Austrian cuisine for three days
13/March/2026
The entire Schladming-Dachstein region will become the stage for an extraordinary culinary event in March 2026: The Heart of Food will unite Austria's leading culinary personalities, regions, institutions, and producers from March 21 to 23, showcasing Austria as an innovative culinary destination with international appeal.
The Heart of Food: Schladming-Dachstein becomes the heart of Austrian cuisine for three days
International culinary highlight: The Heart of Food will bring together Austria's top restaurants, producers, and regions in Schladming-Dachstein from March 21 to 23 , 2026.
A shower of stars on the Dachstein: The highlight is the ceremonial presentation of MICHELIN Plaques 2026 to newcomers and rising stars at 2,700 meters above sea level by METRO.
Joint presentation by the federal states: State tourism organizations will present Austria's culinary diversity in curated formats with an international focus.
Lasting impact: International journalists can delve deeper into the stories of Austrian cuisine during discovery tours through Austria's federal states.
This new, internationally oriented industry and media event is being organized by the Schladming-Dachstein tourism region, Styrian Tourism Marketing GmbH, and the Austrian National Tourist Office, together with the regional tourism organizations of Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Burgenland. The event will highlight the regional roots of Austrian cuisine while presenting it in a way that resonates with international audiences. The highlight of the multi-day program is the ceremonial presentation of the MICHELIN plaques by Guide MICHELIN partner METRO Austria to the newcomers and rising stars of the Guide MICHELIN Selection 2026, which takes place during an exclusive evening event high atop the Dachstein mountain. "In Schladming-Dachstein, we place great value on authentic cuisine and regionality – also evident in our Alpine Culinary Initiative. The offerings range from high-quality culinary experiences on alpine pastures and in mountain huts to a wide array of traditional and innovative gastronomic options," emphasizes Mathias Schattleitner, Managing Director of the Schladming-Dachstein Tourism Association. "That The Heart of Food is taking place in Schladming-Dachstein is a great honor for the region and demonstrates how strongly cuisine, tourism, and regional economic development interact."
“The MICHELIN Awards in 2025 proved that too many cooks don’t spoil the broth. With The Heart of Food , we are giving Austrian cuisine the international radiance it deserves and putting outstanding chefs, excellent products, strong regions, and a landscape that is not just a backdrop but an integral part of the culinary experience” says Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger, CEO of the Austrian National Tourist Office.
“The fact that we can celebrate the new MICHELIN Awards in this alpine setting sends a strong signal for the international visibility of Austrian cuisine.” As the host province, Styria plays a special role in The Heart of Food : “When you think of red-white-red, you can’t ignore the Heart of Food, Styria. Like no other region, the Green Heart stands for agricultural products, producers, processors, and chefs. We thank all the federal states and the Austrian National Tourist Office for making this event possible on Styria’s highest peak,” says Michael Feiertag, Managing Director of Styrian Tourism Marketing GmbH.
“Austria’s culinary strength originates in its regions. Together with the regional tourism organizations, we showcase at The Heart of Food just how diverse and distinctive the culinary styles of the federal states are – from Alpine specialties to top international gastronomy. This diversity is a key component of our tourism offerings and delights guests from all over the world,” emphasizes Karin Seiler, Managing Director of Tyrol Tourism and spokesperson for the regional tourism organizations. MICHELIN Plaques for Newcomers and Established Restaurants at 2,700 Meters Above Sea Level.
Under the motto "Reaching for the Stars – A Culinary Celebration at 2,700 Meters," the coveted MICHELIN Plaques will be awarded on the evening of March 23rd at the Dachstein Glacier Restaurant. As an official MICHELIN Guide partner, METRO Austria will present the awards to the newly starred restaurants and up-and-coming chefs from the eight participating federal states. The evening's culinary delights will be created by top Austrian chefs, including Richard Rauch, Thomas Dorfer, Lukas Nagl, Vitus Winkler, Martin Nuart, Benjamin Parth, Sebastian Jakob, and Hannes Tschida. The celebration will continue until the last cable car descent, accompanied by the finest Austrian wines.
“Top-tier gastronomy is a key driving force for the entire industry: it sets trends, drives innovation, creates culinary experiences of the highest caliber, and delivers this outstanding performance day after day,” says Thierry Guillon-Verne, CEO of METRO Austria. “The MICHELIN Plaques demonstrably stand for artisanal excellence, quality, and entrepreneurial courage. At the same time, these awards are important role models for up-and-coming chefs – they showcase career paths and help to inspire young talent to join the industry and retain them in Austria long-term. As a long-standing partner of the MICHELIN Guide, we are committed to ensuring that Austria’s culinary brilliance is also visible internationally – because the hotel and restaurant industry, as well as numerous other sectors, benefit from this attention. The Heart of Food provides the perfect setting for this.”
Culinary diversity in curated formats:
The Heart of Food deliberately avoids being a traditional gourmet event. Rather, the program unfolds in curated formats that showcase all facets of Austrian cuisine: dinners, showcases, masterclasses, talks, live podcasts, and networking opportunities. Renowned institutions such as Jeunes Restaurateurs-JRE, Koch.Campus, Land schafft Leben, the Austrian Traditional Wine Estates (ÖTW), STK Wineries, and other partners shape the program and contribute their respective perspectives.
Even in the days leading up to the main event, Schladming-Dachstein transforms into a stage for culinary delights in all their facets – from mountain huts in the valley to gourmet hotspots in and around Schladming.
Monday is dedicated to the regions.
A central element of The Heart of Food is Monday, March 23, 2026, which is entirely dedicated to the regions. In the “Bite into Regions” initiative, the tourism organizations Styrian Tourism Marketing GmbH, Burgenland Tourism, Lower Austria Tourism, Upper Austria Tourism, Carinthia Tourism, Salzburg Tourism, Tyrol Tourism, and Vorarlberg Tourism are creating culinary showcases in alpine locations, highlighting regional products and stories. Regional characteristics become directly visible within the landscape, making the diversity of Austria's culinary landscapes tangible.
International perspective and sustainable impact are key.
Following the event in Schladming-Dachstein, culinary discovery tours to Styria, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Vorarlberg will continue the dialogue. Selected national and international media representatives will delve deeper into the stories begun at The Heart of Food and get to know further regions, businesses, and producers.
Strong partnerships for Austrian cuisine:
In addition to METRO Austria as a Guide-MICHELIN partner, The Heart of Food is supported by Austrian Airlines and Pappas, who, as mobility partners, bring international guests and media to Austria, thus facilitating culinary exchange across borders. The detailed program and further information are available online at:
