October 2, 2026
On 16 and 17 September, we joined almost a thousand professionals from the worlds of gastronomy, hospitality, design, technology and business in Voděrádky u Prahy for Gastro Mach Summit 2026. Over the course of two days, people from across the industry came together to discuss both its current challenges and its future.
This year, Gault&Millau joined the summit as its proud official Credibility Partner and, among other things, helped shape the programme by bringing a number of leading chefs to the Masterclasses. Guests had the opportunity to watch Oldřich Sahajdák, Jan Horák, David Viktorín, Martin Svatek and others prepare their dishes during moderated live cooking sessions – and, of course, to taste the dishes themselves.
The programme featured talks, panel discussions, masterclasses and chef talks, covering topics ranging from efficiency and design to AI, data and robotics, as well as the future of gastronomy, nutrition and longevity. One of the things we appreciated most about the summit was precisely this combination of different perspectives. Alongside chefs and restaurateurs, the event brought together producers, technology companies and investors. "What impressed me most was the openness with which people discussed not only their successes, but also the real challenges facing the industry and its future," says Miroslav Lekeš, CEO of Gault&Millau CZ-IT-SK-HU.
An important aspect of this year’s programme was its international perspective. Drawing on examples from around the world, Miguel Chilleron, Director of AI & Design at Livit.Design, explored how restaurants and their concepts are evolving and what gastronomy could look like in the years ahead. Daniele Scaglia, General Manager & Chief Inspector of Gault&Millau Italy, also joined us in Voděrádky, bringing his experience of evaluating gastronomy across European markets. Connecting Czech gastronomy with international expertise is one of the areas we at Gault&Millau intend to continue developing over the long term.
Miroslav Lekeš, Gault&Millau licence holder, also took part in panel discussions on the future of the industry, where food quality was among the recurring topics. The origin and quality of ingredients resonated throughout the summit, with their importance further highlighted by the participation of the Czech Minister of Agriculture. For Gault&Millau, the summit was also an opportunity to meet many industry professionals in person, strengthen existing partnerships and establish new ones. Our goal is to continue developing Gault&Millau in the Czech market, discovering new gastronomic talent and supporting establishments built on quality, authenticity and professional hospitality.
“Events such as GastroMach Summit help break down barriers between chefs, restaurateurs, producers, technology companies and public institutions. It is precisely through encounters like these that concrete partnerships can emerge – partnerships that help strengthen the quality, competitiveness and confidence of Czech gastronomy,” adds Miroslav Lekeš.
