2 Northwest Arkansas chefs, coffee shop named James Beard Awards semifinalists

For the second consecutive year, all the James Beard Awards semifinalists in Arkansas are in Northwest Arkansas. The state’s three semifinals are chef Matthew Cooper of Conifer in Bentonville, chef Jason Paul of Heirloom at The 1907 in Rogers, and Rogers-based Onyx Coffee Lab.

The James Beard Foundation announced Jan. 21 its Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards.

This is also the second consecutive year that Cooper has been named a semifinalist. Cooper and Paul are semifinalists in the Best Chef: South category. Onyx is a semifinalist in the Outstanding Bar category, which includes wine bars, beer bars, cocktail bars, coffee bars, or any other business whose primary offering is beverages. Cooper went on to be a nominee in the Best Chef: South category in the 2025 James Beard Awards.

For the 2026 awards, the nominees will be named on March 31. The James Beard Awards Ceremonies will take place June 13-15 in Chicago.

The James Beard Awards, which have over 70 categories, recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries and are considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious honors. This year marks the 36th anniversary of the James Beard Awards.

“We are thrilled to congratulate this year’s semifinalists as we mark another major milestone — 40 years of the James Beard Foundation,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation. “For four decades, the foundation has recognized culinary excellence while championing the independent chefs and restaurants that are vital to our communities, economy and culture. It is an honor to celebrate the 2026 semifinalists, whose work reflects the incredible dynamism, talent, and achievement defining our industry today.”