Detroit to host the inaugural MICHELIN Guide American Great Lakes Ceremony

GREENVILLE, S.C., September 9, 2026 — This morning the MICHELIN Guide announced the date for the inaugural MICHELIN Guide American Great Lakes Ceremony. Detroit has been chosen as the host city for the ceremony, which will be held on the evening of April 21 at Michigan Central.

“We are delighted to recognize and showcase the outstanding culinary talent found throughout the American Great Lakes for the very first time,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide. “Detroit’s storied history, innovative culinary talent and eclectic dining and cultural landscape makes it a fitting destination to host the inaugural ceremony for the region. Our anonymous Inspectors look forward to finally sharing their discoveries with the world.”

As the MICHELIN Guide continues to be committed to promoting the gastronomy players of tomorrow and the diversity of cuisines across its destinations, the Guide seeks to hold its annual ceremony in different cities annually. A historic city with its own strong culinary identity and traditions, Detroit proved to be the perfect fit to host the inaugural MICHELIN Guide American Great Lakes Ceremony.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the MICHELIN Guide ceremony to Detroit and to Michigan Central next April,” said Claude Molinari, President & CEO, Visit Detroit. “As host city for the MICHELIN Guide American Great Lakes ceremony, Detroit will have an extraordinary opportunity to welcome culinary leaders from across the Great Lakes region and showcase our own food scene, creativity and hospitality on an international stage. We’re proud to bring this prestigious celebration to Detroit, which is creating new reasons for people from around the world to visit, experience and savor our culinary landscape.”

Chefs will be invited to discover whether their restaurants have received a MICHELIN Star or another MICHELIN Guide distinction. Attendance is by invitation only.

The MICHELIN Guide in North America
Michelin announced its first North American Guide in 2005 for New York. Guides have also been added in Chicago (2011); Washington, D.C. (2017); California (San Francisco in 2007, statewide 2019); Florida (Greater Miami, Orlando and Tampa in 2022, adding Greater Fort Lauderdale, The Palm Beaches and St. Pete-Clearwater in 2025, statewide in 2026); Toronto (2022); Vancouver (2022); Colorado (2023); Atlanta (2023), Mexico (2024), Texas (2024), Québec (2024), the American South (2025), Boston (2025), Philadelphia (2025), the Southwest (2026), the American Great Lakes (2027).

About the MICHELIN Guide

Recognized globally for excellence and quality, the MICHELIN Guide offers a selection of world-class restaurants.

- The famous one, two and three MICHELIN Stars identify establishments serving exceptional cuisine that’s rich in flavor, remarkably executed and infused with the personality of a talented chef.

- The Bib Gourmand is a designation given to select restaurants that offer good quality food for a good value – often known as personal favorites among the inspectors when dining on their own time.

- Recommended restaurants and special professional awards are also highlighted by the MICHELIN Guide inspectors.

The MICHELIN Guide remains a reliable companion for any traveler seeking an unforgettable meal and hospitality experience. The Guide was first published in France at the turn of the 20th century to encourage the development of car mobility as well as tire sales by giving practical advice to motorists. Progressively, the Guide has specialized in restaurant and hotel recommendations. Michelin’s inspectors still use the same criteria and manner of selection that were used by the inspectors in the very beginning.

The restaurant selections join the MICHELIN Guide selection of hotels, which features the most unique and exciting places to stay around the world. Visit the MICHELIN Guide website, or download the free app for iOS and Android, to discover every restaurant in the selection and book an amazing hotel.

Thanks to the rigorous MICHELIN Guide selection process that is applied independently and consistently in more than 60 destinations, the MICHELIN Guide has become an international benchmark in fine dining.

All restaurants in the Guide are recommended by Michelin’s anonymous inspectors, who are trained to apply the same time-tested methods used by Michelin inspectors for many decades throughout the world. This ensures a uniform, international standard of excellence. As a further guarantee of complete objectivity, Michelin inspectors pay all their bills in full, and only the quality of the cuisine is evaluated.

To fully assess the quality of a restaurant, the inspectors apply five criteria defined by Michelin: product quality; mastery of cooking techniques; harmony of flavors; the personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine; and consistency over time and across the entire menu. These criteria guarantee a consistent and fair selection so a Starred restaurant has the same value regardless of whether it is in Paris, New York or anywhere else in the world.

About Michelin North America, Inc.

Michelin is building a world-leading manufacturer of life-changing composites and experiences. Pioneering engineered materials for more than 130 years, Michelin is uniquely positioned to make decisive contributions to human progress and to a more sustainable world. Drawing on its deep know-how in polymer composites, Michelin is constantly innovating to manufacture high-quality tires and components for critical applications in demanding fields as varied as mobility, construction, aeronautics, low-carbon energies and healthcare. The care placed in its products and deep customer knowledge inspire Michelin to offer the finest experiences. This spans from providing data- and AI-based connected solutions for professional fleets to recommending outstanding restaurants and hotels curated by the MICHELIN Guide. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America, Inc. has approximately 22,000 employees and operates 36 production facilities in the United States (michelinman.com) and Canada (michelin.ca).

About Visit Detroit

Visit Detroit is the official destination marketing organization for the tri-county region of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties and the city of Detroit, dedicated to promoting Detroit as a world-class international destination for leisure and business travelers. With a focus on showcasing the region’s dynamic culture, rich history, and diverse attractions, Visit Detroit aims to drive tourism, economic growth, and community pride. Visit Detroit was founded in 1896 as the world’s first convention and visitors bureau, and more than 900 businesses are represented in the membership. For more information go to VisitDetroit.com.

For more information, contact:
Carly Padgett
Michelin North America
carly.padgett@michelin.com

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