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Get To Know The MKR 2026 Teams And Their Instant Restaurants
My Kitchen Rules is back and better than ever for its 16th season. The beloved cooking show returns this year, and contestants are ready to host their competitors and judges in their homes. Join us as we watch this year's competitors produce delicious culinary creations and transform their homes into beautiful instant restaurants. With Spotlight's vast selection of dining and tableware, you can easily recreate your favourite instant restaurants at home and design your own unique dining experience.
Find out more about this year's contestants and their instant restaurants right here. We'll be updating this post with all the latest details as the show airs, so continue to check back often to see what's happening!
Quick Links
- Krysten & Lucy (QLD)
- Angus & Simon (SA)
- Alisha & Deanne (SA)
- Tiffany & Giancarlo (VIC)
- Mary & Golden (VIC)
- Jane & Shane (NSW)
- Sheridan & Ted (WA)
- Harrison & Oliver (NSW)
- Zoe & Zac (NSW)
Mother and Daughter: Krysten & Lucy (QLD)
Meet Krysten and Lucy
From a 12-acre slice of paradise in Queensland, this mother-daughter duo spend their days baking, fishing, free-diving and hosting friends at their fairy-lit smokehouse. Krysten lives in the family home, while Lucy calls a tiny home on the acreage her own.
Mum Krysten is go, go, go: confident, sarcastic and "a beast in the gym." She co-runs the family medical practice, spent seven years living on a boat and is a mad-keen fisherwoman who loves the outdoors.
Lucy inherited her mum's drive and built her own micro-bakery, Burnt Croissants. Energetic, upbeat and always up for an adventure, Lucy even holds the world record for the largest Australian bass caught by an under-16 female angler.
In the kitchen, Krysten brings instinct and big flavours, while Lucy is an accomplished, methodical and precise baker.
Discover Krysten and Lucy's Puggles Instant Restaurant
For their instant restaurant, Kyrsten and Lucy adopted the playful nature of baby platypus, also known as puggles, in their styling. Creating a harmonious dining experience through the use of greenery alongside the tranquillity of neutral toned decor pieces, Kyrsten and Lucy utilised natural textures such as wooden candle holders and rattan baskets while balancing the green tones with pops of orange. Shop our selection of home decor as well as art and craft supplies to host your next dinner party with an earthy charm.
Get inspired by the products Krysten and Lucy used here:
Meet Angus and Simon
Down-to-earth, genuinely funny blokes who love people, food and a good time, Angus and Simon are always laughing, sharing stories and taking the mickey out of each other.
They met 11 years ago while working in a pub and have been cracking jokes ever since.
Funeral director Angus is recently engaged and hilariously likens his job to being a waiter, stressing the importance of making a good impression. With a dry sense of humour and an infectious smile, he loves making Simon and everyone around him laugh. There's never a shortage of conversation when Angus is around.
Luckily for Angus, Simon is always laughing. He can't keep a straight face and is always up for a good time.
In the kitchen, Angus is fast and uses every utensil imaginable. Simon, however, is the opposite: methodical, recipe-focused and precise. They're very much chalk and cheese.
Discover Angus and Simon's Last Orders Instant Restaurant
When it came to their turn for hosting, Angus and Simon decorated their space and created a laid-back pub-ambience for their competitors to dine amongst. With beautiful timber accents contrasted by eclectic decorative pieces, Angus and Simon presented a twist on traditional pub decor. By incorporating pops of colour through the use of artificial floristry, these friends established a serene dining experience that you can recreate in your home.
Get inspired by the products Angus and Simon used here:
Chaotic, brash and full of energy, Alisha and Deanne don't just show up, they take over the room. More like sisters than friends, they met at school as teenagers and have been inseparable ever since. They spend all their free time together and admit they share one brain. Constantly "yapping", it's hard for anyone else to get a word in.
Alisha is the perfect hype girl for Deanne. She's the louder of the two and doesn't care what anyone thinks. A beautician by trade, she's sassy, unfiltered and says whatever comes to mind.
Deanne is a recently divorced mum of two who works in retail. She's quick with a one-liner and calls it as she sees it. She's no pushover and understands her enthusiasm can sometimes rub people the wrong way.
Together, these two are chaos. Expect laughs, frenetic energy and complete madness in the kitchen as they cook simple, home-style dishes. And if anyone comes for them at the table, watch out!
Discover Alisha and Deanne's Hot Mess Instant Restaurant
For their instant restaurant, Alisha and Deanne created a whimsical dining experience. With eye-catching decorations including artificial flowers, empty photo frames and alluring fairy lights, Alisha and Deanne embraced contrast with mismatched chairs and colourful diningware to create a memorable dining experience. This instant restaurant offers a lively dining setting during the day that transitions into a magical experience when the lights are turned down and the space is illuminated by the fairy lights and candles. Recreate this instant restaurant for a wonderfully adventurous mealtime.
Get inspired by the products Alisha and Deanne used here:
Tiffany and Giancarlo are the complete package: a gorgeous, outgoing power couple tackling life as a team. Just shy of 20 years together, they still haven't felt the need for a ring, a wedding or kids. They're running their own race and doing life their way.
Tiffany is a typical Capricorn: organised, diligent and a Type A personality. After many years as a flight attendant and a stint in corporate marketing, she's recently taken a step back from it all and, with Giancarlo's support, is now a homemaker.
Tiffany describes Giancarlo as airy-fairy and a know-it-all. A self-proclaimed entrepreneur, he works on his own terms. The jack-of-all-trades works with the family engineering firm, consults to businesses, has founded multiple tech companies and dabbles in events.
Giancarlo passionately embraces his Italian heritage and has taught Tiffany how to cook. According to Tiffany, though, the student has become the master.
Discover Tiffany and Giancarlo's Ciao Bella Ciao Instant Restaurant
Tiffany and Giancarlo chose to transform their space into a romantic themed restaurant inspired by Giancarlo's Italian heritage. With a gorgeous selection of white table linen, their table setting is accented by a display of vibrant red tomatoes running down the centre of the table. The balance of red and white tones is a consistent theme in this instant restaurant, illuminated by candlelight and string lights. Complete with a 'Ciao Bella Ciao" sign, Tiffany and Giancarlo established an elevated dining experience that you can recreate for your next dinner party.
Get inspired by the products Tiffany and Giancarlo used here:
Meet Mary and Golden
Boisterous and spirited friends, Mary and Golden met when they were 16 while studying nursing in the Philippines. In 2004, they moved to Australia together, seeking a better life and have remained inseparable best friends ever since.
A proud wife and mother of two, Mary is a dedicated health professional, but her heart belongs to her family and her lifelong passion for home cooking.
Single mum Golden is a warm hug with a big laugh. Deeply committed to her nursing career and her child, she brings steady, grounded calm to Mary's high energy, and together they hope their heart and heritage will shine on the plate.
Together, they dream of launching a food truck that travels to hospitals, offering late-night eats while showcasing Filipino street food to a wider Australian audience.
Discover Mary and Golden's Aming Kusina Instant Restaurant
For their turn in hosting their fellow competitors and judges, Mary and Golden transformed their space into a serene tropical wonderland. Displaying a sign that reads 'Aming Kusina', which, translated from Filipino means 'Our Kitchen', Mary and Golden created a dining experience that celebrates their Filipino culture. Decorating with a selection of neutral toned table linen, including tablecloths, placemats accented by pops of gold, their selection of artificial greenery was able to pop. Completing the table setting with pastel decor pieces, Mary and Golden were able to create an elegant, tropical escape. This is a lovely restaurant to recreate if you're thinking of hosting your friends over for a wholesome dinner or for summer garden parties.
Get inspired by the products Mary and Golden used here:
Meet Jane and Shane
Creative and curated, Jane and Shane are the self-proclaimed "coolest couple in Blackheath." Married for two years and building a blended family, these two have a flair for drama, design, and dinner parties. They're out to prove their taste in food and fashion is a cut above the rest.
Jane, a food stylist, creative director and design stylist, is confident, brash, and unapologetically opinionated. She knows she can replicate any dish and plans to prove that style and substance can absolutely share a plate.
Shane, a former hairdresser turned builder, is the calm to Jane's storm. Together, they're a striking duo who grow their own produce and never admit defeat.
Their Instant Restaurant will be bold, beautiful, and bursting with personality, designed to turn heads and perhaps ruffle a few feathers along the way.
Discover Jane and Shane’s Lyst Haus Instant Restaurant
Celebrating their home in Blackheath, Jane and Shane decorated this space with a contrast of neutral tones accented by rich, deep reds. Starting with a neutral toned tablecloth as their base, Jane and Shane created a lively centrepiece consisting of rich red leaves and an arrangement of cabbages. Balanced with a selection of candles, Jane and Shane's dining table exudes an effortless elegance that is accompanied by their selection of timeless glassware. Recreate this instant restaurant for a wholesome dinner with friends or family.
Get inspired by the products Jane and Shane used here:
Mother and Son: Sheridan & Ted
Meet Sheridan and Ted
Mother-and-son duo Sheridan and Ted are incredibly close, with plenty of banter and bickering keeping things entertaining both in and out of the kitchen. Beneath it all is a deep bond. Ted is the youngest of four children and the only boy, and while Sheridan insists she doesn't have a favourite, it's obviously Ted.
High school mathematics teacher Sheridan is direct, practical and no-nonsense. At home, she's happiest tending to her succulents and avoiding unnecessary socialising. In the kitchen, she brings organisation, reliability and a strong sense of order.
Ted is a confident youngest child who has always known how to stand out. He's won the family's Christmas cooking competition two years running, with Sheridan serving as judge. He's passionate about golf, cars and anything with a competitive edge.
In the kitchen, their different approaches often spark lively debates. Ted loves experimenting with techniques he's discovered online, while Sheridan prefers straightforward, hearty cooking. Together, they bring warmth, humour and plenty of personality to the competition.
Discover Sheridan and Ted's The Garden Club Instant Restaurant
When it came to their turn to host their fellow competitors for dinner, Sheridan and Ted created a golf clubhouse ambience in their home. Starting with a neutral toned tablecloth, this mother and son duo decorated their space with a balance of muted and vibrant green hues. From pastel green placemats and napkins to a rich, artificial greenery centrepiece, Sheridan and Ted created a wholesome dining experience. With a few golf balls for a relaxed golf clubhouse feel, you can embrace the theme of this instant restaurant when hosting a brunch or birthday dinner for any golfing enthusiast.
Get inspired by the products Sheridan and Ted used here:
Harrison and Oliver are the smoothest of best mates, ready to serve up a serious dose of style in the MKR kitchen. After a chance encounter at their local brewery six years ago, the pair quickly bonded over a shared obsession with food, craft beer, fashion and music. With their signature vintage aesthetic and eccentric edge, these two bring the vibes.
Bar Manager Harrison is charming, quick-witted and the life of the party. He brings a style and eccentric energy to the kitchen. He lives for slow-cooked feasts and the perfect beer pairing.
Oliver is a quirky, razor-sharp bottle shop attendant with an intellect as refined as the wines he sells. With a curated eye for fashion, Oliver dons bold suit jackets, patterned shirts and prescription sunnies, arguably the best-dressed person in any room.
The boys specialise in curated pairings where Oliver's Italian roots- handmade pasta and rich, savoury meats- meet Harrison's love for hearty, slow-cooked dishes.
Discover Harrison and Oliver's Bloody Bellissimo Instant Restaurant
Showcasing the wholesome ambience of a small-town Italian restaurant, Harrison and Oliver transformed their space into a Bellissimo instant restaurant. Starting with a neutral tablecloth as the foundation of their table setting, these hipster mates let the gingham and citrus patterns featured throughout their napkins and table runner shine. This European inspired table setting offers great inspiration for turning your next dinner party or brunch into a welcoming dining experience. Embrace the refined elegance of citrus patterns in your home for a heartwarming dining experience.
Get inspired by the products Harrison and Oliver used here:
Meet Zoe and Zac
Best friends for 15 years after meeting as teenage co-workers, Zoe and Zac are loud, competitive and always up for an adventure. This well-travelled duo plan to take out the competition with their eyes closed.
A passionate pescatarian, Zoe's competitive streak is legendary among her friends. She's even been banned from game nights because she always must win. Together, they bring chaos, comedy and creativity to the kitchen, pairing Zoe's determination with Zac's sassy sense of humour.
Zoe and Zac dream of opening a brewery in Newcastle, where they'll brew their own beer, bake their own bread and serve up good vibes.
Discover Zoe and Zac's Shuck Yeah Instant Restaurant
Presenting an elegant showcase of pastel tones and coastal accents, Zoe and Zac transformed their space into a serene, Mediterranean oasis. Drawing inspiration from their international travels and their sweeping NSW coastline, Zoe and Zac embraced a seaside aesthetic in their decorating, accenting their space with shell themed decor from their centrepiece all the way through to their scallop-edged placemats. With a colour palette of soft blues, rich greens and neutral hues, Zoe and Zac created a joyful harmony between muted shades and pops of colour. This instant restaurant provides exceptional inspiration for a summer dinner party or a refined garden lunch and will have you creating your own relaxed, coastal dining experience.
Get inspired by the products Zoe and Zac used here:
Celebrate Season 16 Of My Kitchen Rules
My Kitchen Rules is back for its 16th season in 2026. Follow along and get inspired by the incredible instant restaurants this year's contestants create. You can even recreate your favourite looks from this year's season with our extensive dining range. With Spotlight's vast selection of cutlery, table linen, and cookware, the possibilities are endless. Explore online for convenient home delivery or click and collect, or visit your nearest Spotlight store to discover the perfect pieces to bring your culinary vision to life.
Follow along on our socials for more insider content and show updates!
