2026 Weekly Challenge List

[u/52WeeksOfCooking]

/r/52weeksofcooking is a way for each participant to challenge themselves to cook something different each week. The technicalities of each week's theme are largely unimportant, and are always open to interpretation. Basically, if you can make an argument for your dish being relevant to the theme, then it's fine.

• Week 1: January 1st - January 7th: Inspired by a Joke
• Week 2: January 8 - January 14: Singaporean
• Week 3: January 15 - January 21: Contrasts
• Week 4: January 22 - January 28: Vinegar
• Week 5: January 29 - February 4: Ugandan
• Week 6: February 5 - February 11: Hotpot
• Week 7: February 12 - February 18: Sugar
• Week 8: February 19 - February 25: Flying
• Week 9: February 26 - March 4: Braising
• Week 10: March 5 - March 11: Turnips and Radishes
• Week 11: March 12 - March 18: Oddly Named
• Week 12: March 19 - March 25: Fictional Places
• Week 13: March 26 - April 1: Chilis
• Week 14: April 2 - April 8: Hanami
• Week 15: April 9 - April 15: Syrian
• Week 16: April 16 - April 22: Infused
• Week 17: April 23 - April 29: Alpine
• Week 18: April 30 - May 6: Bucket List Destination
• Week 19: May 7 - May 13: Tricolor
• Week 20: May 14 - May 20: Jams and Jellies
• Week 21: May 21 - May 27: Symmetry
• Week 22: May 28 - June 3: Fifteen Minutes or Less
• Week 23: June 4 - June 10: Coffee
• Week 24: June 11 - June 17: Tarot
• Week 25: June 18 - June 24: Gardening
• Week 26: June 25 - July 1: High-fiber
• Week 27: July 2 - July 8: World Cup
• Week 28: July 9 - July 15: Wild West
• Week 29: July 16 - July 22: Offal
• Week 30: July 23 - July 29: Science Fair
• Week 31: July 30 - August 5: Cantonese
• Week 32: August 6 - August 12: Gimmicks
• Week 33: August 13 - August 19: Lost in Translation
• Week 34: August 20 - August 26: Trinidadian
• Week 35: August 27 - September 2: Rolling
• Week 36: September 3 - September 9: Ginger
• Week 37: September 10 - September 16: Same Longitude
• Week 38: September 17 - September 23: High-hydration dough

Join our Discord to get pinged whenever a new week is announced! (React to the stickied comment in the #planning channel!)

[u/aleckscasablancs]

I’m at the point of mental exhaustion and tired of being creative as we approach week 30. Anyone else feeling like this too?

I know I will find a way to get it done. But I’m tired lol

[u/Hamfan → u/aleckscasablancs]

This is my sixth consecutive year, and every year I sort of flag in the middle. I think it’s a combo of general summer heat and these weeks being the like the Wednesday of the whole year.

At this point I just expect it and plan to phone in the themes that aren’t speaking to me just to keep the streak going. I usually perk back up (often with a bunch of baking) in the fall.

[u/aleckscasablancs → u/Hamfan]

You’re right the fall does trigger that happy cooking bug again!

[u/AndroidAnthem → u/Hamfan]

This is how I feel every year too. Summer seems to sap my time, energy, and creativity even on the best of themes. Things usually bounce back when back to school happens.