Food Network introduces a new addition to the Baking Championship franchise, Baking Championship: Next Gen with hosts and judges, Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown. The pair of culinary experts helm the jam-packed pastry journey that gives a whole new meaning to sibling rivalry when 12 teams of siblings aged 8-14 compete to win $25,000 and become the next generation of Baking Champions. The wholesome and delightful confectionary competition will launch with a supersized two-hour qualifying round to determine who will continue across the eight subsequent episodes to clinch the prize. Once the competition begins, the sibling collaborators will take on tricky challenges like "breakfast dessert imposters," "cream puff friendship bracelets," and "animated cakes."
The Tryouts
Jan 5, 2026
Twelve young sibling teams step into the pastry school style kitchen and learn that they must try out for their spot in the competition. Hosts and judges Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown put the teams through two rounds of skills challenges to assess which 10 teams will move on and which two teams will be eliminated before the competition even starts! In the first skills test, the nervous teams put up their best cupcake. For the second skills test, the teams must create a pie from scratch that's good enough to prove they have what it takes to compete. First impressions are everything, and in the end, two teams do not make it through the tryouts.
Family Favorite
Jan 12, 2026
For our sibling teams, family is everything, so hosts and judges Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown task the bakers with creating family favorite desserts. They want to learn more about the bakers through these sweet treats, and they want to discover if the bakers can execute under pressure. But that's not all! There's a five-minute baking time extension at stake that puts the bakers into a spin -- literally! In the end, the least successful team is eliminated.
A Trip to Remember
Jan 19, 2026
Family trips are the source of some of the best memories and often the best food! Hosts and judges Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown challenge the sibling baking teams to tell them about their travel experiences through vacation desserts. The bakers put their teamwork to the test to recreate or reimagine a memorable food experience from a location they've visited. In the end, the least successful team is eliminated.
Puzzle Piece of Cake
Jan 26, 2026
Hosts and judges Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown challenge the sibling teams to create two separate cakes that fit together just like a puzzle. Then, the bakers must decorate each puzzle cake piece to represent their sibling. Assigned cake flavors include chocolate, lemon, spiced, carrot, red velvet, strawberry, cookies and cream, and raspberry. When the last piece locks into place, the least successful team is eliminated.
Rise & Shine
Feb 2, 2026
It's everyone's favorite challenge! Inspired by the outrageously good breakfasts after the sleepovers of their youth, hosts and judges Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown ask the bakers to create ultimate breakfast imposters. Each sibling team must make an over-the-top dessert imposter breakfast with three different dishes -- and don't forget the coffee twist! When the slumber party is over, the least successful team is eliminated.
Cream Puff Craze
Feb 9, 2026
Friendship bracelets are all the rage these days, so the sibling teams must create cream puff friendship bracelets arranged in two circles, like a pair of bracelets, decorated with messages to each other. And there's a twist! Mid-bake, hosts and judges Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown bring out "choux your own adventure" unexpected ingredients like ube, dates, tahini, yuzu, fresh corn and ricotta that the teams must incorporate into their cream puffs. In the end, the team who falls short is eliminated.
Bigs & Littles
Feb 16, 2026
Desserts come in all sizes...just like kids! Since all the bakers are working in a team with their big or little sibling, hosts and judges Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown ask the older sibling to make one large-scale big dessert and the younger sibling to make a dozen little desserts. And to make it even more challenging, the teammates can talk to each other, but they can't work on each other's desserts -- which makes for some epic and hilarious "sibling-splaining." In the end, one big and little team is eliminated.
Hat Tricks
Feb 23, 2026
Hosts and judges Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown ask the bakers to make "The Cat in the Hat" helper desserts. In order to earn a spot in the finale, the sibling teams must create an animal character who, like "The Cat in the Hat," brings joy to children and is represented in a large-scale, impressive dessert that isn't a cake. Once all the desserts have been tasted, the least successful team is eliminated.
Cakes to Move You
Mar 2, 2026
For the final challenge, hosts and judges Duff Goldman and Kardea Brown save the biggest and most difficult task for last: the sibling teams must create a delicious and visually stunning animated cake. The siblings must draw on every ounce of teamwork to pull off an impressive animated illusion as their cake spins around. The winning team walks away with $25,000 and the title of Next Gen Baking Champions.
