Lizzo, Sarah Michelle Gellar and More Stars Feast on Chicken Favorites at TenderFest 2026

Tender loving care! Lizzo, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alana and Danielle Haim, Jaleel White, and more celebs had plenty to cluck about at TenderFest 2026.

The annual chicken tender festival took over The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, on Saturday, Sept. 19, where attendees and celebrity judges put their taste buds to work in the ConTender Competition to crown the best take on the crispy classic.

Guests got their fill from vendors including Delilah, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Pizzeria Mozza, Marvin, Le Coupé, Box Chicken, Raising Cane’s, Chimmelier, Tendercrush, Miya Miya, Jitlada, Petit Trois and Lucia, while dipping, snacking, and mingling with stars throughout the night.

The foodie fête has also drawn plenty of famous faces in years past, including Kris Jenner, Diplo, Benny Blanco, and Sydney Sweeney.

When all was said and done, Jitlada ruled the roost, taking home the ConTender Cup and a cash prize benefiting the restaurant’s charity of choice.

And no feast is complete without dessert! Henry’s Secret Ice Cream, All About The Cinnamon, and Gone Bananas Bread helped end the night on a sweet note.

Hungry for more? TenderFest is heading beyond the West Coast for the first time, making its Chicago, Illinois, debut on Saturday, Oct. 10.

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