Next Level Baker returns for season 2 on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 9/8c on Fox, with episodes streaming on Hulu the next day. Gordon Ramsay and Carla Hall are back as mentors, joined this season by pastry chef Waylynn Lucas, and nine bakers from across the US are competing for $50,000 and a HexClad prize package. The season runs for five weeks and opens with a holiday performance by Pentatonix. This guide covers the premiere date and time, the mentors, the nine bakers, the format, the prize and how to watch.
Last updated on November 12, 2026, ahead of the season 2 premiere.
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Next Level Baker Season 2 at a Glance
| Detail | Next Level Baker season 2 |
| Premiere | Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 9/8c |
| Network | Fox |
| Streaming | Hulu, the day after each episode airs |
| Length of season | Five weeks |
| Mentors | Gordon Ramsay, Carla Hall and Waylynn Lucas |
| Bakers | Nine: three home, three professional and three social media bakers |
| Prize | $50,000 and a HexClad prize package |
| Premiere opener | A holiday performance by Pentatonix |
| Produced by | Studio Ramsay for Studio Ramsay Global and BiggerStage |
When Does Next Level Baker Season 2 Premiere?
Fox has set the season 2 premiere for Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET/PT (8 p.m. Central). The season airs over five weeks, so it fits into the holiday run-up. Fox has not published a total episode count. For what else is on this week, see our reality TV this week guide and our November 2026 TV guide.
How to Watch Next Level Baker Season 2
Episodes air live on Fox. Each one then streams on Hulu the day after it airs. Fox is available over the air in most US markets, and through cable and live TV providers that carry your local Fox station.
Who Are the Mentors?
- Gordon Ramsay: the chef and TV star hosts and mentors again. Executive producer credit goes to him and Matt Cahoon.
- Carla Hall: the chef, TV personality and cookbook author returns from season 1.
- Waylynn Lucas: the award-winning pastry chef and author is new to the show this season.
Candace Nelson, who mentored alongside Ramsay and Hall in season 1, is not part of the announced season 2 lineup.
Meet the Nine Bakers
Fox says the bakers were selected from across the US. Three are home bakers, three are professionals and three are social media bakers. Here is the full lineup.
| Baker | Category | Hometown |
| Ben Neumann | Professional | White Bear Lake, Minnesota |
| Pharren Evans | Professional | South Los Angeles, California |
| Salma Garcia | Professional | Providence, Rhode Island |
| Courtney Carey | Social media | North Tonawanda, New York |
| Colby Troy | Social media | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Greg Mason | Social media | Wilson, North Carolina |
| Marlina Corbin | Home | Clarksville, Tennessee |
| Trung Pham | Home | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Jimiah Albritton | Home | Palmetto, Florida |
Fox has not released ages, jobs or personal bios for the bakers, so we will add those when they are announced.
How Does Next Level Baker Work?
Fox describes season 2 as a holiday baking competition. The season starts with a team reveal in which each mentor picks one professional, one social media and one home baker. After that, the bakers face festive challenges with special guests and what Fox calls shocking mid-bake twists. Only one of the nine wins.
Fox has not described the individual challenges, so we will update this page after the premiere.
What Is the Prize?
The winner takes home $50,000 and a HexClad prize package from the cookware brand. That doubles the $25,000 prize that went to the season 1 winner.
Pentatonix and Other Guests
The season opens with a holiday performance by Pentatonix, the three-time Grammy-winning group. Fox also promises special guests this season but has not named them. For more festive viewing, see our Christmas movies guide.
Who Won Next Level Baker Season 1?
Season 1 aired in December 2025 with Ramsay, Hall and Candace Nelson as mentors. Stefanie Embree, a home baker from Oklahoma City who owns OKC Sweets, won the title, $25,000 and a HexClad cookware package after the finale on December 18, 2025. In the final, the last five bakers each built a three-tier cake, with the layers baked on different levels of the kitchen.
More Baking and Reality TV
If you like baking competitions, our Bake Off 2026 guide covers the bakers, the star bakers and the final. For every reality show on tonight in the US, UK, Australia and India, see our reality TV hub.
Next Level Baker Season 2 FAQ
When does Next Level Baker season 2 premiere?
Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 9/8c on Fox.
Where can I stream Next Level Baker?
On Hulu, the day after each episode airs on Fox.
How many episodes does season 2 have?
Fox has not announced an episode count. The season runs for five weeks.
Who are the mentors?
Gordon Ramsay, Carla Hall and Waylynn Lucas. Lucas is new this season.
Is Candace Nelson in season 2?
She is not in the announced lineup. She was a season 1 mentor.
Who are the bakers?
Ben Neumann, Pharren Evans, Salma Garcia, Courtney Carey, Colby Troy, Greg Mason, Marlina Corbin, Trung Pham and Jimiah Albritton.
How much is the prize?
$50,000 and a HexClad prize package, up from $25,000 in season 1.
Who performs in the premiere?
Pentatonix, who open the season with a holiday performance.
Who won season 1?
Stefanie Embree, a home baker from Oklahoma City.
Who produces Next Level Baker?
Studio Ramsay for Studio Ramsay Global and BiggerStage. Gordon Ramsay and Matt Cahoon are executive producers.
Image credits: the featured image and the mentors photo are promotional art for Next Level Baker released by Fox (photographer Brian Bowen Smith), and the baker portraits were released by Fox (photographer Lorraine O’Sullivan). All are used for editorial purposes. If you are the rights holder of an image and would like it removed or credited differently, see our terms of service or contact us and we will act promptly.
Sources: premiere date, mentors, bakers, format and prize are from Fox’s announcement in October 2026, as reported by Deadline, BroadwayWorld, Give Me My Remote and Yahoo Entertainment. Season 1 details are from Fox and local coverage in Oklahoma City. This page is not affiliated with Fox.
