PARTICIPATION REQUEST '26
MASTERS STORIES

End of an era: Michelin scraps the Green Star

Stars come and go, as is evident once again. The Michelin Guide is opting for a surprising change of course: the famous Green Star is disappearing from the landscape after six years, while at the same time a new platform is being rolled out for chefs, hoteliers, and winemakers who, according to the guide, make a difference.

As of June 1, 2026, Michelin will officially pull the plug on the Green Star. The award was introduced in 2020 as recognition for restaurants committed to, among other things, local products, seasonal cooking, and more sustainable business practices. Currently, 23 restaurants in the Netherlands hold the Green Star. This will come to a definitive end at the end of 2026.

For many hospitality businesses, the Groene Ster grew into more than just an extra listing in the guide. It became a visible hallmark for guests who want to make conscious choices and an incentive for entrepreneurs to invest further in sustainability. Precisely for this reason, the disappearance of the distinction will undoubtedly lead to mixed reactions within the sector.

At the same time, Michelin is clearly looking ahead. With the introduction of Mindful Voices, the organization is launching an international platform that takes center stage for innovative chefs, hoteliers, and wine producers. From now on, it is not so much the location or the award, but the people behind exceptional initiatives who will be given a stage.

According to Michelin, this step fits within a broader development. The guide no longer wants to position itself exclusively as a reviewer of restaurants, but increasingly as an international point of reference for gastronomy, hospitality, and wine. Stories, encounters, and innovative ideas are to play a greater role in this.

International Director Gwendal Poullennec describes Mindful Voices as a place for professionals who challenge the existing rules within their field and forge new paths. Their stories will appear on the Michelin website, app, social media channels, and in the magazine. These personalities will also play a prominent role during major events of the guide.

According to Michelin, however, sustainability is not disappearing from the picture. Instead of a separate distinction, the subject will henceforth be included within a broader assessment of craftsmanship, innovation, and impact.

Always the first to know

Would you like to receive these kinds of stories directly in your inbox from now on? Subscribe to MASTERS NEWS and receive the best articles weekly, with the latest updates from MASTERS EXPO and the surrounding premium world. Subscribe.

This is how musical actress April Darby & Alessandro chose their wedding rings.
It is a symbol of a lifetime together: the wedding ring. Choosing one is often not something that happens overnight. For singer and musical actress April Darby and her husband Alessandro, that journey didn't begin in a display case, but behind the scenes at GASSAN. This is what the process looked like.
Pieter van den Hoogeband: 'always looking for inspiration'
He is regarded as one of the greatest swimmers of all time. A global citizen, yet at the same time strongly connected to Brabant, where he can indulge his love for innovation and collaboration. Meanwhile, Pieter van den Hoogenband continues to seek inspiration. Not only to excel himself, but above all to enable others to do so. Jaap de Groot in conversation with an as-yet-driven idealist.

Generate more

This is how musical actress April Darby & Alessandro chose their wedding rings.
It is a symbol of a lifetime together: the wedding ring. Choosing one is often not something that happens overnight. For singer and musical actress April Darby and her husband Alessandro, that journey didn't begin in a display case, but behind the scenes at GASSAN. This is what the process looked like.
Pieter van den Hoogeband: 'always looking for inspiration'
He is regarded as one of the greatest swimmers of all time. A global citizen, yet at the same time strongly connected to Brabant, where he can indulge his love for innovation and collaboration. Meanwhile, Pieter van den Hoogenband continues to seek inspiration. Not only to excel himself, but above all to enable others to do so. Jaap de Groot in conversation with an as-yet-driven idealist.
6 summer escapes in nature
Summer doesn't always have to smell of sunscreen and bustling boulevards. Sometimes it sounds like rustling pines, rippling mountain water, or a gentle breeze through a castle garden. From treehouses high amidst the greenery to tranquil retreats where your schedule melts in the sun: these addresses show just how delightfully luxurious it can be when nature takes center stage.
From desert nights to polar silence: five unforgettable adventures
From sleeping under a sparkling starry sky in the Sahara to floating above the glowing red dunes of Namibia: some journeys are much more than a holiday. They are experiences that change your view of the world and resonate for years to come. For those yearning for silence, adventure, and landscapes that seem to come straight out of a dream, MASTERS has compiled five extraordinary escapades.
Ostreum Group brings refined oyster & caviar experience to MASTERS SUMMER EXPO
During MASTERS SUMMER EXPO, hole 8 wasn't just about a clean swing. Golfers were immersed in an exclusive oyster & caviar experience by Ostreum Group, complete with freshly opened oysters, premium caviar, and a striking Oyster Gin Shot. Behind this refined concept stand two young entrepreneurs with remarkably high ambition: from Zeeland roots to an international hospitality experience that feels at home in any major city around the world.
Summer has officially begun: these are 5 places to celebrate it.
Summer has officially arrived. And although many Dutch people dream of Saint-Tropez, Mykonos, or Ibiza, you don't need to take a plane at all for a stylish summer day. From exclusive rooftops in Amsterdam to beach clubs with a Southern French vibe: these are the places where you’ll want to spend your summer this year.
PARTICIPATION REQUEST