MasterChef Junior Spain will premiere its 12th season exclusively on Disney+ on December 18, marking the culinary competition series move to streaming after 13 years on public television.
The new installment will feature five episodes scheduled throughout the holiday season, culminating in a grand finale on January 6.
The transition to Disney+ comes after 11 seasons broadcast on Radiotelevisión Española, the Spanish state-owned public broadcaster known as RTVE. Network executives and producers formally presented the 12th edition following initial announcements earlier in the month regarding the show's migration to the digital platform.
Format changes and Disney integration
The move to streaming introduces key structural modifications aimed at streamlining the competition for digital audiences. A group of 16 aspiring chefs aged between 8 and 12 years old will compete in the MasterChef kitchen during the new season.
In a departure from previous seasons, producers have scaled back the number of challenges per episode from three down to two. The reduction is designed to concentrate the competition and give each individual cooking test greater prominence within the broadcast.
To align with its new streaming home, the series will incorporate specially themed challenges inspired by the Disney universe. These tasks will blend culinary skill tests with iconic characters and stories that resonate across multiple generations of viewers.
Judging panel and contestant prizes
Despite the change in venue and structure, the judging panel remains familiar. Professional chefs Pepe Rodríguez and Jordi Cruz will return to assess the young contestants alongside food personality Delicious Martha.
Rodríguez is the head chef at the Michelin-starred El Bohío restaurant in Illescas, while Cruz leads the kitchen at the renowned ABaC restaurant in Barcelona. Delicious Martha, the brand created by culinary content creator Martha Sanahuja, returns to complete the judging team.
The judges will guide the young cooks through demanding culinary tests while maintaining the lighthearted tone and family entertainment that have defined the franchise since its Spanish debut.
The contestant who wins the 12th season will receive a cash prize of 12,000 euros along with the official trophy designating them as the MasterChef Junior Spain champion.
The champion will also win an intensive four-day culinary training course at the Basque Culinary Center in San Sebastián, which they will be eligible to attend alongside a chosen companion.
