The 2026 academic year is officially underway at Institut Lyfe!

The 2026 academic year is officially underway at Institut Lyfe! This year, nearly 450 new students have joined the campus to begin their studies in hospitality management, culinary arts and pastry arts. Coming from all four corners of the world, they represent no fewer than 55 different nationalities: a diversity that is at the heart of what makes Institut Lyfe so unique, and which was fully reflected throughout Welcome Days.

Over the course of several days, our new students discovered their new study and living environment, met their fellow students and the Institut Lyfe teams, and took part in a wide range of activities designed to help them take their first steps into this new adventure.

A first immersion into the world of Institut Lyfe

Joining Institut Lyfe means beginning a new chapter and a new adventure. To support our students through this important milestone, Welcome Week gives them the opportunity to gradually discover the campus and everything that will become part of their daily lives throughout their studies.

From their first meetings with academic and administrative teams to discovering the different areas of the campus, each highlight of the week gave them the opportunity to find their bearings and gain a better understanding of the environment in which they will grow and develop over the coming years.

450 students, 55 nationalities: a cohort that reflects Institut Lyfe

This new cohort stands out for the diversity of its backgrounds and origins. This year, we are welcoming an international community bringing together a wealth of different cultures, languages and experiences, with 55 nationalities represented.

This international outlook is an integral part of the Institut Lyfe experience. It enables students to learn from people with different backgrounds, discover new ways of thinking and working, but also to build connections with classmates they might never otherwise have had the opportunity to meet.

Getting to know one another and building first connections

Throughout the week, first conversations gave way to new friendships and shared memories. Because Welcome Week is, above all, about meeting people and creating connections. Through a range of activities, students had the opportunity to get to know one another in a setting away from the classroom.

The week featured an Olympic-style team challenge, our traditional Grand Banquet at the Abbaye de Collonges, an alumni rally around Lyon, meetings with their class patrons, as well as plenty of opportunities to share informal and convivial moments together.

The traditional Grand Banquet at the Abbaye de Collonges

This year, the traditional Grand Banquet was held at the Abbaye de Collonges in Collonges-au-Mont-d’Or, a place deeply connected to the history of Paul Bocuse, the father of modern French gastronomy and co-founder of Institut Lyfe alongside Gérard Pélisson.

In an iconic room dominated by a Grand Limonaire, a mechanical organ dating back to the early 1900s and capable of producing the sound of an orchestra of 110 musicians, our new students enjoyed a convivial and festive evening together. A wonderful way to celebrate their arrival at Institut Lyfe while introducing them to a venue that embodies an important part of Lyon’s gastronomic history.

A new adventure begins

Following this eventful week of discovery, our new cohort has now begun their studies and their new life at Institut Lyfe. For some, it is the beginning of a journey they have been dreaming about for a long time. For others, it is the first step towards a career they have only recently chosen, and which may well become their passion.

One thing is certain: the 2026 academic year marks the beginning of a new adventure for our new students, united by a shared desire to learn, grow and build their future in the hospitality and culinary arts industries.

Welcome to Institut Lyfe, everyone!

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Would you like to discover the world of Institut Lyfe for yourself? Join us at one of our upcoming Open Days to explore our campus, meet our teams and students, and experience first-hand what makes our programmes and our community so unique.

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