We are thrilled to announce the chocolatiers who have triumphed in the Italian/Mediterranean Craft Chocolatier Competition 2026. The competition was held in the picturesque city of Florence, Italy, between 28 February – 3 March 2026. This highly anticipated event celebrated the rich flavors and influences of the Mediterranean region.

The competition brought together an array of talented chocolate companies from Italy and countries around the Mediterranean. It served as a platform to showcase their passion, creativity, and dedication to the craft of chocolate-making.

With its unique combination of cultures and ingredients inspired by the bountiful Mediterranean sea, this competition exemplifies the harmonious fusion of flavors that captivate chocolate enthusiasts worldwide.

The winners of this Italian/Mediterranean Craft Chocolatier Competition will advance to the highly anticipated World Final, scheduled for later in 2026. 

Traceability

Continuing our efforts to make the Awards more transparent, we keep emphasizing the importance of working with traceable cacao across the whole of the competitions. Our filled chocolate competitions, now called “Craft Chocolatier Competitions”, demonstrate an increasing focus on cacao sourcing and traceability. This new traceability policy reflects not only current trends in craft chocolate, but also our own founding philosophy and focus on fine cacao.

Obsessed with quality

Spanning over 20 categories, the competition recognized exceptional craftsmanship in various craft chocolatier products, including delectable filled chocolates/bonbons, mouthwatering pralines, tantalizing enrobed fruits and nuts, and irresistibly rich chocolate spreads. In addition, the competition showcased flavored bars made with both couverture and bean-to-bar chocolate, revealing the depth of talent and innovation within the industry.

Highlights of the competition

A moment we have never had yet in the history of the Awards since we are publishing the final scores: many entries scored over 94 points which shows truly exceptional quality and craftsmanship. 

Highest on the list is Guido Castagna, who doesn’t only show each year how an award-winning gianduiotto should taste like, this year he surpassed all records by scoring 97.8 with his signature Giuinott. This brought him not only a Gold but also a special Gold for Gianduiotto and a Special for Local Ingredients. His other nutty products were just as successful, his Crema Nocciola +55 scored 96, too. 

Other Italian chocolatiers worth highlighting are Bellantoni Cioccolato for his white chocolate dragées, the Chamomile Pine nuts scoring 94 and the Orange & Liquorice scoring 94.1. A unique local delicacy called ‘boero’ also triumphed with a score of 94.9, Sgranfgnón Boero, created by Falicetto Puro Piacenza.

What truly sets the Italian/Mediterranean Craft Chocolatier Competition apart is the remarkable obsession demonstrated by chocolatiers in the region to seeking the highest quality ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible, and their products infused with wisdom and harmony. Each creation is a testament to their sense of aesthetics, embodying the richness of history while embracing a contemporary touch.

Once again, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners of the Italian/Mediterranean Craft Chocolatier Competition. Your creativity, passion, and commitment to excellence have elevated the craft of chocolate-making, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing your continued success on the global stage.

Judging and prizes

The judges were drawn from IICCT alumni, local experts and members of our permanent international Grand Jury.

The categories judged included flavoured chocolate bars, filled chocolates, enrobed fruits and nuts and chocolate spreads, as well as flavoured bars (not bean-to-bar) and are based on yearly feedback from our entrants and in consultation with the fine chocolate industry. All judging is anonymised, including at the Grand Jury final session, where Golds, Silver and Bronze prizes are awarded by private voting according to the Grand Jury rules.

Grand Jury FinalistsGrand Jury Finalists

Prizes are awarded only to entries that meet the required standard for each prize.

2026 Italy/Mediterranean Craft Chocolatier Competition Winners are:

(Prizes are shown in score order for each medal)

Flavoured bars

Dark chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring

Dark chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces

White chocolate bars with inclusions or pieces

Ganaches, palets, ganache pralines and truffles

Unflavoured dark chocolate ganaches or truffles

Flavoured dark chocolate ganaches or truffles

Flavoured white chocolate ganaches or truffles

Flavoured ganaches or truffles with combination coating or filling

Nuts

Nut based pralines with dark chocolate

Nut based pralines with milk chocolate

Milk chocolate dragées, enrobed whole nuts

Nut based pralines with white chocolate

White chocolate dragées, enrobed whole nuts

Nut based pralines with combination chocolate

Others – fruit/sugar/butter/cream/misc

Dark chocolate enrobed fruit pastes, jellies/gelée

Combination enrobed fruit pastes, jellies/gelée

Dark chocolate enrobed whole fruit

White chocolate enrobed whole fruit

Spreads

Spreads with dark chocolate (no milk powder)

Spreads with milk chocolate

(*)  Declared chocolate maker for private label bars.

(**) Winner has declared the product is made with their own bean-to-bar chocolate or couverture.