The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Grand Jury Finalist entrants of the 2026Â DACH and Eastern European Craft Chocolatier Competitions, which were judged in-person from 22-23 January 2026 in Vienna, Austria as part of the Schokoladefestival. These competitions judged the craft chocolatier entries from Germany, Austria and Switzerland and countries of Eastern Europe with the help of our local partner and judge Lilla Toth-Tatai from Taste.Better.Chocolate in Vienna, Austria.
The judging panel included our regular judges, along with many of our IICCT alumni and other specialists from the local area and members of our international Grand Jury panel.
The Grand Jury Finalists are the entries that made it through to the final Grand Jury round, following an initial technical Selection round and a main round of judging. The Finalists are the nominations from which the Grand Jury select the prize winners, through private voting.
While listing as a Grand Jury Finalist is an achievement in itself, it does not necessarily indicate that the entry will receive a prize.
The 2026 DACH Craft Chocolatier Competition Grand Jury Finalists are:
(In alphabetical order within each category)
Barras saborizado
Barras de chocolate blanco con infusiones o polvos
Chocolate Vision (Germany) - Houjicha (86.53)Barras de chocolate con combinación con inclusiones o piezas
Trüffel Güse Hannover (Germany) - Best Taste Ever (86.28)Ganaches, palets, ganaches pralinés y trufas
Ganaches o trufas de chocolate negro saborizado
Nobile AG (Switzerland) - Kantons Praline Fribourg (82.38)Nueces
Grajeas de chocolate negro, nueces cubiertas de chocolate negro
AHERZ (Austria) - Tonka Mandel Dragee VEGAN (84.55)Grajeas de chocolate con leche, nueces enteras cubiertas de chocolate con leche
AHERZ (Austria) - Weisse Zimt Mandel Dragees (83.55)Cremas para untar
Cremas para untar de chocolate negro (sin leche en polvo)
AHERZ (Austria) - Piemont Haselnusscreme 63% Nuss (82.43)The 2026 Eastern European Craft Chocolatier Competition Grand Jury Finalists are:
(In alphabetical order within each category)
