The International Chocolate Awards is pleased to announce the Grand Jury Finalist entrants of the 2026 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)
Tablettes Aromatisées
Tablettes de chocolat blanc aromatisées avec infusion ou arôme
Chocolate Vision (Germany) - Houjicha (86.53)Tablettes de chocolat combination avec inclusions ou morceaux
Trüffel Güse Hannover (Germany) - Best Taste Ever (86.28)Ganaches, palets, pralines avec ganache, truffes
Ganaches ou truffes de chocolat noir aromatisées
Nobile AG (Switzerland) - Kantons Praline Fribourg (82.38)Fruits secs
Dragées/ fruits secs entiers enrobés au chocolat noir
AHERZ (Austria) - Tonka Mandel Dragee VEGAN (84.55)Dragées/ fruits secs entiers enrobés au chocolat lait
AHERZ (Austria) - Weisse Zimt Mandel Dragees (83.55)Pâte à tartiner
Pâtes à tartiner au chocolat noir (sans poudre de lait)
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)
