Gelato Festival World Ranking reveals the world’s leading gelato makers
Credit: Gelato World Ranking
The new edition of the Gelato Festival World Ranking 2026, the global ranking of the world’s best master gelato makers according to Gelato Festival World Masters, was officially unveiled yesterday in Rome at the headquarters of the Foreign Press Association in Italy, located in Palazzo Grazioli.
Taking the top spot in this year’s ranking is Carlo Guerriero of La Cremeria Gelato Italiano in Cádiz, Spain. Second place goes to Tomasz Szypuła of Szypuła 1974 in Baborów, Poland, while Elisabeth Stolz of Osteria Hubenbauer in Varna (Bolzano), Italy, ranks third.
After more than fifteen years of international competitions, thousands of tastings and over 8,000 gelato makers evaluated across five continents, the Gelato Festival World Ranking has become one of the most authoritative observatories of the global artisanal gelato industry. More than a competition, it offers a snapshot of how gelato culture is evolving worldwide — shaped by technical research, local ingredients, cultural influences and new generations of professionals redefining the craft.
The Gelato Festival World Ranking is compiled by Gelato Festival World Masters, the world’s leading international competition dedicated to individual gelato makers, aimed at identifying and promoting the finest professionals in artisanal gelato. Rankings are determined by competitors’ performances throughout the circuit, together with evaluations based on key criteria including flavor, creativity and aesthetic presentation.
This year’s ranking reflects the growing internationalization of the sector, with top positions awarded to professionals working across Spain, Poland, Belgium, the United States, the Netherlands and Italy. At the same time, it confirms the enduring influence of Italian gelato culture worldwide, with Italian-trained craftsmanship continuing to inspire laboratories and gelaterias far beyond Italy’s borders.
The ranking also highlights a new generation of gelato professionals combining traditional Italian techniques with regional ingredients, local culinary identities and contemporary gastronomic research. Today’s leading gelato makers increasingly operate at the intersection of pastry, foodservice innovation and experiential dining, transforming artisanal gelato into a constantly evolving category.
During the press conference, Ádám Fazekas of Budapest – already crowned world champion in 2021 – was officially inducted into the Gelato Festival World Ranking Hall of Fame.
The event was held in partnership with Carpigiani and SIGEP World by Italian Exhibition Group, reaffirming the connection between professional training, gelato culture and the international promotion of artisanal gelato.
“This edition of the Gelato Festival World Ranking has a special meaning because it comes at the conclusion of the latest Gelato Festival World Masters championship, an international journey developed over five years. It is the result of work spanning continents, cultures and thousands of tastings, allowing us to build a genuine picture of the evolution of artisanal gelato around the world. I have been involved in this project since 2013, and seeing such an international ranking today is a source of great pride.” said Adriana Tancredi, project manager of Gelato Festival World Masters.
“The Gelato Festival World Ranking has the merit of making visible what happens every day inside gelato laboratories: talent, research and entrepreneurial spirit. For Carpigiani, supporting this journey means investing in people even before technology, because it is master gelato makers who transform innovation into experience. In an increasingly international market, the real challenge is to support the sector’s growth without losing its identity: training, quality and a global vision are the key drivers that allow artisanal gelato to continue being both an ambassador of Made in Italy and a universal language.” said Federico Tassi, general manager of Carpigiani.
“We are proud to support Gelato Festival World Masters, which celebrates the talent of master gelato makers and demonstrates the worldwide spread of artisanal gelato culture. This journey reflects the international growth of one of Italy’s most iconic food traditions, increasingly central to global Foodservice dynamics. Within this framework, SIGEP World continues to strengthen its role as the leading international platform for the sector: the recent launch of SIGEP Meets the World, with its first stop in Chicago, represents a new milestone in an international strategy that already looks ahead to SIGEP Asia in Singapore from July 15–17 and, naturally, to SIGEP World at Rimini Expo Centre in January 2027 and Las Vegas from April 13–15, 2027.” said Ilaria Cicero, Global Exhibition director, dood & beverage division.
Top 10 – Gelato Festival World Ranking 2026
- Carlo Guerriero – La Cremeria Gelato Italiano, Cádiz, Spain
- Tomasz Szypuła – Szypuła 1974, Baborów, Poland
- Elisabeth Stolz – Osteria Hubenbauer, Varna, Italy
- Giovanna Bonazzi – La Parona del Gelato, Parona, Italy
- Christian Wu – Gelateria Giotto, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium
- Savannah G. Lee – Savannah’s Kitchen, San Francisco, USA
- Massimiliano Scotti – VeroLatte, Vigevano, Italy
- Maurizio Melani – Véneta Gelato Italiano, Valencia, Spain
- Kees Baars – IJssalon IJsie Prima, Callantsoog, Netherlands
- Fabio Forghieri – Gelateria dei Principi, Correggio, Italy + Leonardo La Porta – Gelateria Miretti, Torino, Italy. Tenth place is shared ex aequo by Fabio Forghieri and Leonardo La Porta.
