The international stage is set. The Italian Food Awards 2026 return to spotlight the quality, innovation, and authentic excellence of Italy’s agri-food sector on a global scale. As the only B2B event entirely dedicated to Italian food innovations, this initiative brings together leading global buyers, importers, and distributors to drive visibility, networking, and international growth.
Organized in partnership with SIAL Paris, Universal Marketing, NIQ, and Italia del Gusto Consortium—and sponsored by Nextcom and Salpi—the awards create a unique bridge between Italian producers and key international decision-makers.
A total of 87 Italian products launched over the last two years across retail and foodservice channels worldwide are competing for the top spot.
The nominated products are competing across 9 official categories:
- Bakery
- Beverage
- Cheese & Dairy
- Frozen
- Future Excellence
- Meat & Salumi
- Oils & Condiments
- Preserves & Sauces
- Sweets
Discover all the nominated products that are redefining Italian food innovation in North America ↓
How the Winners Are Chosen
To ensure a comprehensive and objective assessment, the final ranking is based on a two-phase evaluation process:
- Expert Jury (70%): Scores awarded by an elite panel of 9 international retail buyers, importers, and F&B managers (including experts from Metro AG, Carrefour, EROSKI, Aurora Importing, and more).
- Sales Performance (30%): Data-driven analysis analyzing international market performance, provided in collaboration with NIQ.
Save the Date: The Awards Ceremony at SIAL Paris
The culmination of this global competition will take place live in Paris! The winners across all 9 categories will be officially announced and awarded during the exclusive ceremony:
- Date: October 18th, 2026 at 5:00 PM
- Venue: SIAL Talks – Hall 5A, SIAL Paris
Join us in Paris at the Italian Pavilion to celebrate the brands redefining Italian food innovation on the global stage!