The World Pesto Championship
The Championship
The competitors
Every year, 100 competitors from all over the world compete with pestles and mortars to prepare authentic Genoese pesto using traditional methods and genuine, authentic ingredients.
The competition is open to everyone: professionals, enthusiasts, amateurs, and anyone curious to put themselves to the test.
Even children have their own space to try their hand with mortar and pestle in the Children’s Championship
The Championship is open to the public, who can attend all events free of charge and without a reservation.
The Championship
How to participate
There are two ways to participate in the World Pesto Championship:
- register using the form when applications open
- win a qualifying competition, gaining automatic access to the Championship
The 11th Edition was held on the 21st of March, 2026
The Championship
The Championship Day
In the Championship final, which will be held at Palazzo Ducale, the 100 participants will be divided into 10 groups of 10 competitors each. Each group will be evaluated by a jury composed of three expert judges, specifically selected for the occasion.
The competitor who obtains the highest score in each group will advance to the final round. Here, the 10 finalists will prepare their best pesto once again, which will be tasted by the jury to determine the champion.
The Championship
Registration for the Championship
Registration opens just a few months before the date of the Championship.
Want to be among the first to know?
Keep an eye on the updates on the website: we will publish the dates, program, and instructions in advance.