La Gara del Biscotto

Bake a Biscotto. Share Your Story.

Create one sweet biscotto inspired by an Italian tradition, region, ingredient, family memory or contemporary idea — and tell us whether it is best enjoyed at colazione, merenda, dolce or dopo cena.

17–18 October 2026

Italian Festa & Expo · Royal Exhibition Building

Enter the Competition

Tray of freshly baked almond biscotti with nuts

Places are limited

Registrations are limited to 50 entrants in each category — register early to secure your place.

/ The competition

Your Recipe. Your Story. Your Biscotto.

Some recipes are passed down through generations. Others begin with a new idea.

Bake it. Tell its story.

Every biscotto has a story. Tell us yours.

La Gara del Biscotto celebrates the creativity, memories and traditions behind Italian baking. Entrants are invited to prepare one original biscotto with a clear connection to Italy and share the story or inspiration behind it.

Whether your recipe comes from a treasured family notebook, celebrates the flavours of a particular region or reimagines a classic for today, we want to discover it.

Enter the Competition

/ Entry categories

Who Can Enter?

Registrations are limited to 50 entrants in each category.

Category 1

Nonna & Biscuit Expert

For home bakers and passionate biscuit makers who want to celebrate Italian flavours, family recipes and baking traditions.

Your biscotto may be inspired by a treasured memory, a particular Italian region or your own contemporary interpretation.

Category 2

Student

For students currently enrolled in a recognised baking, patisserie, cookery or hospitality course.

A teacher or trainer may provide advice, but the student must prepare and finish the entry independently.

/ The challenge

What Will You Create?

Prepare one sweet, hand-held and fully baked biscotto that you have made yourself.

Cakes, pastries, slices, plated desserts and biscuits requiring refrigeration cannot be accepted.

Your biscotto may be traditional or contemporary, but it must:

Have a clear connection to Italian food, culture or heritage
Be safe to store and serve at room temperature
Be submitted with its complete recipe, ingredients and allergen information
Be accompanied by the story or inspiration behind its creation

/ How it works

From Your Kitchen to the Festa Stage

Step 1

Register

Choose your category and complete the online entry form. Places are limited, so early registration is recommended.

Step 2

Prepare Your Biscotti

Accepted entrants will receive an entry number and instructions for preparing, packaging and delivering 18 matching biscuits for the qualifying round.

Step 3

Impress the Jury

Entries will be assessed through a blind judging process based on flavour, texture, bake quality, appearance, authenticity and story.

Step 4

Become a Finalist

Five finalists from each category will be invited to prepare a fresh batch for the final judging.

Step 5

Join Us at the Festa

The winners will be announced on the Indoor Main Stage at the Italian Festa & Expo on Saturday 17 October 2026.

Plan Your Visit

/ Judging

What Will the Jury Be Looking For?

Each biscotto will be judged on:

Taste and flavour

Balance, ingredient quality, finish and aftertaste.

Texture and bake quality

Freshness, consistency and suitability for the chosen style.

Appearance

Visual appeal, uniformity and presentation.

Authenticity and story

Connection to Italian tradition, heritage or inspiration.

Celebrating Italian food culture around the world

Part of the Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo

La Gara del Biscotto forms part of the Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo, one of the longest-running international initiatives promoted by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The official 2026 theme is: “Cucina italiana patrimonio UNESCO: territori e filiere d’eccellenza.”

Established following Expo Milano 2015, the initiative celebrates Italian culinary culture, regional traditions, quality ingredients and the people and communities who preserve them.

/ Get involved

Be Part of La Gara del Biscotto

Grandmother and granddaughter baking together in a kitchen

Call Your Nonna. Challenge a Friend.

Know a Brilliant Biscotto Maker?

Great recipes deserve their moment in the spotlight. If your nonna makes an unforgettable biscotto — or you know a friend who is passionate about Italian baking — encourage them to enter La Gara del Biscotto.

Share the competition and help us uncover the recipes, memories and baking talents within our community.

Invite Someone to Enter

Chefs on stage at the Italian Festa cooking challenge with judges seated at tables

Saturday 17 October 2026 · Indoor Main Stage · Royal Exhibition Building

See the Finalists Take the Stage

Join us at the Italian Festa & Expo as the finalists’ biscotti face the final judging and the winners are announced live on the Indoor Main Stage.

Come along, support your favourite biscuit makers and celebrate the stories, traditions and flavours behind their creations.

Plan Your Visit

Ready to enter?

Bake It. Share It. Celebrate It.

Enter your own biscotto, encourage your nonna or a talented friend to participate — or join us at the Festa to see the finalists presented and the winners announced.

Enter the Competition

/ Enter now

Is Your Biscotto Ready for the Challenge?

Bring us a recipe filled with flavour, creativity and Italian spirit. Places are limited to 50 entrants in each category, so secure your place early.

Questions? Contact the competition team at mif@coasit.com.au or +61 3 9349 9000.

Enter La Gara del Biscotto Download the Participant Guidelines