Gelato Festival World Masters: here are the 17 European Finalists

On October 30th and 31st, the headquarters of Carpigiani Gelato University in Anzola Emilia hosted the European Finals of the five-year cycle of the Gelato Festival World Masters championship. Two days of challenge and 74 participants from 13 European countries completed the roster of European gelato artisans who will advance to the World Final to be held in 2026. The dates will be unveiled during the 47th edition of Sigep World, scheduled in Rimini from January 16th to 21st, 2026. The international competition is organized in collaboration with Carpigiani and Sigep – Italian Exhibition Group. Sponsors for these selection days include: IFI as Main sponsor, Hiber, Pregel. Filicori Zecchini supports the event.

Here, then, are the 17 European Finalists, divided by country and strictly in alphabetical order: Velislava Kostova of Gelavito in Saedinenie with the flavor “Farm Cheese Saedinenie” (Bulgaria); Fabio Marasti of gelateria La Gourmand’Ice in Heusy with the flavor “Nessun Dorma”, and Christian Wu of Gelateria Giotto in Jette with the flavor “Il Bosco dei Cento Acri” (The Hundred Acre Wood) (Belgium); Dimitrios Charalambous of Gelato Palladion in Rhodes with the flavor “Yoghurt Orange”, and Charalampos Marantidis of gelateria Marantidis in Kavala with the flavor “Exotic Greek Cheese” (Greece); Kees Baars of gelateria IJsie Prima in Callantsoog with the flavor “Seaside Delight”, and Stefan Beerens of gelateria Kennis van IJs in Duizel with the flavor “Jmagi” (Netherlands); Wioletta Gbiorczyk of gelateria Lodziarnia Mleczna in Radom with the flavor “Biscotto alla mandorla” (Almond Biscuit), and Tomasz Szypuła of gelateria Szypuła – 1974 in Baborów with the flavor “HYĆKA – Fiori e frutti di sambuco” (Elderflower and Elderberry) (Poland); Jakub Gavor of gelateria Ještě jednu in Brno with the flavor “Bacio cake”, and Lukáš Pohnán of gelateria Zmrzlina Senomaty in Senomaty with the flavor “Tarte Tatin” (Czech Republic); Carlo Guerriero of La Cremeria Gelato Italiano in Cádiz with the flavor “Sherrymisu³”, Alfredo José Marrero Páez of gelateria Menester in Puerto de la Cruz with the flavor “Origén cacao”, and Bernardo Vicente Schenoni Siberta of Deleite Heladería Artesanal in Madrid with the flavor “Caprichio Persa” (Persian Caprice) (Spain); Massimiliano Lanzafame of Maxsimo-Gelateria Naturale in Düdingen with the flavor “Dedicato a te” (Dedicated to you) (Switzerland). János Somodi of gelateria Florida Fagyizó in Balatonmáriafürdő with the flavor “Torta della nonna” (Grandma’s Cake), and Dávid Wilheim of gelateria DaCrema Fagyizó in Nagykanizsa with the flavor “Il Re del Piemonte” (The King of Piedmont) (Hungary).

A special award for “Best Storytelling” was given by the foreign press to Julien Loeuil of Meyer Chocolatier in Paisy with the flavor “Retour d’Alpage”. The artisan received an IFI Coolbox as a gift, the professional refrigerated travel case for carrying gelato anywhere. Note: Loeuil does not advance to the final; this award is based solely on the evaluation of the verbal presentation criterion for the flavor.