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Coppa del Mondo del Panettone: the 2026 Italian Selection has successfully concluded!

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, the Italian Selection of the Coppa del Mondo del Panettone took place at SIGEP in Rimini, a key event for the world of high-end pastry. On this occasion, we at Ecopack took part in the event as one of the official sponsors, reaffirming our commitment to supporting initiatives that promote quality, tradition, and innovation within the industry.

Coppa del Mondo del Panettone: what it is

The Coppa del Mondo del Panettone is an international competition entirely dedicated to the leavened pastry that symbolizes the Italian confectionery tradition: Panettone. The initiative was created to celebrate the history, culture, and artisanal excellence of a product that, starting from its origins, has successfully established itself on a global scale within the world of haute pâtisserie.

Held every two years, the event alternates with national selections organized in various countries around the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the United States, Peru, and Portugal. This international journey brings together the finest professionals in the industry, promoting quality, innovation, and tradition.

The competition is led by Master Giuseppe Piffaretti, patron of the event, who works alongside some of the most authoritative figures in international haute pâtisserie. These include world-renowned professionals such as Iginio Massari, Gianbattista Montanari, Pierpaolo Magni, Andrea Besuschio, Angelo Musolino, Biagio Settepani, Gastone Pegoraro, Carlos Mariel, Franck Collas, Rogerio Shimura, Juan Carlos Lopez, and Juan Pablo Colubri.

Ecopack’s Contribution

On the occasion of the Italian Selection of the Coppa del Mondo del Panettone, we actively supported the competition by providing all contestants with our custom-made paper baking moulds, specifically designed for the event. The leavened products presented to the jury were enhanced by solutions developed to ensure quality, functionality, and aesthetic appeal, once again confirming Ecopack’s commitment to supporting artisanal excellence and major industry events.

Customised Ecopack paper baking moulds for the Coppa del Mondo del Panettone

The italian finalists of the Coppa del Mondo del Panettone 2026

On this occasion, the 5 finalists for each competition category were announced: Traditional Panettone and Chocolate Panettone. Let’s discover the 10 pastry chefs who have qualified for the world final, which will be held in Milan in November 2026.

Here are the names of the 5 Italian finalists in the Traditional Panettone category:

1st place – Riccardo Manduca, Solodamanduca, Aprilia (LT)
2nd place – Roberto Moreschi, Roberto Pastry & Bakery, Chiavenna (SO)
3rd place – Fiorenze Ascolese, La Boutique dei Lievitati, San Valentino Torio (SA)
4th place – Luigi Vetrella, Visioni Lievitati per Eccellenza, Macerata Campania (CE)
5th place – Matteo Papanice, Cresci di Papanice, Castellana Grotte (BA)

First, second, and third place in the Traditional category

Here are the 5 finalists in the Chocolate Panettone category, along with their rankings:

1st place – Armando Pascarella, Pasticceria Armando Pascarella, San Felice a Cancello (CE)
2nd place – Pompilio Giardino, Panificio Pompilio, Adriano Irpino (AV)
3rd place – Luigi Avallone, Pasticceria F.lli Avallone, Quarto (NA)
4th place – Andrea Ceracchi, Maciste Pasticceria, Cori (LT)
5th place – Alessandro Slama, Da Slama, Ischia.

First, second, and third place in the Chocolate category

With this selection, the roster of Italian candidates who will advance to the world final is now complete. After the national selections in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, France, Brazil, Singapore, and the United States, the finals for the teams from Peru, Japan, Taiwan, and Australia are now eagerly awaited, scheduled to take place between February and May.

A prestigious jury of Coppa del Mondo del Panettone

The Italian final of the Coppa del Mondo del Panettone 2026 was judged by an outstanding panel of internationally renowned pastry chefs, who carefully and expertly evaluated every detail of the creations, highlighting artisanal excellence and the talent of the competing Italian masters.

Traditional Panettone jury:

Giuseppe Mascolo – 2022 World Champion
Jesús Machi – President, Richemont Club Spain
Stefania Mantero – Master Pastry Chef, APEI
Oscar Pagani – Maestri del Lievito Madre
Gianbattista Montanari – Master, AMPI
Salvatore Tortora – 2021 World Champion
Nicolas Botomisy – Pastry Chef & Chocolatier
Enrico Cerea – Master, APEI, three Michelin stars

Traditional Panettone jury

Chocolate Panettone jury:

Josè Romero – Ambassador and Demonstrator, Molino Dallagiovanna
Carlotta Filippini – Master Pastry Chef, APEI
Marco Pedron – Master Pastry Chef, APEI
Matteo Cunsolo – President, Richemont Club Italy
Angelo Di Masso – Master Pastry Chef, CONPAIT
Matteo Papagno – Master Pastry Chef, CONPAIT
Ezio Marinato – Master of Arts and Crafts, 2016
Paolo Staccoli – Master Pastry Chef & Chocolatier, APEI

Chocolate Panettone jury

The Coppa del Mondo del Panettone final is approaching

With the world final on the horizon, the excellence of Italian pastry continues to shine on the international stage. We are proud to support this competition, reaffirming our commitment to providing paper solutions that enhance every pastry creation, combining quality, innovation, and artisanal passion.

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