MADISON, WI – Mark your calendars and join the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) Tuesday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 4, 2026, from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. for the World Championship Cheese Contest! Members of the public are invited to visit the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin to observe this exciting international competition, enjoy free cheese samples, and learn the ins and outs of technical cheese judging.
“This Contest is truly a showcase of the world’s best cheeses. Public access to the preliminary rounds of judging offers cheese lovers a rare opportunity to see the industry’s top technical experts in action. We’re thrilled to provide an opportunity for the community to learn more about the craftsmanship behind the dairy products they know and love, and discover new dairy favorites,” said WCMA Contest Director Kirsten Strohmenger.
Following rigorous technical evaluation of thousands of entries on March 3-4, the Contest culminates with a livestreamed ceremony on Thursday, March 5 at 2:00 p.m. (CT) announcing the Top 20 cheeses in the world and the winner of the prestigious World Champion title. The final day of competition and the announcement are not open to the public, but fans of great cheese can tune in live on Facebook or at WorldChampionCheese.org
Hosted by WCMA since 1957, the World Championship Cheese Contest is the largest technical dairy products evaluation in the world. In 2024, a washed-rind, semi-hard cow’s milk cheese called Hornbacher, made by four-time World Champion cheesemaker Michael Spycher at Mountain Dairy Fritzenhaus for Gourmino AG in Bern, Switzerland, bested over 3,300 entries with an impressive score of 98.98 out of 100—securing its third consecutive and fourth overall World Champion title.
Members of the media interested in attending or covering the World Championship Cheese Contest may contact WCMA Communications Director Grace Atherton at gatherton@wischeesemakers.org. Members of the public with general questions about the Contest can visit WorldChampionCheese.org/attend for more information.
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