The 1st Rising Stars of Bakery Contest comes to Gastrónoma 2026

Gastrónoma 2026, to be held from 26 to 28 October at Feria Valencia, is launching the 1st National Rising Stars of Bakery Contest, a competition that will test the training, technique and execution skills of the next generation of bakers in a demanding professional setting. Organised by Gastrónoma, the initiative has the backing of federation FEGREPPA, the Valencia bakers' and pastry chefs' guild and the Valencian Crafts Centre, with the involvement of the prestigious Club Richemont España, chaired by Jesús Machí. Students, recent graduates and young professionals with less than a year's experience may enter, competing in four compulsory tests that reproduce a real bakery workshop: bread (sourdough, baguettes and pataquetas), sweet pastry (croissants and panquemados), savoury items (puff pastries and empanadillas) and table presentation, judged on technique, consistency and teamwork. 'Gastrónoma was a pioneer in understanding that without bread, pastry and craftsmanship there is no gastronomy,' said its president, Carlos Mataix, while director Alejandro Roda stressed the fair's commitment to training and generational renewal. For the first time, Valencia's guilds are acting in unison around the #pandeverdad stage and the Forum Be Sweet, which will be opened by Pol Marginedas, Spain's Best Artisan Chocolatier 2025. The fair is supported by Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, regional authorities and CaixaBank as official bank.