Registration for the Pálinkás Bonbonja of the Year 2026 competition has started

By: Trademagazin Date: 2026. 01. 13. 11:54

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The registration for the Pálinkás Bonbonja of the Year 2026 professional competition has started, which, according to the organizers, has now become Hungary’s first and only competition specifically focusing on bonbons made with pálinka and quality spirits. The award ceremony is taking place as an accompanying event of the XXVI. Gyulai Pálinka Festival.

According to the announcement, the competition has expanded spectacularly since its launch in 2023: 107 in 2023, 133 in 2024, In 2025, 143 items were received – from artisan chocolate workshops, confectioneries and educational institutions in Hungary and abroad.

New category: willow pear, as “fruit of the year”

The 2026 competition will be renewed in several ways: the Gyula Pálinka Festival “fruit of the year” this time with the wilmos pear, which will receive a separate competition category. The organizers aim to place even greater emphasis on the character of the ingredients and the harmony of flavors in the pálinka-chocolate pairings.

Four entry categories and important deadlines

The competition in 2026 can be entered in four categories:

artisanal bonbons made with classic pálinka
pálinka bonbons made with willow pears
bonbons made with quality Hungarian spirits (e.g. gin, liqueur, whiskey, rum)
pálinka bonbons made by students of educational institutions

The mass of the named bonbons can be 8–12 grams.

The Pálinka Bonbon of the Year 2026…

Nomination period: January 12, 2026 – April 13, 2026 (18:00)
Sample submission deadline: April 21, 2026. (12:00)
Sensory evaluation: April 23, 2026.
Results announcement: at the Gyula Pálinka Festival, May 22–24.