ANTWERP, Belgium | October 28, 2026 | Professional chocolatiers from around the world turned chocolate into fantastical creatures and intricate sculptures at the World Chocolate Masters 2026 in Antwerp, Belgium, showcasing the artistry and technical skill behind modern chocolate craftsmanship. The creations included a praying mantis, an elf, birds and other imaginative figures during the two-day international competition held on October 26 and 27.
Organized by Belgian chocolate maker Callebaut, the competition brought together 15 national and regional champions at Antwerp’s historic Handelsbeurs under the theme “Play & Taste.” Participants were challenged to explore how flavor, texture, design and storytelling could transform chocolate into a multisensory experience.
Italy’s Tommaso Grollero won the 2026 title, while China’s Lyu Haoran placed second and Japan’s Keita Koshimizu finished third, according to the competition organizers. Grollero also received the Best Taste and Best Design awards for his work, including a sculpture titled The Invisible, which uses an optical illusion to show how a change in perspective can transform the viewer’s perception of a creation.
The finalists competed in four challenges involving bonbon making, sculptural design, pastry and chocolate gifting. An international jury assessed their flavor, creativity, technical execution and presentation, with taste identified as the competition’s ultimate measure of mastery.
The World Chocolate Masters was established in 2005 and has become an international showcase for innovation in chocolate and pastry arts. Previous titleholders include Spain’s Lluc Crusellas, who won the 2022 competition.
The 2026 final marked the first time the competition’s global finale was held outside Paris. Antwerp was selected for its historic links to international trade and its continuing role in design, gastronomy and chocolate craftsmanship.
The event highlighted how chocolate can serve as more than a confection. Through sculptural forms and inventive flavor combinations, the competitors demonstrated how culinary technique and artistic imagination can turn an everyday ingredient into a medium for storytelling and creative expression.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
