A true feast for the senses, the grand cake exhibition of the Zuckerbäcker Award in the Hofburg’s foyer never fails to delight. More than a few guests find their mouths watering as they behold the exquisite artistry of the competing confections.
For the sixteenth time, creative newcomers and master confectioners alike shall enter the fray for the coveted titles. To bring the public a little closer to the delicate art of pâtisserie, the showpieces will be presented to the guests throughout the evening.
Within the elegant framework of the 123rd ZuckerBäckerball, the titles “Vienna Cakemaster 2026” and “Vienna Junior Cakemaster 2026” shall be bestowed.
The 16th Zuckerbäcker Award bears the theme:
“The Realm of the Magicians.”
The evaluation shall be conducted anonymously, under each competitor’s entry number. The jury’s deliberations shall rest upon the following principal criteria:
Adherence to the official brief
Creativity and artistic execution
Craftsmanship and material handling
Interpretation of the theme
Degree of difficulty of the showpiece
The award ceremony will take place during the course of the event.
Registration
Sweet shapes to enchant! Registration for the 16th Zuckerbäcker Award is now open. Details regarding participation and showpiece requirements for both confectioners and apprentices are set forth in the official call for entries (only available in German).
The deadline for registration is 17 December 2025. We wish all participants the very best of success!
Themes of the first 15 Zuckerbäcker Awards:
2009: Joseph Haydn
2010: Clowns
2011: 110 Years of the ZuckerBäckerball
2012: Friday the 13th
2013: Carnival in Venice
2014: Musical
2015: Eurovision Song Contest
2016: European Football Championship in France
2017: Vienna’s Landmarks
2018: Motto Revival – Choose One of the Last Nine
2019: The World of Animals
2020: Comics
2023: The Realm of Plants and Flowers
2024: Underwater World – Life in the Sea
2025: Jungle