Entries are now open for the International Cheese and Dairy Awards 2026, with producers from across the UK and overseas invited to submit products for what remains one of the most respected quality benchmarks in the global dairy industry.

The competition, which has operated for more than a century, assesses cheeses and dairy products through blind judging panels drawn from across the industry - technical specialists, graders, cheesemakers, retailers and buyers. Products are evaluated on flavour, texture, aroma, presentation and technical merit, with no brand influence on the outcome. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are awarded across each class, with the highest-performing Gold winners progressing to compete for the competition's top honours.

This year's schedule encompasses the full breadth of modern dairy production. Traditional classes covering farmhouse cheeses, bandaged and territorial Cheddars, and international speciality styles from France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States sit alongside an expanded range of categories reflecting where the sector is heading. Dedicated sections cover functional dairy products, high-protein snacks and performance nutrition, as well as classes for butter, cream, yoghurt, milk and ice cream. The programme also includes awards for packaging design, export achievement and new product development, and a relaunched foodservice section assessing dairy products on their performance in professional kitchen conditions.

A dedicated platform remains in place for specialist and artisan cheesemakers - producers manufacturing at small scale whose work continues to shape how consumers and buyers understand quality and provenance in dairy.

For producers considering entry, the commercial case is straightforward. Retail buyers and export distributors monitor ICDA results closely. For smaller producers in particular, recognition from an internationally credible judging panel can open conversations with buyers that would otherwise require considerably more groundwork.

Judging will take place on 24 June 2026 at Bingley Hall, Stafford. Results will be announced the following day as part of the Dairy Connect themed International Cheese and Dairy EXPO.

Entry deadlines: Overseas producers — 6 May 2026 UK producers — 29 May 2026

Entry information and the full class schedule are available at https://www.internationalcheesedairyexpo.com/icda-awards.