Last weekend saw 42 pastry chefs go head to head at the Coppa del Mondo del Panettone – the Panettone World Cup.

Held in Milan, Italy, 24 pastry chefs competed in the Traditional Panettone final, while a further 18 were in the chocolate Panettone category.

Following three days of presentations, masterclasses and workshops, Ton Cortés from Spain was awarded the Traditional Panettone title. Pasquale Pesce and Mauriszio Sariolo, both from Italy, rounded out the top three.

It was an all Italian podium for the Chocolate Panettone category, with Pasquale Inaelli from Paticceria Casa Mastroianni claiming gold, with Pasquale Marigliano placing second and Armando Pascarella coming third.

Piergiorgio Giorilli was presented with the 2024 Maestro del Panettone Award during the awards ceremony, with the commendation “for the competence and passion that he was able to transmit to all the professionals he met along his path”.

It was the fourth time the Panettone World Cup has been held, and the first time an Australian selection for the competition had been organised.

Jonny Pisanelli from Sonoma Bakery made the trip to compete in the Chocolate Panettone category, while Vincenzo Marino from Pulcinella competed in the Traditional Panettone category.

The finalists in the competition came from Europe, Asia, Latin America, the US, and Australia.

Plans for the 2026 competition are already underway. The fifth edition will begin with first Italian round of the Chocolate Panettone, which will take place at SIGEP Rimini.