From 6 to 11 October 2026, Fribourg will host the 14th edition of the Swiss Cheese Awards – the must-attend event for the Swiss cheese industry.
With its two flagship cheeses, Vacherin Fribourgeois AOP and Gruyère AOP, Fribourg naturally stands out as the ideal place to celebrate cheese excellence.
The traditional cheese market will take place in the Bourg district on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October. The 33 winners in the various categories, along with other regional specialties, will be available for tasting and purchase. Entertainment and activities for families will round off the programme.
In the qualifying round on 6 October, around 1000 different cheeses – divided into 33 categories – will be presented to a 200-strong international jury in the Salle St. Leonard. They judge the cheeses on the basis of predefined criteria and select a winner for each category.
Then, on Thursday, 8 October, the grand finale takes place: all category winners are judged again by a ‘Super Jury’. The Super Jury selects a Swiss Champion in the three categories Extra-Hard/Hard Cheese, Semi-Hard Cheese and Soft/Fresh Cheese.
On Friday, 9 October, the cheeseboard competition will be held at L’Atelier. The participants will create their most beautiful cheeseboard on site and present it to the jury, who then select a winner. The competition is open to the public.
The Swiss Cheese Awards 2026 presentation ceremony takes place on Friday evening as part of the Awards Night. All 33 category winners and the three Swiss Champions will be announced and honoured there. The winner of the cheeseboard competition will be announced too, of course.
Dates and timetable
From 6 to 11 Oct 2026
Fribourg
1700 Fribourg
