Tommaso Grollero's Victory at the World Chocolate Masters 2026

Date of the event: October 26 – 27, 2026

The World Chocolate Masters 2026 is the final that, on 26 and 27 October 2026, saw Mondovì-based pastry chef Tommaso Grollero win the world title of the competition dedicated to the art of chocolate, organised by the Callebaut brand. The announcement took place at the historic Handelsbeurs in Antwerp, the venue that, for the first time in the event's history, hosted the ninth edition of the competition.^[1]^[2]

The Antwerp final

Fifteen regional champions from around the world, selected after national qualifying rounds, took part in the final. Grollero had earned his place in Antwerp by winning over a jury made up of Matteo Berti, Anna Gerasi, Frank Haasnoot and Silvia Federica Boldetti, scoring highest both for the commercial potential and originality of his creations and for the technical consistency shown in competition.^[1]

The final's theme, «Play & Taste», required competitors to tackle four challenges designed to assess taste, technical precision, originality, storytelling ability and business vision. The head of the jury, pastry chef Amaury Guichon, said that balance of flavours, executional accuracy and a coherent, recognisable personal style were the elements that determined Grollero's victory.^[2]

The creation «The Invisible»

Among the works presented by Grollero, «The Invisible» stood out — a chocolate sculpture built around an optical illusion: viewed from one angle it shows a familiar image, while from another angle it turns into a set of different shapes. The creation plays on the relationship between visual perception and perception of taste, a central theme of the final.^[2]

Awards and podium

Besides the overall title, Grollero was given the special Best Taste and Best Design awards. He was followed by China's Lyu Haoran, who took silver, and Japan's Keita Koshimizu, who took bronze.^[2]^[3]

The pastry chef's career

Tommaso Grollero trained at the hospitality institute in Mondovì and gained professional experience between Bergamo, Alessandro Borghese's kitchen and Belgium, before going on to run the chocolate department at the three-Michelin-star restaurant DaV. Preparation for the Antwerp final took nine months, carried out together with a team of collaborators.^[1]^[2]

Sources

Chi è Tommaso Grollero: il pasticcere di Mondovì che gareggerà in finale al World Chocolate Masters — Quotidiano Piemontese, 25 October 2026
Il piemontese Tommaso Grollero è il nuovo campione del mondo del cioccolato: trionfo a Anversa — Quotidiano Piemontese, 28 October 2026
Il Re del cioccolato è piemontese: Tommaso Grollero conquista il titolo mondiale e i premi per gusto e design — CronacaQui Torino, 28 October 2026