September 28, 2026 • 3

Fribourg to Host Swiss Cheese Awards 2026

Following the World Cheese Awards in Bern last year, Switzerland will host its national cheese competition next month in Fribourg, Switzerland. Taking place from Tuesday, October 6 through Sunday, October 11, the qualifying round at the start of the competition will include more than 1,100 different types of cheese—a record-breaking number of entries. An international jury of over 200 members will choose this year’s award winners.

*Swiss Champions Selection on Friday, October 4, 2024, in Lugano. (Wahl der Swiss Champions am, Freitag 4.Oktober 2024, in Lugano). Photo credit: Marcel Bieri.* *© Switzerland Cheese Marketing.*

The Swiss Cheese Awards occur every two years. In 2024, Lugano hosted the awards. This year, the city of Fribourg is Switzerland’s “Capital of Cheese.” The competition will be held at the Salle communale St-Léonard, located at Chemin St-Léonard 1.

After the preliminary round, a “Super Jury” convenes on Thursday, October 8 to select the Swiss Champions in three categories. They include: (1) Extra-Hard/Hard Cheese, (2) Semi-Hard Cheese and (3) Soft/Fresh Cheese. All the Swiss Cheese Award winners will be announced at the grand finale the evening of Friday, October 9.

*Wheels of Gruyère. This type of cheese has its own category at the Swiss Cheese Awards.*

Here are just a few examples of how you can participate:

Visit the Cheese and Regional Products Market: Sample some of the winning cheeses at the cheese and regional products market starting Saturday, October 10 from 9:00 to 17:00 through Sunday, October 11 from 10:00 to 16:00. It will be located at the Bourg District of Fribourg.
Dine at the Canteen: At the Place de Notre-Dame, there is a canteen where you can enjoy regional specialties. It will be open on Friday, October 9 from 17:00 to midnight; Saturday, October 10 from 9:00 to midnight; and Sunday, October 11 from 10:00 to 17:00.
Sign up for a cheese workshop: You can attend various workshops on topics related to cheese, in French or German. These include workshops on cheese and wine pairing or the science of fondue, as well as a boat ride on Lake Schiffenen.

For more information about the Swiss Cheese Awards:

Check out the full program of events for the Swiss Cheese Awards online, which also has more detailed information about the judging process and a list of the cheese categories.