On the evening of Friday, October 9, 2026, three new Swiss champions of cheese collected their awards on stage in the Salle communale Saint-Léonard in Fribourg, Switzerland. An eager audience cheered on these champions, as well as dozens of other winners at the Swiss Cheese Awards ceremony, while feasting on dishes that typically comprise the traditional Bénichon menu. Organized by FROMARTE, a cooperative organization for Swiss cheese specialists, this event marks the 14th edition of this national competition.
The city of Fribourg, located in the eponymous canton, was a fitting city to host the Swiss Cheese Awards for at least two reasons. First, two Swiss cheeses that make up the classic Fondue moitié-moitié come from this canton: Gruyère AOP and Vacherin Fribourgeois AOP. And secondly, UNESCO has recognized the city of Fribourg as a “Creative City of Gastronomy,” making it one of the first two municipalities in Switzerland to hold this designation (Montreux joined in the field of music).
33 Individual Category Winners
At the start of the Awards-Night event, Elias Moussa, the syndic (mayor) of the city of Fribourg welcomed the audience to the hall. In this bilingual canton, he effortlessly transitioned from French to German. Also speaking at times in English, he recognized the international jury members that had participated in the competition from Japan, the US and Turkey, among other countries. In all, the jury totaled 203 cheese experts with the majority from Switzerland and more than 30 from abroad.
The Swiss Cheese Awards selected winners in 32 categories for cheese and one new category for the best Swiss butter. For example, here’s a list of the award-winning AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée or Protected Designation of Origin) cheesemakers.
| Emmentaler AOP | Franz Renggli, Bergkäserei Oberberg AG |
| Le Gruyère AOP | Vincent Rohrbasser, Fromagerie Villaz-St-Pierre |
| Le Gruyère d’Alpage AOP | Nicolas Brodard, Fromagerie d’Alpage La Guignarde |
| Sbrinz AOP | Arnold Bucher, Käserei Kerns |
| Raclette du Valais AOP | Gaëtan Cardinaux, Alpage de Tanay |
| Vacherin Fribourgeois AOP | Marc Delacombaz, Fromagerie de Montbovon |
| Tête de Moine AOP | Marc-André Girardin, Fromagerie de la Suze SA |
| Bloderkäse und Sauerkäse AOP | Yvonne & Florian Tischhauser, Mafun,Grabs |
| L’Etivaz AOP | Aimé Raynaud, Alpage Paray Charbon |
| Berner Alp- und Hobelkäse AOP | Ueli & Hedi Tritten-Siegfried, Alp Chäli & Langermatte |
| Formaggio d’Alpe ticinese AOP | Danilo Della Giustina, Alpe Manegorio |
| Glarner Alpkäse AOP | Gabi & Christian Elmer-Freuler, Alp Empächli, Vorderes Senten |
Among the other winners was Pius Hitz, who won the top prize for the World Champion Cheese at the 2025 World Cheese Awards for his 18-month Gruyère AOP Vorderfultigen Spezial. At the Swiss Cheese Awards, he took home the award for his Raclette cheese in the category of Raclettekäse mit aromatisierenden Zusätzen (Raclette cheese with flavorings).
Swiss Champions 2026
From the 32 cheese category winners, an international super jury of 32 members selected the best Swiss cheeses for three categories: (1) extra-hard/hard cheese, (2) semi-hard cheese, and (3) soft/fresh cheese. The following three cheeses and cheesemakers earned the title of “Swiss Champion.”
| Extra-Hard and Hard Cheeses | Le Gruyère d’Alpage AOP | Nicolas Brodard, Fromagerie d’Alpage La Guignarde |
| Semi-Hard Cheese | Tête de Moine AOP | Marc-André Girardin, Fromagerie de la Suze SA |
| Soft & Cream Cheese | Tomme Fleurette | Arnaud Guichard, Fromagerie Fleurette Arnaud Guichard Sàrl |
The evening concluded with the opportunity to meet the winning cheesemakers and sample their cheeses at the ice skating rink across from the event hall. They served the same cheeses that the jury had tasted earlier in the week to avoid food waste. In addition, FROMARTE donated the remaining cheeses to local nonprofit organizations, such as Caritas.
For the full list of the 2026 winners of the Swiss Cheese Awards, go to cheese-awards.com.
Held every two years, the next Swiss Cheese Awards competition will take place in 2028, with the location yet to be announced.
Categories: Cheese, Swiss, Swiss food, Switzerland
