The most delicious beer and cider is celebrated by Great Taste
- Guild Secretary
- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
The world's leading food and drink accreditation scheme announces 2026 results
Today, 28 July 2026, the Guild of Fine Food has announced the results of this year's Great Taste.
Among the 155 Great Taste 2026 award winning beers and ciders there were a total of 110 1-star awards, 39 2-star awards and 6 3-star awards assigned, including: Dream House from Left Handed Giant Brewing Co., Worley's Cider Special Reserve from Worley's Cider and Hofmeister Weisse from Hofmeister Brewing Company.
This year, over 15,000 products were entered into Great Taste from 3,919 companies in 116 countries, a record number, including products from 9 countries entering for the first time.
Out of all this year's entries 4,286 (28.50%) received a 1-star award, deeming them 'simply delicious', 1,596 (10.61%) received a 2-star award, which means the judges felt they were 'outstanding', and 306 (2.03%) received the highly coveted 'exquisite and extraordinary' 3-star award.
The much sought after, and distinctive, black and gold logo is recognised by 58% of the UK adult population. Of those adults, 74% say a Great Taste award makes a product more tempting, 73% say the logo is a trustworthy recommendation and 54% use Great Taste as a signpost for discovering new products (YouGov, December 2025).
Over 105 days, across the Guild's judging rooms in London, Dorset, Ireland and Italy, over 800 industry experts took part in the unique judging process that makes Great Taste the most respected food and drink accreditation scheme in the world. The panel included chefs, critics, product developers, retailers, writers, and other specialists from the world of food and drink. They were presented with each product stripped of all branding, packaging and other identifying features, and had to unanimously decide what rating to give it.
Taste is considered first and foremost, followed by appearance, aroma, texture, and mouthfeel. Each entry is judged on its own merit and not compared to others in the same class. A short factual description from the producer helps guide the judgement with any relevant information.
Perhaps the least well-known element of Great Taste is the judges' feedback which is shared with the producers irrespective of whether they have achieved a star-rating. This constructive analysis can be instrumental in product development, helping producers refine recipes, improve consistency, and understand how their products perform in a competitive market.
John Farrand, managing director, Guild of Fine Food, comments: "Food security is becoming an increasingly pressing issue across the globe, so it feels more pertinent now than at any other time in our thirty-year history to be supporting and promoting independent producers and retailers. Our directory of award recipients is a rich source of data, guiding people from all walks of life to make informed decisions about their food & drink choices. Great Taste is all about celebrating craftmanship and dedication to well-sourced local ingredients and traditional, often simple production methods which is more important now than ever."
All 306 products that were accredited with a Great Taste 2026 3-star award were invited to take part in a further round of judging to identify which of them was worthy of a Golden Fork nomination. Winners of the Golden Forks, known affectionately as the 'Oscars of food and drink', are considered to be the most highly rated products in the world.
The Golden Fork award ceremony will take place at Battersea Arts Centre in London on 15 September, when the Great Taste 2026 Supreme Champion will also be announced.
Notes to editors
Countries entering Great Taste for the first time in 2026 include: Armenia, Bermuda, Bolivia, Burundi, Ethiopia, Grenada, Libya, Mozambique and Sierra Leone.
Great Taste is organised and run by the Guild of Fine Food. Now in its 33rd year, it is considered the largest, longest standing and most respected food and drink accreditation scheme in the world, championing artisan and speciality producers.
The Guild is, at its heart, a community of business owners with a shared commitment to producing and promoting excellence in the food and drink industry. It was formed to provide mutual support and protection in maintaining standards and raising awareness of quality.
The Guild exists to represent all good independent food & drink businesses at a local, national, international and governmental level; building a diverse and inclusive collective of producers, retailers and food lovers who celebrate well-made produce.
Now with established judging rooms in London, Dorset, Ireland and Italy, as well as several dedicated judging days for specialist products taking place each year, Great Taste is building on its commitment to support the smallest and most artisan producers from across Europe and the rest of the world in promoting their offerings. The Guild is committed to increasing awareness and educating consumers on the benefits of well-made food and drink.
Each product accredited with a star-rating has a validity of three years, i.e. the logo will be valid, and may be displayed on a product, until the results are released for Great Taste 2029. All awards must always be displayed against the exact product for which they have been won.
The full list of valid award holders and where to purchase them can be found at the Great Taste directory. A wide range of these 1-, 2-, and 3-star products are also available to buy in delis, farm shops and independent retailers across the world.
As well as Great Taste, the Guild of Fine Food is the organisation behind the global phenomenon that is the World Cheese Awards. The Guild also publishes industry leading magazines, Fine Food Digest, Good Cheese and the annual Great Taste Book. Other activities include Great Taste Markets, trade shows and a number of member-led initiatives throughout the year. In 2025 the Guild of Fine Food launched Wedge, a magazine for cheese lovers published quarterly.
For more information:
Claire Fry, Guild of Fine Food
pressoffice@gff.co.uk | +44 (0)1747 825200
Third-party news items are published as received for informational purposes. Publication does not imply endorsement by the Guild. Please use the contact details within the post for any enquiries.