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Inverness Leisure, Inverness · 21st November 2026

The World Shortbread Championships

Making Crumbs… and History

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Headline sponsor

Carr's Flour

39 days, 10 hours, 4 minutes remaining.

What are the Championships?

A one-day, world-first championship dedicated to shortbread — Scotland's most iconic biscuit. Bakers from across the globe compete in two styles (Traditional and Specialist) across three categories (Professional, Amateur, Young Baker).

The public chooses 25% of the result; an expert panel chooses the other 75%. By the end of the day, one entry wins the title of World Shortbread Champion.

The Day at a Glance

Inverness Leisure — Saturday 21st November 2026.

  • 10:00 Doors open. A piper and Sarah Rankin welcome you in.
  • 10:30 First tasting.
  • 11:30 Browse the hall and meet the bakers.
  • 12:30 Second tasting, with a talk from professional bakers Café Biagiotti.
  • 13:30 Public voting closes.
  • 13:30 Meet the judges: a talk from Nicky Laceby, then your questions at 14:00.
  • 14:15 Category winners announced.
  • 14:50 The World Shortbread Champion is revealed.
  • 15:00 Close.

Three Baker Categories

Two shortbread styles per baker — Traditional (mandatory) and Specialist (optional).

  • Professional

    Working bakers and pastry chefs — anyone who bakes for a living.

  • Amateur

    Home bakers and enthusiasts — the heart of the championship.

  • Young Baker

    Under-16s showing the next generation of shortbread skill.

See full category rules

Judges & Compere

A panel of bakers, food editors and flour-milling experts.

  • Portrait of Jeni Iannetta

    Jeni Iannetta

    Head Judge

    Founder, Bad Girl Bakery

  • Portrait of Nicky Laceby

    Nicky Laceby

    Judge

    Great British Bake Off finalist

  • Portrait of Christine Faughlin

    Christine Faughlin

    Judge

    Editor, Sainsbury's magazine

  • Portrait of Allan Burns

    Allan Burns

    Judge

    Carr's Flour Mills, 50+ years baking

  • Portrait of Sarah Rankin

    Sarah Rankin

    Compere

    Chef, writer and broadcaster

Read more about the panel

Spectators

Walk the championship floor, taste public samples and witness the inaugural World Shortbread Champion crowned. Family-friendly, allergens labelled.

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Competitors

Enter the Traditional category as your baseline; add Specialist for extra glory. Open to bakers from anywhere in the world, all three age categories.

Enter the competition