At the Jardins du Gouverneur des Invalides, the sixth LA LISTE Garden Party took on the appearance of a manifesto this year. The global digital guide announced the winners of its 2026 Pastry and Bakery Special Prizes, a list which brings together 36 distinctions in 18 countries and redraws the international sweet landscape. Behind the trophies, a discreet but clear message emerges.
Because 2026 marks the official integration of artisanal baking at the heart of the sweet selection, now brought together under the signature. The boundaries between bread, pastries, pastry, tea room and coffee shop are blurring, while the Asian scene, the return of natural sourdough and social commitments take on a new place.
Pastry and Bakery Special Prizes 2026: a new era for THE LIST
THE LIST already references more than 3,000 specialized establishments around the world. With 12 bakers or houses focused on bread among the 36 2026 winners, the guide notes the rise in quality of artisanal bread, nourished by natural fermentations, ancient cereals and very identified know-how. Some breads, once everyday products, now sell for more than 10 dollars per kilo, or around $9.
The guide’s Pastry and Bakery Observatory describes a landscape where pastry becomes a premium language without borders, when bread re-roots itself in the terroirs. Matcha, yuzu, roasted black sesame or miso infuse the recipes, while pistachio, kadaïf and tahini from the Middle East sit at the height of sweet luxury. At the same time, the demand for spectacular textures, fueled by social networks, pushes certain concepts to rely on the tools of food science.
The big 2026 winners: creativity, influence and solidarity
Among the new features, the Pastry Radiance Prize recognizes Frédéric Bau for a career dedicated to creation and transmission, while the Solidarity Prize goes to Shanghai Young Bakers, a program which trains disadvantaged young adults in the bakery and pastry professions. The list also highlights some key houses and chefs:
- World’s Most Creative Pastry Chef Award: Eunyoung Yun, Garuharu, Seoul.
- Best Pastry in the World: Pierre Hermé Paris, boutique in Sentosa, Singapore.
- Innovation Bakery: Richard Hart (Hart Bageri, Copenhagen and Claridge’s Bakery, London) and Thomas Teffri-Chambelland and his French addresses.
- Pastry of Ethical and Environmental Responsibility: Mamiche in Paris and Joseph Brot in Vienna.
- Best Afternoon teas in the world: Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris and Jacqueline at The Chancery Rosewood in London.
The 2026 edition also marks a historic first for Asia: the World’s Most Creative Pastry Chef Award is awarded to Korean chef Eunyoung Yun of Garuharu, after Amaury Guichon, Bastien Blanc-Tailleur and Maxime Frédéric. This choice illustrates the rise in power of South Korea, Japan and Singapore as engines of innovation. Around it, other awards recognize artisanal authenticity (Maison Bonnat in Voiron, Caffè Sicilia in Noto), Pastry Talents of the Year on several continents, as well as notable openings, from Le Café by Nicolas Rouzaud in London to Thomas Dura Pâtisserie near Lyon.
THE LIST, Forum 2026 and the future of the global sweet scene
The International Pastry Forum 2026, organized on the sidelines of the Garden Party, looks back at three major projects: the candidacy of French pastry know-how for UNESCO with Pierre Hermé and Frédéric Bau, the vision of Will Goldfarb summarized by the formula, and the bakery renewal led by Jörg Zipprick, Thomas Teffri-Chambelland and Mamiche. Pierre Hermé recalls what makes this heritage strong:
Founded in 2015 by Philippe Faure, LA LISTE aggregates nearly 1,100 sources to identify more than 35,000 restaurants, 3,000 pastry shops and 7,000 hotels in more than 200 countries. , explains Philippe Faure, founding president of LA LISTE, quoted by Nouvelles Gastronomiques. The next big meeting has already been set: the anniversary ceremony which will reveal the Top 1,000 Best Restaurants in the World and the special 2027 prices, on November 23, 2026 in Paris.
What are LA LISTE’s 2026 Special Pastry and Bakery Awards?
There are 36 international distinctions that reward pastries, bakeries and chefs for their creativity, their commitment and their significant openings.
Who received the World’s Most Creative Pastry Chef Award in 2026?
The World’s Most Creative Pastry Chef Award goes to Korean chef Eunyoung Yun, from Garuharu salon in Seoul.
What new awards has LA LISTE created in 2026?
Two categories are making their debut: the Pastry Outreach Prize, awarded to Frédéric Bau, and the Solidarity Prize, awarded to Shanghai Young Bakers.
What place does artisanal baking occupy in the 2026 rankings?
THE LIST officially includes artisanal baking and 12 winners are mainly rewarded for their bread work.
When will the next big LA LIST ceremony take place?
The anniversary ceremony presenting the Top 1,000 Best Restaurants in the World is scheduled for November 23, 2026 in Paris.
