World Pesto Championship at Palazzo Ducale: XI Edition on March 21

World Pesto Championship at Palazzo Ducale — March 21

When: March 21, 2026. Where: Salone del Gran Consiglio, Palazzo Ducale, Genoa. The one-day event gathers one hundred competitors from various countries to compete in preparing traditional Genoese pesto with a mortar.

The competition features morning heats and an afternoon final judged by a panel of thirty industry experts. A broad supporting program highlights the historic center and its monuments.

• Participants: 100 pestaioli; 28 qualify automatically from international selections.
• Registration: opened at midnight on December 10, 2025 via the official event form.
• Jury: 30 experts including gourmets, sector operators and opinion leaders.

Supporting program and activities

• "Pesto da leggere" literary prize for food writing and culinary publications.
• "Fumetti al Pesto" comic contest for young illustrators, exhibitions of historic mortars and the "mortars of peace" display.
• Tours of artisan workshops in the historic center and a themed palace route called "Pesto & Rolli".
• Children's area with a non-competitive championship organized by the Consorzio del Basilico Genovese DOP.
• Public info corners on Ligurian DOPs, a "shelf of wrong pestos" and the "Pesto Talk" discussion space.
• Innovation area presenting research projects, including an initiative by the Italian Institute of Technology.

Practical information for visitors

The day before the competition there are meetings and mortar-pesto lessons at the Regione Liguria conference hall in Piazza De Ferrari for visiting competitors and newcomers. The event wraps up on the evening of March 21 with the traditional "Pesto Party", featuring Ligurian cuisine by local restaurateurs.

Tips: arrive early to join palace tours and artisan visits; check access arrangements to the Salone del Gran Consiglio and registration requirements for side events.