Schmear We Go Again, as New York BagelFest Rolls Out Its 2026 Judges, Industry Talks and Entertainment
Acclaimed judges, bagel industry icons, world-class magic and live art join an international lineup of leading bagel makers at Citi Field on November 15th
NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The dough is rising, and so is demand for New York BagelFest, Presented by King Arthur Baking Company. The ultimate celebration of bagel culture returns to Citi Field on Sunday, November 15, 2026, bringing together more than 25 acclaimed bagel makers, culinary personalities, industry leaders and thousands of hungry fans for a day of unlimited tastings, friendly-but-fierce competition, conversation and entertainment.
"The global bagel industry is growing at a rapidly accelerating rate. The 7th Annual New York BagelFest will be the most magical one yet - quite literally, with a magician and mentalist joining this year's entertainment lineup - for our foodies, industry professionals, and competitors," says BagelFest founder Sam Silverman.
Bagel lovers don't want to miss a bite. Early Bird tickets sold out in just three hours, and one-third of all available tickets were sold within the first 24 hours. Tickets are now on sale, as anticipation builds for one of the festival's most ambitious editions yet. This fall, New York BagelFest will welcome bagel shops representing ten states and five countries, with bakers traveling from Ireland, Spain, Canada and India to compete alongside legendary New York institutions and leading bagel makers from across the United States. Getting a spot at BagelFest is no schmear feat. Fewer than 9% of applicants were selected to compete in 2026, following a highly curated selection process evaluating bakeries on quality, originality, reputation and the passionate communities they've built.
Now, BagelFest is rolling out the next batch of news: the experts who will determine which bagels rise above the rest, an Industry Talks series bringing together influential voices in the business, and world-class entertainment spanning magic, mentalism, live fine art, and family programming.
But first, a hole lot of responsibility comes with judging. Choosing among some of the world's best bagels is a tough job, but somebody has to do it. The judging lineup brings together acclaimed voices from food journalism, restaurants, culinary culture and digital media, including Joan Nathan, the James Beard Award-winning author of twelve cookbooks known as the "matriarch of Jewish cooking." Jake Cohen the New York Times bestselling author of Jew-ish and I Could Nosh the host of "Jake Makes it Easy" on A+E and Hulu. Ethan Zohn, a former professional soccer player, author, TV host, and champion of CBS's Survivor: Africa. Chef Einat Admony, the three-time James Beard Award-nominated chef, restaurateur and cookbook author behind New York City's Balaboosta and Moondog HiFi. Darra Goldstein, the founding editor of Gastronomica and editor in chief of the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Food Studies, who has won numerous prizes for her work in food, including James Beard and IACP awards.
Gabriella Gershenson, a James Beard Award-winning food journalist, author and editor at the New York Times Wirecutter. Joining her is Leah Koenig, the IACP Award-winning author of eight cookbooks, including new title The Dessert Table: 100 Joyful Jewish Sweets. Jeremy Jacobowitz brings the perspective of a food and travel creator whose audience of more than 950,000 follows his culinary adventures around the world. Before building his digital presence, Jacobowitz worked in food television as an assistant to Bobby Flay and as a producer.
Jewish Food thought leaders such as Liz Alpern and Jeffrey Yoskowitz, co-founders of The Gefilteria, co-authors of The Gefilte Manifesto, and co-hosts of the Meet Me at the Deli podcast, and Shannon Sarna, the Founding Editor of The Nosher and author of Modern Jewish Baker and Modern Jewish Comfort Food.
Judges with deep production experience include Tim Von Hollweg, Director of Operations at Russ & Daughters, native New Yorker, and hospitality veteran; and Reva Castillenti, an award-winning baker turned bakery consultant and educator.
Joining are prolific bagel eaters and reviewers, like Mike Varley, the creator of EverythingIsEverything.NYC, a catalogue of over 200 New York City bagel reviews from across all five boroughs. The project has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, The Washington Post, and The Today Show. Justin Shukat, co-founder of Bagel Tawk, with over 100 bagel reviews under his belt. Sean Keeley, the creator and writer of It's a Shanda, a newsletter dedicated to bagels in Seattle and beyond. Joanna O'Leary, culinary consultant, food historian, and scientific writer, with bagel reviews from all around the world. And Morgan Carter, the Food and Drink Editor at Time Out New York.
Chairing the "Best Sandwich" Judge committee is Ben Gollan, founder of A Man and His Sandwich Tours, New York's sandwich-dedicated walking tour. Gollan has made a career out of debating what does, and doesn't, count as a sandwich, including in Forbes and on national television.
Rounding out the Expert Judge lineup are returning judges who demonstrate a deep passion and expertise: Dara Pollack, writer, food photographer, comedian, and bagel enthusiast; Tara Cox, Editor & Writer; Chrissy Traore, CEO of See and Be Kitchen, and Ryan Garson, NYC real estate agent and content creator with a focus on bagels.
"The BagelFest judges hold a critical responsibility. Winning a top BagelFest award has elevated neighborhood shops into the national culinary spotlight. PopUp Bagels went on to a $300 million valuation, and Starship Bagel became a James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Bakery. It's permanently altered the trajectories of countless businesses, and the lives of the employees and families behind them," says Sam Silverman.
The coveted Best Bagel title will be determined through a blind taste test by the judges. Each unsliced plain bagel will receive a score from 1–10 across flavor, texture, appearance and aroma. The highest average score takes the crown, with flavor serving as the tiebreaker. The same judging criteria will determine honors for Best Bagel – New York Style, Best Bagel – Sourdough and Best Bagel – Montreal Style.
Expert judges will also select Schmear of the Year, based on flavor, texture and consistency, and originality; Most Creative, evaluating original concept, execution, presentation and story; Best Showmanship, honoring booth presentation, team energy and brand representation; and Best Bialy, judged on flavor, texture, appearance and creativity while honoring tradition. But the experts don't get all the fun. Festivalgoers will have their say through public voting for People's Choice, Best of the Boroughs, Best Beyond the Boroughs, Best International and Rising Star. For competitors who prefer speed to schmear, the Bagel Rolling Championship returns to the main stage, challenging participants to see who can roll the most bagels in just one minute.
BagelFest isn't just about who makes the best bagel; it's also about the people, ideas and businesses shaping where bagel culture rolls next. The festival's Industry Talks will bring bakers, operators and industry leaders together throughout the day for conversations about craft, growth, tradition and the future of the business.
"No matter your level of experience or knowledge, the industry panels at BagelFest offer a valuable opportunity to learn from professionals across the business. Panelists bring expertise in areas ranging from bagel making and business operations to brand marketing and beyond. There is no better place to connect with and learn from the industry's leading experts, all in one location," says Jeff Yankellow, Director of Bakery and Food Services Sales at King Arthur Baking Company.
The program kicks off at 10:15 a.m. with "The Key to the Perfect Bagel," featuring Jeff Yankellow (King Arthur Baking Company), Joe Savelli (Malt Products Corporation) and Chris Sarkesian (All Bake Technologies) moderated by journalist Annie Hollon. At 11:30 a.m., "From Toasted to Thriving" will feature Chris Pugliese (Tompkins Square Bagels), and Emily Winston (Boichik Bagels), moderated by Karen Bornarth (Bread Bakers Guild of America). At 1:15 p.m., "Icons of Jewish New York" brings together Jake Dell (Katz's Delicatessen), Josh Russ Tupper (Russ & Daughters), and David Zabar (Zabar's) for a conversation featuring names closely connected to New York food culture, moderated by Sean Keeley (It's a Shanda). The Industry Talks continue at 2:30 p.m. with a conversation between Christian Petroni and Scott Spellman of Utopia Bagels. Together, the conversations give guests a chance to go behind the counter and hear directly from the people helping turn a centuries-old food tradition into a thriving, evolving industry.
The bagels may be the stars, but they won't be the only thing making jaws drop. Leading this year's entertainment lineup is New York-based magician and mentalist Daniel Nicholas, who has performed at more than 1,000 events over 15 years, nationwide and around the globe. His performances blend sleight of hand with sleight of mind: magic that happens in guests' own hands and mind reading that unfolds inside their heads. At New York BagelFest, Nicholas will bring both up close and to the stage, moving from encounters just inches away to moments designed to hold an entire audience. His magic happens to guests rather than simply in front of them: a signed card can disappear and turn up somewhere impossible; a borrowed object takes an unexpected journey; an unspoken thought is revealed. No boxes. No doves. No assistants. Just plenty of "How did he do that?" to chew on between bagels.
BagelFest is also turning the art of the bagel into actual art.