The 2026 ACDN Awards 2026 · by The Cake! Network
A night for the makers who made the year.
Friday 20 November 2026, 7pm · Hijinx at QV, Melbourne
The 2026 programme
- 4 pillars
- 22 categories
- 6 regions
- 1 night
Key dates
- Fri 14 August Nominations open
- Sun 30 August Nominations close
- September Judging and customer reviews
- 23-26 September Finalists announced
- Sun 27 September Cake! Member voting opens
- Mon 12 October Voting closes
- Fri 20 November Winners announced on the night
The full awards guide
Every award, who can enter it, how it is judged, and the scoring each panel works to.
What's covered
Artistic
Technical excellence, judged on a body of work from the past 12 months.
- Not separately entered Cake Decorator of the Year The outstanding overall decorator, from the category winners
- 3D and Novelty Cake Artist of the Year Sculpted, carved and dimensional cakes
- Buttercream Artist of the Year Buttercream as the medium
- Cookie Artist of the Year Royal icing, fondant, painting, airbrushing, wafer paper
- Cupcake Artist of the Year The cupcake as the finished medium
- Edible Decorations Artist of the Year Edible work no other category covers
- Sugar Modelling Artist of the Year People, animals and characters
- Sugar and Wafer Flower Artist of the Year Realistic or stylised sugar and wafer flowers
How it is decided
Artistic guide (PDF)- Round 1 Expert panel Shortlists four to six national finalists
- Round 2 Cake! Members Score the finalists against the published criteria Decides the winner and Highly Commended
Cake Decorator of the Year is chosen by the panel from the category winners.
Small Business
Judged by the people who actually bought from them.
- Wedding Cake Business of the Year Wedding cakes and wedding desserts
- Custom Cake Business of the Year Adult and general celebrations
- Children's Cake Business of the Year Children's celebrations
- Cupcake Business of the Year Custom, celebration, event and retail cupcakes
- Cookie Business of the Year Decorated, bespoke or specialist cookies
- Specialist Dietary Cake Business of the Year Vegan, gluten free, dairy free and other dietary needs
- Cake Teacher of the Year Beginner and intermediate learners, and children
- Master Cake Educator of the Year Advanced, specialist and professional level
How it is decided
Small Business guide (PDF)- Round 1 Customers Rate and review the businesses they bought from Decides the regional titles
- Round 2 National panel Judges the six regional winners Decides the national title
The six regions: NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, ACT and TAS, and WA and NT. Each has its own Winner and Highly Commended.
Master Cake Educator of the Year is judged nationally, not by region. Advanced teaching travels, so a regional bracket would not describe the work.
Retail, Wholesale and Product
Retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers. Each award has its own judging process.
- Retailer of the Year, Large Two or more shopfronts
- Retailer of the Year, Small Online, one shopfront or market
- Wholesale Supplier of the Year Supplying retailers and cake businesses
- New Product of the Year Newly introduced to the Australian market
How it is decided
Retail, Wholesale and Product guide (PDF)- Round 1 Customers Rate the shops they buy from Decides the regional titles
- Round 2 External business judges Score the regional winners, with the customer scores still counting Decides the national title
- Round 1 Trade customers Rate the suppliers they buy from Decides the winner
- Round 1 Independent panel Tests identical samples, branding concealed where practical. No public round Decides the winner
The six regions: NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, ACT and TAS, and WA and NT. Each has its own Winner and Highly Commended.
Community
The newcomer to watch, and the one the network wants to celebrate.
- Rising Talent Award Around two years or less in the sector
- ACDN Choice Award Discretionary, not open for nomination
How it is decided
Community guide (PDF)- Round 1 The network Nominates, and artists may nominate themselves
- Round 2 Sector experts and the committee Vet eligibility, then select the recipient Decides the winner
- Round 1 The Awards Committee Chooses at its discretion. Not open for nomination or entry, and not presented every year Decides the winner
The Jo McIntosh Cake Mate Award honours a much loved member of the community. We are pausing it for 2026 and working alongside Jo's family on how the recognition should evolve, so it will not be presented this year.
How we keep it honest.
- 01
We ask who you are
Rate a business and we ask your name, your email, and your confirmation that you really bought from them.
- 02
Every rating is moderated
Duplicates and ratings we cannot stand behind are removed before anything is ranked.
- 03
Reviewers stay private
A business is never told who reviewed it.
The whole network, in one room.
The cakes on the screens, the makers on their feet, and a room full of people who understand exactly how much work it took.
Friday 20 November 2026, 7pm · Hijinx at QV, Melbourne
From the 2025 night See every winner →
Dates for the 2026 awards are announced here first. Become a Cake! Friend and you'll know the moment nominations open.