Affineur Of The Year Finals 2026
Experience Britain’s premier cheese affinage competition. Sample all competition cheeses, meet master affineurs and cheesemakers, and watch as the winners are announced at this exclusive London event.
Additional information
| Location | London, UK |
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| Date | 16th June 2026 |
| Time | 1.00pm – 7.30pm |
£60.00 + VAT
In stock
Experience the Art of Cheese Affinage at Christ Church Spitalfields
Join us for the 5th Edition of Affineur of the Year 2026 Finals, where the UK’s finest affineurs showcase the culmination of months of dedicated cheese maturation. This prestigious event celebrates the craft of affinage – the art of ageing cheese to its full potential – and brings together cheesemongers, cheesemakers, industry experts, and cheese enthusiasts for an unforgettable celebration of artisan cheese.
Set in the stunning historic surroundings of Christ Church Spitalfields, this year’s finals feature five distinct cheese categories: Hard (Quicke’s Cheddar), Crumbly (Trethowan Brothers Gorwydd Caerphilly), Blue (Cropwell Bishop Blue Stilton), Soft (Fen Farm Dairy Baron Bigod), and Washed Rind (White Lake Cheese Rachel).
Witness the moment of truth as each carefully aged cheese is cut open for the first time, revealing months of expert maturation work, and then hear from our distinguished judging panel as they conclude the awards and announce the category winners and Affineur of the Year 2026.
Why Attend Affineur of the Year Finals?
1. Witness Mastery in Action
See firsthand how the UK’s leading affineurs transform young cheeses, each made on the same day from the same batch of milk, into extraordinary works of art through temperature control, humidity management, washing, turning, and other specialist techniques. This is a rare opportunity to observe the results of different affinage philosophies applied to the same base cheeses.
2. Learn from the Best
Gain insights into advanced affinage methods directly from the competitors and cheesemakers. Understand how decisions made during the maturation process dramatically impact flavour development, texture, and overall cheese quality.
3. Educational Value
Whether you’re a professional cheesemonger, aspiring affineur, cheesemaker, or serious cheese enthusiast, this event offers unparalleled learning opportunities. Observe how expert judges assess cheese quality and hear their detailed feedback on each entry.
4. Network with Industry Leaders
Connect with fellow cheese professionals, Academy of Cheese members, award-winning cheesemakers, and passionate affineurs. Build relationships within the artisan cheese community and exchange knowledge with like-minded individuals.
5. Experience Rare Cheeses
Taste competition cheeses that have been matured under unique conditions: many representing one-of-a-kind expressions that will never be replicated exactly. These are not commercially available products but experimental showcases of affinage potential.
6. Celebrate British Cheesemaking
Support and celebrate the UK’s thriving artisan cheese movement, featuring some of Britain’s most iconic cheeses from renowned makers like Quicke’s, Trethowan Brothers, Cropwell Bishop, Fen Farm Dairy, and White Lake Cheese.
What is Affineur of the Year?
The competition, launched in 2022 by the Academy of Cheese and Quicke’s, started with ten affineurs taking a young Quicke’s Clothbound Cheddar and maturing it over the course of 12 months.
Now in its fifth year, Affineur of the Year has expanded the number of cheese categories to include different Make Post-Make varieties of cheese, to allow more competitors the opportunity to highlight and showcase a full range of affinage techniques, specific to those categories.
NEW FOR 2026: Mons Formation Rising Star Award
Fully-funded scholarship for Five-Day Affinage Course in France
In partnership with Mons Formation, the Academy of Cheese is proud to introduce the Mons Formation Rising Star Award: a prestigious new accolade recognising an exceptional Affineur of the Year competitor who shows outstanding potential and understanding of the art of cheese affinage. The winner will receive a fully-funded scholarship for the intensive, one-week Mons Formation’s Affinage course, with Laurent Mons and Emma Young, at the Mons Fromager-Affineur’s headquarters, in Saint-Haon-le-Châtel, France.
The Competition Cheeses
Hard Category: Quicke’s Clothbound Cheddar (8kg)
- Pasteurised cow’s milk, animal rennet
- Traditional farmhouse cheddar from Devon
- Matured for 10 months
Crumbly Category: Trethowan Brothers’ Gorwydd Caerphilly (4kg)
- Pasteurised cow’s milk, animal rennet
- Iconic crumbly cheese made in Somerset
- Matured for 12 weeks
Blue Category: Cropwell Bishop Blue Stilton (8kg)
- Pasteurised cow’s milk, animal rennet
- PDO-protected traditional blue cheese
- Matured for 14 weeks
Soft Category: Fen Farm Dairy Baron Bigod (250g)
- Pasteurised cow’s milk, animal rennet
- Award-winning British brie-style cheese
- Matured for seven weeks
Washed Rind Category: White Lake Cheese Rachel (2kg)
- Thermised goat’s milk, vegetarian rennet
- Somerset artisan washed rind cheese
- Matured for 15 weeks
Special Awards
Affineur of the Year 2026
The overall champion across all categories
Category Winners
Individual awards for Hard, Crumbly, Blue, Soft, and Washed Rind categories
People’s Choice Award
Selected by attendee votes—your opinion matters!
The Rising Star Award (New for 2026)
Recognizing emerging talent in affinage, with a full scholarship to the prestigious Mons Formation five-day Cheese Retail and Affinage course in Saint-Haon-le-Châtel, France
Event details
Join us at the the iconic Christ Church Spitalfields on Tuesday 16th June 2026, when all cheeses will be judged by a select committee of industry experts. The five category winners, as well as the People’s Choice winner will be announced the same afternoon, with the overall champion being crowned Affineur of the Year 2026.
Essential Details | |
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Date: |
Tuesday 16th June 2026 |
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Time: |
To be confirmed |
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Location: |
Christ Church Spitalfields Commercial St, London E1 6LY |
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Price: |
£60 plus VAT |
Still need convincing?
Here are seven irresistible reasons to meet us in London on June 3rd.
Schedule for the Day*
● 1.00pm onwards: Guests Arrival time (drop-in) & Welcome
● 1.30pm – 5pm: Judging
● 2.15pm – 5pm: Tasting of the competition cheeses
● 4.30pm: People’s Choice entry close
● 5pm – 6pm: Judges to stage for reviews and results: ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WINNERS
● 6pm – 7pm: More cheese tasting, celebrations, close.
*Times to be confirmed and are subject to alteration
What’s Included in Your Ticket
✓ Welcome Drink – Start your afternoon with a beverage on arrival
✓ Watch the Cutting – Witness the dramatic moment as each competition cheese is cut open for the first time, revealing the results of months of careful maturation
✓ Sample ALL Competition Cheeses – Taste every single entry across all five categories: Hard, Crumbly, Blue, Soft, and Washed Rind
✓ People’s Choice Voting – Cast your vote for your favourite cheese and help decide the winner of the popular People’s Choice Award
✓ Meet the Competitors – Speak directly with the affineurs about their techniques, challenges, and creative approaches to cheese maturation
✓ Meet the Cheesemakers – Connect with the artisan producers behind the base cheeses: Quicke’s, Trethowan Brothers, Cropwell Bishop, Fen Farm Dairy, and White Lake Cheese
✓ Expert Commentary – Hear insights from the judging panel as they conclude the awards and explain their evaluations
✓ Witness the Awards Ceremony – Be present for the announcement of category winners and the crowning of the 2026 Affineur of the Year champion
✓ Networking Opportunities – Mix with cheese professionals, Academy of Cheese delegates, and fellow enthusiasts throughout the event
Affineur of the Year 2026 sponsors
The Academy of Cheese is grateful to our valued sponsors of the Affineur of the Year awards.
Click on our sponsor logos to read their story.
Don’t Miss This Unique Experience
This is more than just a tasting event – it’s a masterclass in the art and science of cheese affinage, a celebration of British artisan cheesemaking, and a unique opportunity to witness and participate in one of the UK’s most prestigious cheese competitions.
Spaces are limited. Book your ticket today.
Stay Connected
Follow the event on social media:
- Instagram: @cheese_academy #AffineurOfTheYear
- Facebook: @academyofCheese
- Twitter: @cheese_academy
- TikTok: @cheese_academy
Interested in sponsoring this event?
All sponsorship opportunities have been confirmed this year, but if you are interested for future events, we would love to hear from you. Sponsors receive free tickets to the finals event in London on the 16th June, along with a stand to promote your business and coverage on our social media channels.
With so many industry professionals in attendance, the event is a great place to network with cheesemakers, retailers, wholesalers, sponsors and more.
Cancellations
Please note, once the event is booked it is non-refundable. All bookings are final, however, if you are unable to attend you can reassign your booking to another person.
We reserve the right to cancel the event at short notice should circumstances beyond our control make this unavoidable. Should this occur, ticket holders will be offered a place on the re-scheduled date.