Gelato Festival World Masters, the world’s most prestigious gelato competition, returned to Los Angeles for the first time since 2023. It took place on August 30 and 31, 2025, at Ovation Hollywood on Hollywood Boulevard, and decided North America’s top gelato masters. The weekend combined competition, cooking demonstrations and tastings, including free samples of the Gelato Festival brand’s own gelato.

The competition

Staged in partnership with Carpigiani and Sigep by Italian Exhibition Group, the contest was for the title of Best Gelato Master in North America 2025. Ten artisans took part, each earning a place by winning earlier World Masters events, such as the 2023 North American Semifinals in Los Angeles and the 2025 edition in High Point, North Carolina. Industry professionals and festival visitors both evaluated the entries, and the winners advanced to represent North America in the 2026 World Finals.

• Mohammad Alqawasmi, Bazaria, Plano, TX
• Lauren Brock, Butterfat Gelato, Pittsburgh, PA
• Maria Liliana Biondo, uGOgelato, Cincinnati, OH
• Golan Chetrit, Noi Due Gelato, New York City, NY
• James Coleridge, Gelato by James, Vancouver, Canada
• Juan Antonio Coyoli Maciel, Super Creamy, Mexico City, Mexico
• Francia Michelle Magsaysay, Francy’s Artisanal Ice Cream, Bergenfield, NJ
• Stefania Pede, Cocoa 40 Inc., Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
• Tassia Vicentin Rezende, Tre Cuori Gelateria & Açai, Ellisville, MO
• Melanie Wolf, Pompelmo Gelateria, Westerly, RI

The festival experience

The family-friendly festival ran in the Ovation Hollywood common area, with live gelato-making demonstrations, interactive tastings, educational workshops and cultural presentations on gelato’s Italian heritage. Visitors could also sample offerings from sponsors and partner chefs. This year Gelato Festival partnered with the Hollywood Food Coalition, with a ticket fundraising option to help tackle food insecurity in Los Angeles and a dedicated booth on site.

What this means for gelato makers in New Zealand

Events like this are a good source of flavour inspiration. Majors Group, the official Carpigiani distributor in New Zealand, can help you turn ideas into product with artisan gelato machines, ISA display cabinets and training through Carpigiani Gelato University.

Source: Carpigiani news. Rewritten for New Zealand by Majors Group.