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LOS ANGELES, USA – Tickets are now available for Gelato Festival World Masters, the globe’s most prestigious gelato competition, which returns to Los Angeles for the first time since 2023 on August 30th and 31st, 2025 at Ovation Hollywood. This highly anticipated weekend celebrates artisanal gelato excellence and determines North America’s top gelato masters.
The iconic shopping and entertainment destination on Hollywood Boulevard will once again host this epic event, bringing together North America’s most talented gelato artisans for an unforgettable weekend of competition, cooking demonstrations, tastings that also include free samples of the Gelato Festival brand of exceptional gelato, and more.
In partnership with Carpigiani and Sigep – Italian Exhibition Group, this year’s festival promises an elevated experience where skilled gelato masters compete for the coveted title of “Best Gelato Master in North America 2025.”
This year, Gelato Festival is also proud to partner with the Hollywood Food Coalition with a ticket fundraising initiative to support their mission of tackling food insecurity in Los Angeles. Attendees can contribute to the non-profit when purchasing tickets online, and the organization’s team will have a dedicated booth on site.
Competition Highlights
The two-day festival features 10 exceptional gelato artisans who have earned their place through victories at previous Gelato Festival World Masters events, such as the 2023 North American Semifinals in Los Angeles and the 2025 edition in High Point, North Carolina. Each competitor will be evaluated by both industry professionals and festival attendees, with winners advancing to represent North America at the World Finals in 2026.
This year’s competing masters include:
- 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
Festival Experience
Set in Ovation Hollywood’s vibrant common area, the family-friendly festival offers immersive experiences including live gelato-making demonstrations, interactive tastings, educational workshops, and cultural presentations exploring gelato’s rich Italian heritage. Beyond the competition entries, attendees can sample offerings from curated sponsors and partner chefs.
About Gelato Festival World Masters
Founded in Florence, Italy in 2010, Gelato Festival World Masters has evolved into the gelato industry’s premier international competition, attracting millions of visitors worldwide. The tournament spans a four-year cycle, with competitors selected through hundreds of events across five continents.
Since its inception, the festival has hosted 16 consecutive editions with over 100 public festivals in more than 20 countries and thousands of local competitions worldwide. Each year, more than 1,000 gelato masters participate in this global celebration of the artisanal cold dessert invented during the Renaissance by Bernardo Buontalenti.
Gabriele Poli, founder of the Gelato Festival World Masters, is also the visionary behind the world-class gelato brand, Gelato Festival. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the brand was created with a clear mission: to bring the finest flavors from around the world to major hospitality groups, premium retailers, and online customers. Learn more at gelatofestival.com.
About Gelato Festival
Gelato Festival is more than a world-renowned competition—it’s a celebration of craftsmanship, flavor, and passion! Join us at our booth and taste the result of 16 years of experience collaborating with the finest gelato chefs from around the globe. Indulge in exceptional gelato and sorbetto flavors, handcrafted like no other. Every batch is made from scratch using only simple, natural ingredients that meet the highest nutritional and sustainability standards. Our gelato is crafted with hormone-free milk sourced from local, family-owned farms committed to humane animal care. Our sorbettos are bursting with flavor from organic, fair-trade fruits sourced worldwide from trusted farmers. Celebrate the art, the tradition, and the taste of authentic gelato with Gelato Festival: The King of Gelato!
