The Panettone World Championship is ready to return to Host 2025, at fieramilano - Rho from 17 to 21October 2025, with a fourth edition that promises to be full of new features. Claudio Gatti, President of the Accademia dei Maestri del Lievito Madre e del Panettone Italiano, explains them to us.

“The main change is that from 2023 the competition is team-based,” began Gatti. “In 2025, 12 national teams will compete, among which the winners will be announced on the very stage of HostMilano on October 18, 2025.”

The goal is to promote internationally the excellence of artisanal panettone, made exclusively with sourdough. “We want to show how this product, a symbol of Italian tradition, can be interpreted in an innovative way, highlighting the different cultures and techniques of those who make it,” the President continues. “Contestants will have to prepare different types of panettone, including Classic Italian, Chocolate and Innovative Ice Cream. There will also be the Circular Monoportion and the Sourdough Flower. We expect each team to bring with them the uniqueness of their area, but at the same time there will be a great focus on innovation, especially in ingredients.”

Gatti emphasizes how much including the PWC in Host 2025 fosters this quest for innovation: “HOST Milan represents a benchmark for the world of hospitality and catering. For us, it means being able to give the PWC global recognition, which is crucial for the growth of the entire White Art movement. This is what we also do with the Academy, where we now welcome students from all over the world, in a 'fusion' of Italian tradition and cosmopolitan tastes.”

The fusion of tradition and innovation will in fact be the real protagonist of this edition, with a focus on internationalization and the promotion of Made in Italy. A perfect corollary for the MIPPP - Milano Pane Pizza Pasta show, which will present the best of Arte Bianca from Italy and the world, also thanks to the partnership with the SIPAN Consortium.