This year, the French-based guide for global gastronomy, bakery, and pastry enthusiasts introduced the Bakery Innovation Award, recognizing those who have made significant international contributions to promoting bread culture, including through ethical and sustainable business practices.

The award in this category goes to:

• Richard Hart – Hart Bageri (Copenhagen, Denmark) – Claridge’s Bakery (London, UK)
• Thomas Teffri – Chambelland – International School of Baking, Noyers-sur-Jabron – Chambelland, Paris – La Fabrique à Pain, Aix-en-Provence – Maison Deschamps, Lyon, France

The Rise of Bread Culture

The 2026 edition marks an important milestone for La Liste with the official integration of artisan bakeries into its international pastry selection. “Now presented under the banner ‘The World’s Best Pastry & Bakery Shops’, the guide reflects a profound transformation already visible across the world, where the traditional boundaries between bakeries, pâtisseries, specialty coffee houses and tea rooms continue to disappear. This evolution is reflected in the awards themselves, with 12 of the 36 laureates recognized primarily for their contribution to artisan breadmaking. From Richard Hart, the ‘sourdough whisperer’, to Thomas Teffri-Chambelland, a pioneer of gluten-free bread in France, as well as Mamiche in Paris, Joseph Brot in Vienna, and O’Mills Bakery in Shanghai, bread has firmly reclaimed its place at the heart of contemporary gastronomy,” La Liste points to its 2026 edition highlights.

La Liste recognizes the most remarkable businesses in each sector annually and publishes a corresponding list. It does not evaluate the businesses itself, but rather analyzes data from international restaurant guides, magazines, and online reviews. Restaurants, hotels, and pastry shops—that is, bakeries and pastry shops—are all scrutinized.

South Korean chef Eunyoung Yun (Garuharu, Seoul) won the World’s Most Creative Pastry Chef Award.

Photo: La Liste