Belgium ranks first in the world for the best artisanal panettone – although it is actually made by the Italian Santangelo.
Brussels – Belgium has won the gold medal for the world’s best artistic panettone. But the hands that kneaded the dough are Italian. Sicilian, to be precise. Antonio Santangelo, a cake designer based in Beersel, in Flemish Brabant, won the gold medal yesterday (29 October) in the “Artistic Panettone” category at the FIPGC Panettone World Cup, held in Tokyo on 28 and 29 October 2026.
The category dedicated to decorated panettone featured 12 entrants, selected by invitation from the Federation from amongst the leading artists from across five continents. Belgium was only represented in this category, which makes this Belgian victory all the more special.
Representing Belgium in this international competition was the Sicilian Antonio Santangelo, who stood out thanks to a creation inspired by the elegance of Art Deco and the fairy tale of the Little Christmas Drummer Boy. His creation, which combines a variety of confectionery decoration techniques with meticulous attention to detail, won over the jury, who selected it as the creation that best embodied the Christmas spirit.
This gold medal adds to an already impressive list of achievements: in 2023, Antonio Santangelo won the bronze medal at the FIPGC Cake Designers World Championship. In addition to working as a cake designer in Belgium, he also works internationally as a judge and trainer.
Eunews. English version by the Translation Service of Withub
