Assistant chief judge Stan Dietsche, left, chief judge Jim Mueller and assistant chief judge Jim Czmowski stand on a stage at Monona Terrace and hold up the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest winning cheese, Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, made by CONO Kaasmakers at Westbeemster, Netherlands. It marks the fourth time that the Dutch have won best in show and ends a three-contest winning streak by Gouda cheesemaker Michael Spycher of Switzerland.
Second runner-up at the World Championship Cheese Contest was this aged washed rind/smear ripened hard cheese called Alter Fritz made by Hardegger Käse AG in Jonschwil, Switzerland. It was one of seven cheeses from Switzerland that made the top 20 in the contest.
The Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, made by CONO Kaasmakers at Westbeemster, Netherlands, which won best in show Thursday at the World Championship Cheese Contest, is similar to a Gouda.
Many of the 56 judges from around the world applaud Thursday during the announcement of the winning cheeses for the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest at Monona Terrace.
The winning cheeses are held aloft Thursday at the World Championship Cheese Contest at Monona Terrace. Best in show, bottom, is Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, made by CONO Kaasmakers at Westbeemster, Netherlands. Second place, top left, is Appenzeller Purple Label, made by Lucas Meier and Kaserei Kirchberg in Appenzell, Switzerland; and third place, top right, is an aged washed rind/smear ripened hard cheese called Alter Fritz, made by Hardegger Käse AG in Jonschwil, Switzerland.
Assistant chief judge Stan Dietsche, left, chief judge Jim Mueller and assistant chief judge Jim Czmowski stand on a stage at Monona Terrace and hold up the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest winning cheese, Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, made by CONO Kaasmakers at Westbeemster, Netherlands. It marks the fourth time that the Dutch have won best in show and ends a three-contest winning streak by Gouda cheesemaker Michael Spycher of Switzerland.
Second runner-up at the World Championship Cheese Contest was this aged washed rind/smear ripened hard cheese called Alter Fritz made by Hardegger Käse AG in Jonschwil, Switzerland. It was one of seven cheeses from Switzerland that made the top 20 in the contest.
The winning cheeses are held aloft Thursday at the World Championship Cheese Contest at Monona Terrace. Best in show, bottom, is Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, made by CONO Kaasmakers at Westbeemster, Netherlands. Second place, top left, is Appenzeller Purple Label, made by Lucas Meier and Kaserei Kirchberg in Appenzell, Switzerland; and third place, top right, is an aged washed rind/smear ripened hard cheese called Alter Fritz, made by Hardegger Käse AG in Jonschwil, Switzerland.
The Beemster Royaal Grand Cru, made by CONO Kaasmakers at Westbeemster, Netherlands, which won best in show Thursday at the World Championship Cheese Contest, is similar to a Gouda.
Many of the 56 judges from around the world applaud Thursday during the announcement of the winning cheeses for the 2026 World Championship Cheese Contest at Monona Terrace.
