About a thousand samples from 19 countries are being judged at ExpoQueijo Brasil 2026
The most anticipated competition of ExpoQueijo Brasil 2026 begins this Friday (26) in Araxá. About a thousand artisan cheeses from 19 countries officially enter the race for the Super Ouro, the top recognition of the largest competition in the sector in the Americas.
The International Competition, starting at 1:00 p.m., gathers samples from Germany, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Spain, France, Greece, Netherlands, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Uruguay. The samples will undergo a rigorous blind judging conducted by over 200 Brazilian and international specialists.
Under the technical curation of EPAMIG – Instituto de Laticínios Cândido Tostes, the judges will analyze seven sensory attributes. The competition will be held in three elimination stages until the cheese that receives the Super Ouro is defined. Since the creation of ExpoQueijo Brasil, only Brazil, Italy, and Argentina have won the competition’s main trophy.
First day was dedicated to preparation for the competition
Thursday (25) was devoted to preparations for the start of evaluations. The specialists went through accreditation and technical training stages, responsible for standardizing judging criteria and reinforcing the impartiality of the contest.
Among the judges is chef Luci De Boer, participating in the competition for the first time. With training in France, she highlights that evaluating a cheese goes far beyond flavor. “There are several characteristics involved, such as texture, shape, aroma, consistency, and flavor,” she said.
For judge Rita de Cássia, the training ensures balance among all evaluators. “We manage to have standardization between the system itself and the judging criteria. It is a necessary moment,” she emphasized.
While the judges prepared, Brazilian and foreign producers began delivering their samples at the Grande Hotel e Termas de Araxá. Among them was native of Araxá, Caio César Miguel, representing local production in the competition. “It is a great cheese event. For us, participating is a great pride. The expectation is to win gold,” he said.
Representing a consortium of municipalities from Southern Minas Gerais, Letícia Silva Oliveira de Sousa participates in ExpoQueijo for the first time and highlights the importance of the competition in giving visibility to small producers. “It is an opportunity to show the quality of what we produce and gain recognition in such a renowned contest,” she stated.
The economy is already feeling the effects of ExpoQueijo
In addition to the competition preparations, ExpoQueijo officially opened the business fair, set up in a record structure of approximately 4.8 thousand square meters of covered area, with 86 commercial booths, restaurants, bars, food trucks, and lounge spaces.
The movement is already boosting different sectors of Araxá’s economy. The Municipal Secretary of Economic Development, Italo Marcus Fonseca Borges, highlights that the event moves thousands of reais in the local economy. “Araxá is once again the protagonist of an international program. Besides projecting the city’s name, ExpoQueijo fosters the local economy. With so many people visiting Araxá and an event of this proportion, everyone ends up benefiting,” he stated.
The Municipal Secretary of Tourism, Alda Sandra Barbosa Marques, highlighted the importance of the fair in consolidating Araxá as an event destination. “It is a special moment and a very important event for tourism growth. Receiving people from so many countries makes them circulate through the city and get to know Araxá’s potential,” she said.
For the organizer of ExpoQueijo Brasil, Maricell Hussein, the sixth edition represents a new milestone for the event. “ExpoQueijo is built by many arms. None of this would be possible without the people and institutions involved with us. Since 2021, when we held the first edition, the event has grown a lot. We will have the Cozinha Show, a gastronomy area, free shows for the public, a forum covering various topics related to artisan cheese, and a contest that is the biggest in our history,” she highlighted.
She also emphasized the strengthening of international participation. “It is not just the increase in countries. Those countries that came before, that took their trophies, came back with more people and more cheese. This shows the strength of ExpoQueijo and the world’s interest in artisan cheese,” she stated.
The Secretary of State for Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply, Thales Fernandes, stated that ExpoQueijo has surpassed the role of a gastronomic fair. “We have a competition and party environment, but also discussions about small-scale agro-industry, regulations, research, and a forum that impacts the entire artisan cheese chain. All of this shows the involvement of the Government of Minas Gerais with ExpoQueijo Brasil, which I dare say is one of the largest cheese events in the world. This week, Araxá becomes the center of the world when it comes to cheese,” he said.
Knowledge also takes the stage
The technical program began on Thursday with a workshop on Queijo Minas Artesanal, promoted by the FAEMG/SENAR System.
Producers, professionals, and interested parties received guidance on manufacturing, aging, and good practices, covering everything from raw material quality to techniques capable of preserving the identity of one of the main gastronomic heritages of Minas Gerais.
According to instructor Giancarlo Ferreira, the proposal goes beyond the transmission of technical content. “ExpoQueijo is much more than a gastronomic event. It involves producers, families, companies, information exchange, and the valorization of the artisan cheese production chain,” he highlighted.
Music opens the cultural program
The cultural program also began on the first night of ExpoQueijo and gathered hundreds of people at the Vila Gastronômica.
The opening was by singer Vinny, who presented the show Baile do Vinny, bringing together hits that marked the 1990s, such as Heloísa, Mexe a Cadeira, Shake Boom, and Te Encontrar de Novo. “Baile do Vinny is a big party. We play everything that was part of the soundtrack of the 1990s and 2000s, but also go through artists like Tim Maia and Jorge Ben. It is a very Brazilian show, designed so that everyone sings and has fun,” the singer stated.
Vinny also spoke about the relationship built with the audience over more than three decades of career. “I receive a lot of affection from people, and that is what makes everything worthwhile. We age on the outside, but inside we keep the same desire to go on stage, sing, make people dance, and live good moments through music,” he said.
Afterwards, the band Virau closed the first night of performances.
Four days of programming
ExpoQueijo Brasil continues until Sunday (28) with a business fair, International Forum, Cozinha Show, workshops, tastings, live podcasts, cultural presentations, and free shows.
The highlight of the program will be the announcement of the winners of the International Artisan Cheese Competition on Saturday, when the winner of the Super Ouro will be known — the top prize of the contest that, throughout this week, turns Minas Gerais into the artisan cheese capital of the Americas.
ExpoQueijo Brasil
The main event in the sector in the Americas, ExpoQueijo Brasil 2026 – Araxá International Cheese Awards brings together representatives from the main cheese-producing countries, attracting specialists, buyers, producers, and press from different regions.
The gathering will feature a structure set up in the main courtyard and halls of the Grande Hotel e Termas de Araxá, a cultural and historical heritage site of Minas Gerais.
This year, ExpoQueijo will be held from June 25 to 28, impacting sectors such as tourism, retail, agriculture, logistics, food industry, supply chain, and international relations.
The event is carried out under the Rouanet Law; State Law and Incentive to Culture with sponsorship from Cemig; CBMM; McCain; Algar; Sebrae; and the Ocemg System. The initiative is supported by AmiQueijo; the Araxá City Hall; Rota Araxá; Condor Eventos; the Faemg Senar System; the Instituto Mineiro de Agropecuária (IMA); Epamig; Emater Minas Gerais; the Government of Minas Gerais; and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Federal Government. The maintainers are the Instituto de Laticínios Cândido Tostes, Epamig, and the State Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply of Minas Gerais. A production by Bonare Eventos, the State Secretariat of Culture, the Government of Minas Gerais, and the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Brazil, alongside the Brazilian people.
Service
ExpoQueijo Brasil 2026 – Araxá International Cheese Awards
Date: June 25 to 28
Location: Grande Hotel e Termas de Araxá – Rua Águas do Araxá, s/nº, bairro Barreiro, Araxá (MG)
Information and regulations: www.expoqueijobrasil.com.br
