MONTE CARLO MASTERS OF OLIVE OIL INTERNATIONAL CONTEST
The Best Olive Oils 2026Official Results of the Masters of Olive Oil International Contest
2026 Competition Highlights
An international celebration of excellence in extra virgin olive oil, bringing together producers, judges and outstanding entries from around the world.
20
Countries
302
Entries Evaluated
179
EVOO Awards
14
International Judges
The 2026 edition included entries from the Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Infused Olive Oil and Table Olive competitions. The awards presented on this page refer exclusively to the Extra Virgin Olive Oil category.
Only oils reaching the panel’s quality threshold receive an award; ranking is by threshold, not quota.
Celebrating Excellence in Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Best Olive Oils 2026 presents the official results of the Masters of Olive Oil International Contest, recognizing the world’s finest extra virgin olive oils selected through an independent blind tasting process conducted by an international panel of experts.
The competition brings together outstanding producers from the world’s leading olive-growing regions, rewarding excellence in quality, authenticity, varietal expression, and craftsmanship. Every awarded olive oil has been evaluated according to internationally recognized sensory assessment standards.
Explore the Absolute Winners and discover the producers awarded with Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards in the 2026 edition of the competition.
LIGHT FRUITY CATEGORY
MEDIUM FRUITY CATEGORY
INTENSE FRUITY CATEGORY
OVERALL CATEGORY
MONOCULTIVAR
BLEND CATEGORY
PDO / PGI CATEGORY
ORGANIC CATEGORY
BEST PRODUCERS FROM AFRICA CATEGORY
BEST PRODUCERS FROM HD/SHD CATEGORY
PRODUCERS ORANGE FLAG MUNICIPALITIES CATEGORY
MUNICIPALITIES ORANGE FLAG MUNICIPALITIES CATEGORY
SITES HISTORIQUE GRIMALDI DE MONACO CATEGORY
GENERAL RANKING - BEST OLIVE OILS 2026 – GOLD AWARD WINNERS
About the Gold Award Winners
The Gold Award represents one of the highest recognitions presented by the Masters of Olive Oil International Contest 2026. It is awarded exclusively to extra virgin olive oils that have successfully achieved the quality standards established by the international judging panel during the official blind tasting sessions.
Each awarded olive oil has been carefully evaluated for its sensory profile, including fruitiness, aroma, harmony, bitterness, pungency, persistence and overall balance. The Gold Award recognizes producers who consistently demonstrate excellence in olive cultivation, milling, and quality management while preserving the authentic characteristics of their extra virgin olive oils.
The producers listed below are presented in alphabetical order and do not represent a ranking among themselves. Every Gold Award winner has reached the level of excellence required to receive one of the most prestigious distinctions of the Best Olive Oils 2026 competition.
Important Notice
The following producers have been awarded the Gold Award and are listed in alphabetical order by producer. The order does not represent a ranking.
GENERAL RANKING - BEST OLIVE OILS - SILVER AWARD WINNERS
About the Silver Award Winners
The Silver Award is a prestigious distinction presented by the Masters of Olive Oil International Contest 2026, recognizing extra virgin olive oils that have achieved our rigorous High-Quality Standard. These outstanding oils have been meticulously evaluated through official blind-tasting sessions by our independent international panel of experts.
Each awarded EVOO has been assessed for its sensory profile, demonstrating a remarkable balance of fruitiness, aroma, harmony, and persistence. The Silver Award celebrates producers who showcase profound dedication to the art of olive milling, delivering a superior tasting profile that consistently surpasses standard market offerings. The producers listed below are presented in alphabetical order and represent an elite selection of the best olive oils of 2026.
Important Notice
The following producers have been awarded the Silver Award and are listed in alphabetical order by producer. The order does not represent a ranking.
GENERAL RANKING - BEST OLIVE OILS - BRONZE AWARD WINNERS
About the Standard Quality Recognition Award
The Bronze Quality Recognition Award celebrates the authenticity and agricultural integrity of extra virgin olive oils that have met our professional benchmarks at the Masters of Olive Oil International Contest 2026. These oils have undergone the same rigorous blind-tasting evaluation as our top-tier winners, conducted by our independent international panel of judges.
Each awarded EVOO in this category has achieved a solid and respectable score, reflecting a true expression of its terroir and a commitment to genuine milling practices. These selections offer a reliable and enjoyable tasting profile, making them an excellent choice for those who seek to enrich their culinary creations with the guaranteed quality of a professional competition. The producers listed below are presented in alphabetical order, representing a collection of high-quality extra virgin olive oils that bring international excellence to your everyday table.
Important Notice
The following producers have been awarded the Bronze Award and are listed in alphabetical order by producer. The order does not represent a ranking.
About the Masters of Olive Oil International Contest 2026
The Masters of Olive Oil International Contest is an independent international competition dedicated to recognizing excellence in extra virgin olive oil production. Each year, producers from around the world submit their finest olive oils to be evaluated through a rigorous blind tasting process conducted by an international panel of experienced judges.
The mission of the competition is to promote quality, authenticity and innovation while celebrating the extraordinary diversity of the world’s olive-growing regions. From traditional Mediterranean producers to emerging olive oil countries, every entry is evaluated under identical conditions, ensuring fairness, transparency and consistency throughout the judging process.
Blind Tasting Methodology
All samples are assessed anonymously. The identity of the producer, brand and country of origin remains undisclosed during the sensory evaluation, allowing the judges to focus exclusively on the intrinsic quality of each olive oil. This blind tasting methodology guarantees complete impartiality and follows internationally recognized standards for professional sensory assessment.
During the evaluation, the judging panel carefully examines each olive oil for its sensory characteristics, including fruitiness, aromatic complexity, harmony, bitterness, pungency, persistence and overall balance. Particular attention is given to varietal expression, production quality and the ability of every oil to represent its unique terroir and production philosophy.
International Judging Panel
The Masters of Olive Oil International Contest brings together one of the world’s most experienced judging panels, including IOC Panel Leaders, certified professional tasters, researchers and internationally recognized olive oil experts. Learn more about the members of our international jury and their professional backgrounds on the dedicated Jury page.
Meet the International Jury
The credibility of every international competition depends on the expertise and independence of its judging panel. The Masters of Olive Oil International Contest brings together a distinguished team of IOC Panel Leaders, certified professional tasters, researchers, olive oil consultants and internationally recognized experts, representing different countries and decades of experience in sensory evaluation.
Discover the professionals whose knowledge, integrity and commitment ensure a rigorous, transparent and impartial evaluation of every olive oil entered in the competition.
The Award System
The competition recognizes excellence through a structured award system. Extra virgin olive oils achieving the highest quality standards receive Gold, Silver or Bronze Awards, while the most outstanding entries across the competition categories are honored as the Absolute Winners.
To ensure complete transparency, all producers receiving the same award level are presented in alphabetical order. Their position within the list does not represent a ranking or score, as every awarded producer has successfully met the quality standards required by the international judging panel.
Our Mission
Beyond recognizing excellence, the Masters of Olive Oil International Contest and the Masters of Olives International Contest seek to promote a global culture of quality by supporting producers committed to excellence while providing consumers, importers, retailers, chefs and food professionals with a trusted international reference for discovering exceptional extra virgin olive oils and table olives.
The Best Olive Oils 2026 selection represents the official results of the 2026 edition of the competition and celebrates producers whose passion, expertise and commitment continue to elevate the standards of extra virgin olive oil worldwide.
Interested in participating in the next edition?
Discover the competition regulations, categories and entry information for the upcoming Masters of Olive Oil International Contest.
