What does it take to turn a little gingerbread into a big New York masterpiece? For artists competing in the Museum of the City of New York’s fifth annual Gingerbread NYC, it takes imagination, technical skill, and countless hours of creativity. Together, their creations capture the spirit of all five boroughs. This year’s theme of Gingerbread NYC is the Great Borough Bake-Off 2026.
More than 70 applicants competed for just 25 spots—a 40 percent increase from last year. But building the piece is only half the challenge. Museum climate requirements mean humidity and warmer temperatures can affect icing and delicate sugar details during the two-month exhibition. Jerry Gallagher, Chief Operating Officer of the museum, advises future competitors to think outside the box while keeping durability in mind. Sometimes an unexpected concept, like 2025’s “Cawffee and a Bagel” and pizza theme, can be just as memorable as an elaborate structure.
So what makes a winning entry? Nadine Orenstein, Drue Heinz Curator in Charge of the Department of Drawings and Prints at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a 19-year judge of the National Gingerbread House Competition, says it takes more than technical skill. A piece must tell a compelling story and capture the theme. Her advice for next year: bring a fresh perspective and showcase a side of New York that hasn’t yet been represented.
Amy Scherber of Amy’s Breads, a judge since the competition began, enjoys seeing the entries grow more creative and detailed each year. She looks for strong execution, a thoughtful interpretation of the theme, and a touch of humor. Her advice? Plan and test structures well in advance so they survive the exhibition.
2026 Winners of Gingerbread NYC
Angela Carlucci swept the awards with her Coney Island Cyclone, taking home four honors: Best Overall, Most Unique, Most Realistic, and Good Enough to Eat, along with Best Borough Spirit—Brooklyn. Inspired by the iconic roller coaster, her biggest challenge was creating strong, stable curves using carefully interlocked gingerbread pieces secured with royal icing.
The artists brought those qualities to life in a variety of ways. Now in their third year competing, pastry chef César Aldrete and Ricky Rotandi earned Best Borough Spirit—Manhattan and Most Unique for Little Island. Their recreation of the waterfront park featured 60 tempered-chocolate pillars and approximately 300 gingerbread pieces. Ricky said the best part was building alongside fellow artists, joking that remembering to pack all their tools was harder than transporting the finished piece!
First-time competitor Adam Shapiro earned Best in Borough—Queens with his recreation of Astoria’s Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden. After a few construction mishaps, he simply baked replacement pieces and tried again. His biggest takeaway? Sturdiness is essential!
Representing Staten Island, Chiara Klein-Diggle of Arimma’s Italian Bagel Theater earned Best in Borough—Staten Island and Most Realistic with her tribute to the 70-year-old family-owned institution. Tiny, mostly gum paste details brought the shop to life, with shelves stocked with everything from fresh produce to mortadella.
Kate Sullivan of Cake Power recreated the New York Public Library. Despite her experience with large-scale pieces, she was surprised by how long the project took. She kept discovering more tiny details to include, laughing that it seemed to take forever. Her biggest challenge was deciding what to keep and what to leave out. She’s already thinking of what to make for next year.
I could relate! When asked to represent the Bronx, I knew I wanted to create a boom box, but my imagination quickly produced more ideas than I had time to execute. Editing became essential to giving Bronx Beats a clear, cohesive story. Taking home Best in Borough—Bronx made the experience even more rewarding. Ultimately, this year’s Bake-Off celebrated more than gingerbread artistry; it showcased the creativity, craftsmanship, and stories that make New York unique.
For more interviews and behind-the-scenes videos, visit my page for the full coverage. Thinking of applying next year? Find a New York story that hasn’t been told, put your own spin on it, and don’t be afraid to take a creative risk. Remember, judges aren’t just looking at how beautifully something is made, but what makes the piece memorable. Bring your personality to the table—and have fun with it!
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Juliet Galea
Juliet Galea is an award-winning sugar artist, celebrated for hyper-detailed, story-driven edible sculptures, including multiple wins at the Museum of the City of New York’s Gingerbread Bake-Off. With a background in graphic design and business communications, she creates work that blends bold imagination with a desire to evoke emotion. Juliet has been baking since she was a little girl, and for well over a decade, she’s been transforming sugar into playful, lifelike creations. Having lived in Manhattan and Queens, and with an enduring love and obsession for New York City, she’s now in her “step out of your comfort zone” era, sharing her creative explorations on social media and inspiring others to take risks too.
