Call for Bakers! GingerbreadNYC

Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off (2025-26)

The Museum of the City of New York is thrilled to invite professional and amateur bakers from across the city to apply for entry to Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off, our fourth annual celebration of communities and neighborhoods in each of the five boroughs—as represented in gingerbread.

Selected bakers will be invited to create a gingerbread display on the theme of “Iconic New York”—distinctive buildings, places, or things that represent their neighborhood, community, or borough. A panel of prominent New York City-based bakers, curators, and restaurant owners will judge the final designs and award prizes in a variety of categories. 

How It Works:  
A selection of professional and amateur bakers from each borough will be chosen to create a gingerbread display. Each bakery/baker selected will receive a $500 stipend toward materials and supplies. Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories and the displays will receive a Press Preview on Monday, November 3, 2025, and will be on view to the public from Friday, November 7, 2025, through Monday, January 19, 2026.  

For additional information, please see the Rules and Regulations. 

Key Dates: 

Fri, Sep 19 – Deadline to enter 
Fri, Sep 26 – Bakers will be informed of selection 
Fri, Oct 3 – Deadline for bakers to submit designs with accurate dimensions for approval
Fri, Oct 10 – Bakers will receive design approval/feedback (if not sooner) 
Thu, Oct 23 – Bakers install gingerbread displays 
Fri, Oct 24 – Bakers install gingerbread displays 
Sat, Oct 25 – Bakers install gingerbread displays
Sun, Oct 26 – Bakers install gingerbread displays 
Thu, Oct 30 thru Fri, Oct 31 – Final judging 
Mon, Nov 3 – Press preview / Awards presentation
Fri, Nov 7 – Opens to the public 
Mon, Jan. 19, 2026 – Last day on view to the public 

Judges: 

Bobbie Lloyd, CEO and Chief Baking Officer, Magnolia Bakery 

Jonah Nigh, Semi-finalist, NBC/Peacock’s Baking It (Season 1); Comedian; Vice President for Development and Chief Advancement Officer, The Juilliard School 

Nadine Orenstein, Drue Heinz Curator in Charge, Department of Drawings and Prints, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; former judge, National Gingerbread House Competition in Asheville, NC 

Amy Scherber, Owner and Founder, Amy's Bread, est. 1992; Cafe operator of Chalsty's Cafe, MCNY 

Melba Wilson, Owner, Melba’s Restaurant; Author, Melba’s American Comfort: 100 Recipes from My Heart to Your Kitchen (2016) 

Here's a 'taste' of how last year's competition came together...

For any additional questions, please email: gingerbreadnyc@mcny.org