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New York arguments tend to fall into a few reliably dangerous categories: subway etiquette, how to fold a slice of pizza and maybe most contentious of all: who makes the city’s best bagel. This fall, you can help settle at least one of them.
New York BagelFest will return on Sunday, November 15, and this year’s carb-loaded showdown is taking over Citi Field, where more than 25 bagel shops from across the U.S. and around the world will compete for some very serious bragging rights. The festival will feature two tasting sessions, with thousands of attendees expected for unlimited bagels, schmears and sandwiches.
The New York contingent is stacked: Utopia Bagels, which won Best Bagel in 2024, will return alongside Ess-A-Bagel, last year’s Best of the Boroughs champion. Bagel Market, Curley’s Bagels, Bagel Joint and Bagizza are also competing, while Black Seed Bagels will make its BagelFest debut.
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Competitors are coming from 10 states and five countries, including Montreal institution St-Viateur Bagel, Madrid’s Si Si Bagels and Bodega Bagels from Belfast. Dallas-based Starship Bagel, the festival’s most decorated competitor, is also returning after winning Best Bagel in both 2023 and 2025.
“With the World Cup of soccer over, it's time to turn our sights towards the bagel world's equivalent: the New York BagelFest,” founder Sam Silverman said. According to Silverman, fewer than 9 percent of applicants were selected to compete this year.
Naturally, eating is only part of the agenda. Competitors will face off for titles including Best Bagel, Schmear of the Year, Most Creative, Best Showmanship and Best Bialy, while attendees can vote for People’s Choice and several other honors. The World Bagel Rolling Championship will also return, testing just how quickly competitors can roll dough into that all-important ring.
There will also be live demonstrations, educational programming, interactive exhibits and a Kids’ Zone, plus plenty of bagel-adjacent provisions: Acme Smoked Fish, Variety Coffee, Peter Pan Donuts and Philadelphia Cream Cheese are among the additional exhibitors.
Tickets start at $69, with a limited batch of $49 early-bird tickets going on sale September 8.