The November 15, 2026 edition of New York BagelFest at Citi Field is shaping up as a rare convergence of artisan baking talent and commercial bakery supply, with All Bake Technologies of Neptune, NJ confirmed as Gold Sponsor and Official Equipment Sponsor. The event draws more than 25 curated bagel shops from 10 U.S. states and five countries — Ireland, Spain, Canada, India, and the United States — for a full day of competitive tasting, live demonstrations, and industry programming.
Equipment Angle
For operators and equipment specifiers tracking the artisan-bakery segment, All Bake Technologies' sponsorship signals the commercial stakes behind the craft bagel boom. The company positions itself as a one-stop source for bakery equipment, parts, technical support, and service — exactly the kind of integrated supply model that high-volume artisan shops need as they scale. Dealers and consultants working with independent bagel operations or commissary bake-off facilities will recognize the event as a live showcase of what hand-rolled, wood-fired, and kettle-boiling production looks like at competition grade. The prep-and-storage demands of running 25-plus bakeries through a single-day tasting format — from proofing to holding to on-site finishing — represent a tangible back-of-house logistics challenge.
The Competitive Field
Less than 9 percent of applicants earned a spot in the 2026 lineup, according to BagelFest founder Sam Silverman, making selection a meaningful industry credential. Returning title-holders include Starship Bagel of Dallas (Best Bagel champion in 2023 and 2025), Utopia Bagels and Ess-a-Bagel of New York, and BagelFest West 2025 double-champions Hey Bagel of Seattle and Rise Bagels of Irvine, CA. Ten new competitors join the field, including Bodega Bagels from Belfast, Ireland, and Bagel Brigade, which operates across India and Texas. King Arthur Baking Company — a B Corp, 100% employee-owned flour supplier serving bakery and foodservice professionals — serves as Presenting Sponsor and Official Flour Partner, while Malt Products of Saddle Brook, NJ, the commercial malt ingredient supplier whose product gives bagels their characteristic crust and color, participates as Official Malt Partner.
Industry Context
The artisan bagel category has expanded well beyond its New York roots, and the equipment demands have followed. Operators entering the segment face decisions around deck ovens versus rack ovens, kettle-boiling capacity, dough sheeters, and refrigerated retarder-proofers — all areas where cooking-equipment specifiers and dealer reps are increasingly active. BonBagel, listed among exhibitors, is described as a new bagel slicer, adding a smallwares dimension to the show floor. Two gluten-free bagel producers — Original Sunshine and Queen Street Bakery — are also on the roster, reflecting the formulation and cross-contamination-control considerations that commercial kitchens must address when expanding into allergen-sensitive product lines. Early Bird tickets start at $49 beginning September 8, 2026, with general admission from $69 at bagelfest.com.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
