Event · Manhattan
Museum of the City of New York Turns NYC Icons Into Gingerbread on the Upper East Side
The Museum of the City of New York's fifth annual Gingerbread NYC invites bakers from all five boroughs to rebuild city icons in gingerbread. The 2026 theme is "Iconic New York," and visitors can vote for People's Choice through January 18, 2027.
By NBT Editors · 2026-11-12
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The Museum of the City of New York is hosting the fifth edition of its winter tradition, Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off, through January 18, 2027. Bakers from across the five boroughs were invited to recreate New York icons in gingerbread, and the result is a miniature cityscape built from cookie, frosting and candy.
This year's theme is "Iconic New York." Participants drew on distinctive buildings, places and symbols of the city, producing everything from candy-lined streets to edible skyscrapers. The museum describes the display as a celebration of the city's communities and neighborhoods, with a sweet twist. The photos on the official page show close-up work such as Brooklyn brownstones with detailed window frames, tiny street lamps and brightly painted doors.
A panel of judges awards multiple themed prizes. The 2026 judges are Bobbie Lloyd, Chief Brand Officer and Chief Baking Officer of Magnolia Bakery; Nadine Orenstein, Drue Heinz Curator in Charge of Drawings and Prints at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Amy Scherber, founder of Amy's Bread and the café operator at MCNY's Chalsty's Café; and Melba Wilson, owner of Melba's Restaurant, a James Beard nominee and author. Visitors can also vote during the run of the show to pick the final People's Choice award.
Three related programs are scheduled. On Saturday, November 28 at 12:00pm, Gingerbread NYC mother-daughter duo Jennifer Roth and Sofia Rodriguez lead a Gingerbread House Construction 101 workshop. Gingerbread Community Day follows on Saturday, December 5 at 11:00am, a family day of hands-on art, storytelling and seasonal traditions. On Saturday, December 19 at 12:00pm, Pastry Chef Angela Carlucci leads a family workshop where participants design a snowflake cookie and an ice skate cookie.
The museum is at 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street and is open every day. Advance tickets are sold online. According to press reports, adult admission is $23, and children and teens 18 and under are free.
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