Event · Flushing Meadows
At Citi Field in Queens, NYC: New York BagelFest 2026 Crowns the Best Bagel
On Sunday, Nov. 15, Citi Field hosts New York BagelFest, where 25-plus shops from the US and abroad compete for Best Bagel and People's Choice. Tickets started at $69 and are now sold out.
By NBT Editors · 2026-11-08
New York BagelFest takes over Citi Field in Queens on Sunday, Nov. 15. The organizers bill it as the world's best bagel competition: a day to taste, vote on and celebrate bagels, with dozens of top makers, live competitions and unlimited samples. Their pitch is simple. If you love bagels, this is your Super Bowl.
More than 25 shops from the US and abroad are taking part. The New York contingent includes Utopia, Ess-A-Bagel, Bagel Market, Curley's, Bagel Joint and Bagizza. Seeing neighborhood staples sit alongside bakers from other cities and countries is a big part of the appeal, since visitors can compare styles side by side.
The competition has two headline prizes. Best Bagel is the main title, and People's Choice is decided by attendee votes. Last year's event drew attention when Dallas's Starship Bagel took top honors, which gave the whole affair the feel of a real contest between New York and the rest of the country.
Tickets started at $69, but the official site now lists them as sold out. The schedule is posted on the festival's website. The festival also runs a volunteer program in which helpers work one session and attend the other as guests, which points to a day split into two sessions.
BagelFest is expanding as well. A West Coast edition, BagelFest West, is set for April 2027 at Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles. King Arthur Baking Company is the presenting sponsor of the festival.
