Entries have opened for the 2026 South African Dairy Championships. Agri-Expo invites dairy producers across the country to enter this 193rd edition of Africa’s oldest and largest dairy competition.
The championships attract approximately 1 000 entries annually from large, medium and small producers across more than 100 classes. Products are evaluated by an independent panel of experts, with each class winner awarded the title of SA Champion. Only products of exceptional quality qualify for the prestigious Qualité Mark of Excellence, while the product achieving the highest overall score is named Product of the Year.
The scale and stature of the competition were underscored last year when a record 1 110 dairy products from 77 producers were evaluated. A panel of 103 judges from 47 companies assessed the entries over three days, resulting in 114 SA Champions and 30 Qualité-awarded products being named.
According to Breyton Milford, General Manager of Agri-Expo, the championships remain a key benchmark for excellence in the c industry. “The continued growth in entries confirms the value producers place on independent, credible evaluation,” says Milford. “Quality dairy products deserve recognition and visibility among consumers – and that is precisely the role this competition fulfils.”
IMPORTANT DATES
Entries open: Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Entries close: Monday, 23 February 2026
Product delivery: 23–24 March 2026 (Eensgezind, Durbanville)
Judging: 25–27 March 2026 (Eensgezind, Durbanville)
SA Dairy Awards ceremony: Thursday, 23 April 2026 (Nederburg, Paarl)
For more information, visit www.sadairychamps.co.za
or contact Agri-Expo on 021 863 1599 or via email at [email protected]
