The Dalemain World Marmalade Awards are open for entry for the 21st anniversary competition with entries already landing.

The first entry arrived Christmas day from San Francisco and entries from around the world including Canada, Taiwan, Japan and Australia have already started to arrive at Dalemain in the Lake District.

More than 3200 jars arrive at Dalemain Mansion every year, hoping to be chosen as the world’s best marmalade.

Beatrice Hasell-McCosh, Director of The Dalemain World Awards and Festival said: “We are pleased to announce the return of the Marmalade Awards which goes into its 21st year.

“Since December so many people have been in touch to discuss their entries which include ‘Taiwanese lily marmalade’ and someone who is in search of Seville Oranges on Orkney.

“It’s so lovely to hear the stories connected to the recipes and everyone’s grand plans for a citrussy victory in 2026.”

For those who feel posting their jar is a little risky, there are Marmalade Collection Points around the UK and one in New York.

At Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly, people can deposit their entry and get a jar in return.

At the Adfin office in London you can receive an Adfin Tea tin in return for your entry.

You can also receive a jar in return if you deliver your jar to the Farm Shops at Gloucester, Tebay and Cairn Lodge Service Stations along the ‘Marmalade Motorway’.

Crispin Butler, Director of Marketing and Communications at Fortnum and Mason said: “Fortnum and Mason has proudly supported the Dalemain World Marmalade Awards for many years.

“The innovation and expertise of marmalade makers around the world is astonishing to see and the fact that the Awards have raised almost £350,000 for charity is a remarkable achievement. We wish everyone the very best of luck as the awards open for 2026.”

Categories this year include A Taste From Home Marmalade is inspired by our refugee patron Paddington Bear.

This is a category for people living far from home; an homage to tastes, cultures and communities, old and new.

A very delicious one for the judges is the Marvellous Makers of Marmalade category, for any of the three hundred or so past category winners from the last 21 years to battle it out.

Westmorland FarmShop Local Flavours Marmalade is designed to underscore local flavours with home grown citrus, herbs from the garden and local sea water were included last year.

Adfin Tea Marmalade focuses on the joy of using tea in your recipe- from oolong to maatcha, and Lycetts Signature Savoury Marmalade is now an annual favourite for those who eat marmalade with anything but toast.

Entries usually arrive from nearly every county in the UK and from more than 50 countries around the world entering both the Homemade or the Artisan competitions.

Each entry receives feedback and a certificate.

100 percent of the Homemade Competition entry money is donated to Hospice charities with almost £350,000 raised since 2005.

The winner can also designate a charity for a portion of sales of their winning jar to be directed towards.

Our 2025 winner, Hitomi Wakamura, chose to add her sales to Hospice at Home, Carlisle and North Lakeland.

All the Artisan entries that win Gold, Silver or Bronze receive roundels to display on their jars and have the chance to be stocked in Fortnum & Mason.

The competition is now open, entry closes on Monday, February 2.

Marmalade collection points close on the January 23.

The winners are announced at the Marmalade Festival on April 25, 2026.

Entry forms can be downloaded from the website here.