Decanter recounts DWWA 2026 party

Decanter published a recap on May 13 of the Decanter World Wine Awards 2026 party, an event the magazine said marked the close of the first week of judging for its annual wine competition. The gathering took place at Vagabond Urban Winery in London, according to Decanter’s report, and brought together judges, trade figures and producers linked to the competition. Decanter said more than 240 industry professionals attended the event. The party came as DWWA’s 23rd edition moved into its final judging stage ahead of the publication of results in June. ### How big was the 2026 competition behind the party? DWWA 2026 involved 245 experts assessing more than 16,700 wines from 57 countries, according to Decanter’s party recap. The publication said those judges came from around the world and that the party followed the official conclusion of the first judging week. Decanter’s broader coverage of the 2026 awards described the competition as being in its 23rd year and called it the world’s largest wine competition. (decanter.com) A separate DWWA page said the results are trusted by both trade buyers and consumers and described the judging process as a core part of the awards’ standing. ### Where was the party held, and what was poured? (decanter.com) Vagabond Urban Winery in London hosted the May 13 reception, Decanter said. The magazine reported that guests were served top-winning wines from DWWA 2025 through enomatic machines during the evening. The May 13 article framed the event as both a celebration and an industry gathering tied directly to the judging calendar. (decanter.com) Decanter said the reception followed the first week of tastings, when judges had already worked through the main rounds of entries before the final medal decisions. ### Who is leading the judging this year? (decanter.com) Decanter’s 2026 judging coverage named Caro Maurer, Michael Hill Smith, Andrew Jefford, Beth Willard and Ronan Sayburn as DWWA co-chairs. The judges page said Maurer was appointed Resident Co-Chair for 2026, a new role within the competition’s leadership structure. (decanter.com) The same judging-week report said 246 judges from 36 nations were drawn into the broader tasting process, a figure slightly higher than the 245 experts referenced in the party recap. Decanter did not explain the discrepancy in the excerpts available, but both reports described a large international panel and an expanded 2026 judging operation. (decanter.com) ### What stage of judging had been completed by May 13? Decanter’s entry information page said Stage 1 judging for Bronze, Silver and Gold medals ran from May 4 to May 8, while Stage 2 and 3 judging for Platinum and Best in Show ran from May 11 to May 15. A May 12 Decanter report said the competition had entered the final blind tastings that determine Platinum and Best in Show winners. (decanter.com) That timeline places the May 13 party in the middle of the final medal-selection week, after the first round of judging had finished and while top-scoring wines were still being retasted. Decanter tied the event to that point in the schedule rather than to the release of final winners, which has not yet happened. ### When will the actual results be published? (enter.decanter.com) Decanter’s official DWWA timetable says the 2026 results will be announced on June 17 on Decanter.com. The same schedule says the DWWA 2026 magazine will go on sale on August 5. Results pages already available through Decanter’s awards sites currently display searchable prior-year winners and competition material, but the 2026 final outcome is scheduled for mid-June. (decanter.com) For producers, judges and attendees at the London reception, the next named milestone is the June 17 publication of medal results. (results.decanter.com) (enter.decanter.com)