Concours Mondial de Bruxelles | CMB Announces the Launch of the CMB Gala, The Best of the World in One Night
A new global ceremony celebrating the finest wines and spirits in the World
Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) officially announces the creation of the CMB Gala, The Best of the World in One Night, a new international ceremony that will, for the first time in the history of the competition, bring together the most outstanding wine and spirits producers on the planet on a single global stage.
For decades, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles has established itself as one of the most influential wine and spirits competitions in the world, annually evaluating more than 15,000 products from over 55 countries. Only the very best receive its highest distinctions: the Grand Gold Medal and the Revelation Trophies.
Until now, the CMB did not have a global ceremony gathering its international winners in one forum. The CMB Gala marks a strategic evolution: transforming technical excellence into a worldwide public celebration.
“The creation of the CMB Gala represents a natural and ambitious step in the evolution of our institution”, stated Baudouin Havaux, president of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. “For years we have identified and recognized excellence through a rigorous blind-tasting system. With the Gala, we take an additional step to celebrate those achievements on a stage worthy of their international importance”.
A Ceremony Inspired by the World’s Great International Events
Inspired by globally renowned ceremonies such as the Academy Awards and major international gastronomic galas, the CMB Gala is conceived as a comprehensive experience combining an international awards ceremony, a gala dinner featuring high-level wine and spirits pairings, and an exclusive afterparty for global industry leaders, as well as the presentation of new international recognitions.
In addition to the Grand Gold Medals and Revelation Trophies, special distinctions will be awarded, including: Wine Personality of the Year by CMB, Woman of the Year by CMB, Young Winemaker of the Year by CMB, Winery of the Year by CMB, Sustainable Winery of the Year by CMB, Best Emerging Region by CMB, Best Design & Packaging Award by CMB, Spirits Producer of the Year by CMB, and the CMB Humanitarian Award, among others.
These awards aim to recognize not only technical excellence, but also leadership, sustainability, innovation, and social impact within the global wine and spirits industry.
The Gala will be complemented by a premium experience the day before: “World’s Best Tasting – The Icebreaker,” an exclusive tasting featuring one label from each winning product, designed for strategic buyers, importers, distributors, international press, collectors, and high-profile consumers.
An International Host Region Model
The CMB Gala will operate under a “Host Region” model, like major international cultural and sporting events. The first edition is scheduled to take place in Guanajuato, Mexico, a region internationally recognized for its cultural heritage, gastronomic offering, and growing wine tourism development. Guanajuato will host two consecutive annual editions, 2026 and 2027, consolidating a sustained international positioning.
“For Guanajuato and Mexico, it is both an honor and a historic responsibility to become the founding host of the CMB Gala, The Best of the World in One Night”, stated María Guadalupe Robles León, Secretary of Tourism and Identity of the Government of the State of Guanajuato. “This event not only celebrates global excellence in wine and spirits, but also recognizes that our state has built, with vision and sustained effort, a competitive wine tourism ecosystem with its own identity and international projection”.
“Being the first Host Region of this unprecedented international awards night confirms that Guanajuato continues to open new paths toward a more promising future for tourism in Mexico”.
The event is expected to attract between 250 and 350 high-profile international visitors, including winery owners, commercial directors, importers, critics, and opinion leaders, generating significant direct economic impact in the region, as well as substantial global media exposure.
Beyond a Ceremony
The CMB Gala is conceived not merely as an awards night, but as a long-term international platform aimed at strengthening global industry dialogue, promoting excellence across all wine and spirits categories, enhancing the international positioning of the host region, and generating sustained media visibility and economic opportunities.
With this initiative, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles reinforces its role not only as a global benchmark for quality, but also as a strategic partner for producers, distributors, buyers, and consumers worldwide.
“The CMB Gala will become a defining annual moment for our international community”, Havaux added. “It is a celebration of excellence, but also a platform to create connections and project the future of our industry”.
About the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
The main objective of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is to offer consumers a guarantee: the selection of wines of impeccable quality that provide a truly enjoyable, diverse experience at accessible prices.
Thirty-four years of experience have enabled the competition to become a benchmark among international wine competitions. Belgium is proud to organize a unique event, recognized by both the wine industry and consumers around the world.
Renowned judges, internationally recognized for their ability to evaluate wine, are rigorously selected for the competition. They include buyers and distributors, oenologists and producers, journalists, specialized writers and critics, researchers, and representatives of industry organizations.
Press contact:
Carlos Borboa carlos.borboa@vinopres.com
