The Sugar Show is a true highlight of CookieCon! All CookieCon Attendees (at ALL SKILL LEVELS) are invited and encouraged to enter. We’ll be distributing over $8,000 in cash prizes to winning entrants, but there is so much more to it than that! The real excitement and joy of the show is seeing all of the different decorating styles, mediums, and creativity. Either way, you NEED to plan on entering the Sugar Show!
Please read through all of the following information to learn more about guidelines, tips, and other details!
So why should you enter the Sugar Show? Here are some great reasons to participate:
The Competition
CookieCon 2025 Reno will have more winners than ever before! Between Popular Vote, our Expert Jury Panel, Instructors Choices, and more, we’ll have over $8,000 in cash prizes to distribute.
The Incentives
Even if you’re not feeling particularly competitive, those entering the Sugar Show will receive bonus raffle tickets! At CookieCon, every Attendee is given raffle tickets for chances to win some incredible prizes. For each Sugar Show category you submit to (not including Mystery Shape), you will receive 3 bonus tickets - potentially 12 extra tickets (3 for each of the 4 categories!) This can really add up and increase your chances of winning a great prize.
The Community
While the prizes might be good motivation, the very BEST part of the Sugar Show is sharing ideas and seeing the surprising variety in styles and interpretation. There is definitely a place for all skill levels and you never know who you'll inspire!
Sugar Show Category Info Coming Soon!
Entry Rules and Guidelines
Please follow these guidelines when creating your competition Sugar Show entries.
You are allowed one entry per category (Any additional entries, will be submitted for display only.)
Any single entry may include up to 6 total cookies (max.) (This can be multiple cookies that form a set, or multiple cookies that contribute to a 3D cookie composition. See examples below in our FAQ.)
Limit your entries to a reasonable size (Please be considerate and respectful of other participants. Remember: this is a "Cookie" show. )
Please note: Any entry not adhering to these guidelines, either technically or "in spirit" (as determined by our Panel), will not be eligible for Jury consideration.
Entry Levels
Many of our winners will be chosen by our Expert Jury Panel, who will select entries from 3 Categories (The 80's, Wildlife, and Anything Goes) and from 4 Levels.
When submitting your entries, you will let our Helpers know which Level you’re entering under. You will declare your own level, using the following criteria. Please be honest.
PLEASE NOTE that these have been recently updated. Please read through these carefully.
Expert Level
You will submit your entries in the Expert Level if you meet any
of the following:
You have previously won a first place award (either judged or popular vote) from a previous CookieCon Sugar Show, or another notable confectionery art show.
You have taught advanced cookie decorating classes
You consider yourself an "Expert Level" decorator
Advanced Level
You will submit your entries in the Advanced Level if you meet any
of the following:
You have previously won a second or third place award (either judged or popular vote) from a previous CookieCon Sugar Show, or another notable confectionery art show.
You don't meet any of the "Expert Level" requirements, and you consider yourself an "Advanced Level" decorator.
Intermediate Level
You will submit your entries in the Intermediate Level if you don't meet any
of the higher level requirements, and you consider yourself an "Intermediate Level" decorator.
Beginner Level
You will submit your entries in the Beginner Level if you don't meet any
of the higher level requirements, and you consider yourself a "Beginner Level" decorator.
Prize Distribution
CookieCon will be awarding over $8,000 in cash prizes at the Sugar Show. Here is a quick break-down on prize distributions.
Our Jury Panel will be selecting winners from these categories: "The 80's", "Wildlife", and "Anything Goes".
Our Sugar Show Expert Jury Panel will represent a wide variety (and several years!) of combined Cookie Art experience! These experts will be using the following criteria to guide their selections. Although they may not use every criterion on every selection, they will be thorough, objective, and conscientious in their considerations:
Initial Impression
Did this entry make you laugh? Did your eyes pop? Was there a verbal reaction? Was discovering this entry a fun experience?
Color Palette
Were colors chosen with intention? Do they complement each other? Do the colors add to the design itself rather than distract from it?
Execution
Do you see a mastery for the skills/techniques used? Are lines, fills, patterns, and embellishments all consistently neat and intentional?
Creativity
Are there original ideas here? Did you see a unique, new application of a technique or embellishments?
Practicality
Was a big impression made with a simple idea? Did innovation or a “bright idea” win over “hours of work”?
Additionally, Panel members will only be selecting entries that adhere to the Entry Rules and Guidelines.
For CookieCon 2025 Reno,
CookieCon attendees will be contributing to an awesome collaborative display of Miniature Cookies! This Sugar Show category will NOT BE JUDGED. Enjoy the magic that happens when we all come together to create the BIGGEST LITTLE decorated cookie display IN THE WORLD! Bring your mini marvels & contribute to this dazzling diminutive display!
Miniature Cookie Guidelines:
All contributed Miniature Cookies will need to be 1.5 inches (38 mm) MAXIMUM at it's longest point. (You're welcome to make them smaller!)
Cookies can be 2-dimensional (2D) or 3-dimensional (3D), but should adhere to the size requirement above.
We'll provide displays for the cookies. Feel free to submit up to6 cookies.
What Miniature Cookies will you create? It's up to you!
This is more about what you can do with a tiny canvas, than adhering to a specific theme. Feel free to create groupings of related cookies, or just whatever you think will be adorable in a tiny size! As always, just keep entries family-friendly!
Should you contribute? OF COURSE, you should! The collaborative display is only made bigger and better (and more FUN) as people contribute! Please plan on adding to it! No matter your "skill level" or "experience"... everyone WANTS to see your contribution!
Questions about the Sugar Show?
Maybe we can answer them here! If not, feel free to contact us!
How will entries be displayed?
We have nifty risers! (We also have a way to stabilize your cookies with amazing "push-pin" technology.) We also have some small easels. We're able to accommodate just about any standard cookies, but if you have an easel or something else designed to prop up your cookie, you're welcome to bring it!
When do I enter my cookies?
On Thursday, from 10am to 5pm. We will also be accepting them on Friday; however, judging and voting will begin on Friday, so we encourage you to get them in as soon as you can.
Do I need to sign up, or just bring my entries?
First off, you DO need to be a full CookieCon Attendee in order to enter the Sugar Show competition. Beyond that, no sign-up is needed - Just bring them! We'll have friendly staff there to help you get everything checked in. You'll just need to check in at CookieCon Registration first, so we have all of the information we need.
Can I enter something for Display Only?
Yes! If you don't care to compete, or if you're a Panel Member, Organizer, Vendor, Sponsor, or anyone else who wouldn't normally "compete", we would LOVE to see your contribution to the show! When submitting your entry, just let the Sugar Show Helpers know that it's for "Display". You can even place a label by it!
I'm not sure what "Level" I am.
Ultimately, it's up to you to "self-place." "Expert Level" and "Advanced Level" have criteria beyond your own opinion. If you don't meet any of those criteria, it's up to you to choose from the other levels.
What is a "Multi-Cookie" entry?
You can submit up to 6 cookies into a single "Multi-Cookie" entry (see Rules and Guidelines). These may be Cookies that just "go" together in a set, or that are combined into a 3D piece. Here are a few examples:
