Garlic Competition
The Garlic Competition is back on in 2026! Help us to keep this tradition of celebrating beautiful Tassie grown garlic alive. As always it will be a friendly, fun contest with some great prizes to be won.
The competition is open to both professional and amateur garlic growers of all ages, and we have some fantastic prizes for the winners, including the coveted “golden globes”.
The “Golden Globes”, handmade each year by local artist and Koonya Garlic Festival founder Colin Langridge
Garlic is serious business for competition judges Ben Bate and Angus Stewart. Image: ABC News
2026 Garlic Competition Entry Form and Guidelines
GUIDELINES for GARLIC COMPETITION ENTRY
Open to both professional and amateur garlic growers of all ages
All entries must be grown in Tasmania and exclude store bought garlic
Each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form
Only one specific entry per competitor can be entered in each group (e.g. you cannot submit more than one entry to the Turban group or to the Creole group). Note that you can submit multiple entries into the “Other group” category (e.g. you can submit both a Creole and a Porcelain entry)
You can submit entries into as many groups as you are eligible for
If you need help to work out what group your garlic might belong to you could refer to the website www.australiangarlic.net.au that sets out all the garlic groups and many of the cultivars as well
Penny Woodward’s book “Garlic” is also an excellent source for garlic identification
PRESENTATION OF ENTRIES
Entries should be consistent in type, shape, size and presentation
Garlic roots should be trimmed to less than 6mm and stems to approximately 40-50mm, dirt should be brushed off the roots
Neat and clean garlic presentation is important for hygiene, which is a significant assessment criterion
Garlic should be disease free; evidence of disease will incur assessment penalties
Common diseases that judges will look for are fusarium (basal rot), white rot, downy
mildew, botrytis rot, penicillium decay
Evidence of good curing practice is important
Paper/skin should be intact in keeping with variety characteristics
JUDGING PROCESS
All entries are blind judged
Judging will take place on Friday 27th February 2026
Categories 1-4: Sample garlic bulbs will be cracked, cut, examined and tasted by judges
Judges may elect not to taste garlic that shows signs of disease
Judging feedback notes will be provided to entrants
Best in Show will be awarded to the highest scoring entry from Categories 1 – 4
Judges may decide that some prizes will not be awarded
Where there are a sufficient number of entries in a particular garlic group in the ‘Other’ groups category, that group may be judged separately.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Categories 1—4: Turban Group, Standard Purple Stripe Group, ‘Other’ Groups and Junior
Presentation: Uniformity of clove and bulb, shape, size and colour
Condition & quality: Freshness, cleanliness, firmness, hygiene, taste, aroma
Categories 5 and 6: Best Three and Elephant/Russian
Presentation: Shape, size and colour
Condition & quality: Freshness, cleanliness, firmness, hygiene (no tasting)
Category 7: Plaited Garlic
Presentation: Uniformity, condition and quality (no tasting); plait technique and style
A length limit of 1 metre and minimum of 10 bulbs
PRIZES
Placegetters will be announced and prizes awarded on Saturday 28th February 2026
Prizes will generally be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category, although judges may decide that not all prizes will be awarded
COLLECTING YOUR GARLIC
All entries will be displayed at the Koonya Garlic Festival on Saturday 28th February 2026 between 10.00am and 2.00pm. You can collect your garlic in person from the display area between 2.00pm and 4.00pm on the day of the festival or from the Koonya Hall between 10.00am and 12.00pm on Sunday 1st March 2026. Alternatively, you can arrange with the competition organisers to collect your garlic after the weekend of the festival.
ENTRY LODGEMENT
Entries can be dropped off at the following locations:
Sorell Nursery and Landscape Supplies (139 Main Street, Sorell)
Sunday 22nd February 10am – 3pm
Monday 23rd February, 9am – 5pm
Tuesday 24th February, 9am – 5pm
Wednesday 25th February, 9am – 5pm
Chandlers Nursery (75 Queen Street, Sandy Bay)
Sunday 22nd February 9.30am – 5pm
Monday 23rd February, 8.30am – 5pm
Tuesday 24th February, 8.30am – 5pm
Wednesday 25th February, 8.30am – 5pm
New Town Station Nursery (65 Bellevue Parade, New Town)
Sunday 22nd February 8.30am – 5pm
Monday 23rd February, 8.30am – 5pm
Tuesday 24th February, 8.30am – 5pm
Wednesday 25th February, 8.30am – 5pm
Bendigo Bank Nubeena Branch (1628 Main Road, Nubeena)
Monday 23rd February, 10am - 12.30pm, 1pm - 3pm
Thursday 26th February, 10am - 12.30pm, 1pm - 3pm.
Friday 27th February, 10am - 11am.
Koonya Hall (564 Nubeena Rd, Koonya)
Friday 27th February, 9am - 11am
PCYC (300 Liverpool St Hobart)
Wednesday 25th February, 3pm - 3.30pm
Alternatively - Post or drop-off to (arrive before) 11am Friday 27th: Sarah Jennings, 306 Saltwater River Road, Premaydena, 7185
All entries must be lodged by 11am Friday 27th February 2026. No late entries will be accepted.
Competition Enquiries:
Email: koonyagarlicfestival@gmail.com