The Canadian Cider Awards, presented by Cider Canada / Cidre Canada, have officially announced the launch of their program along with the 2026 award winners, celebrating excellence in cider production, innovation, sustainability, marketing, and leadership across Canada.
The 2026 edition combined three complementary recognition streams:
- A national tasting competition, evaluated through two well-established Canadian awards programs in 2025
- A series of written submissions recognizing leadership and impact within the industry
- An official contribution from Canadian cider-focused social media specialists
The tasting competition was organized in partnership with the Canada Beer Cup (Canadian Craft Brewers Association), WineAlign, and the Cider Connect program. This collaboration ensured an independent and credible national evaluation covering all cider styles and categories using consistent judging standards and formats.
Brand and Website Launch
Organizers also unveiled the official brand identity for the awards and launched the website:
prixcanadiensducidre.ca
A total of 172 submissions from 45 organizations and individuals were received from across the country.
The 2026 program recognized:
- 11 Gold medals
- 38 Silver medals
- 25 Bronze medals
- 8 written award categories
2026 Gold Medal Winners — Tasting Competition
- Annapolis Cider Company (Nova Scotia)
- Loch Mór Cider Company (Ontario)
- Lonetree Cider (British Columbia)
- Sea Cider (British Columbia)
- Wooden Gate Cider (Manitoba)
2026 Written Award Winners
- Sustainability Award — Clinton Cavers / Wooden Gate Cider (Manitoba)
- Packaging and Design Excellence — Island Folk Cider House (Nova Scotia)
- Marketing Campaign of the Year — Drink Ontario Apples campaign / OCCA (Ontario)
- Rising Star Award — Wesley Hunter / 1818 Farm & Cidery (Ontario)
- Community Impact Award — Sea Cider (British Columbia)
- Young Entrepreneur Award — Liam McKercher / Crossmount Cider Company (Saskatchewan)
- Cider Ambassador of the Year — The Cider Crate / Bethany Rooke (Ontario)
- Apple Advocate Award — Salt Spring Apple Company (British Columbia) and Martha Lowry / Woodfolk Cider (Ontario)
The Spirit of Cider Award was not presented in 2026. Instead, the recognition was dedicated entirely to Grant Howes (County Cider Company, Ontario), for whom the award is named, honoring his lasting legacy in the Canadian craft cider industry.
“The Canadian Cider Awards highlight the strength, diversity, and agricultural roots of cider across the country. From orchard to market, these awards showcase what makes Canadian cider unique. As our sector continues to grow, national recognition through programs like this is essential to ensuring long-term sustainability and global competitiveness.”
— Barry Rooke, Executive Director, Cider Canada / Cidre Canada
Organizers also extended their thanks to the judging partners, written evaluators, provincial associations, and industry collaborators who help ensure the credibility and integrity of the program.
The full 2026 programming will be announced soon.
Full results and additional information:
awards.cidercanada.ca
