India Bake Show 2026 – Cake Competition Rules

1. Your entry can be a sculpted/carved cake or a structural cake.
2. Your decorated showpiece will be meant for display dedicated to the theme of Carnival. Unleash your creativity by portraying the vibrant, festive spirit of a carnival — from masks, floats, and circus performers to whimsical characters and celebration scenes.
3. The exhibit may be of any shape and design. It can be a single piece, a group, or a unique design if it fits the permissible size.
4. The exhibit can comprise a carved cake, styrofoam, internal structure, or Rice Krispies covered with sugar paste, royal icing, buttercream, fresh cream, or chocolate. Non-edible items cannot exceed 50% of the overall exhibit.
5. All decorations should be handmade and edible. The usage of real fresh flowers is not allowed.
6. NO use of lights is allowed on the cake. The entry will be DISQUALIFIED if any inedible material is exposed.
7. The use of floral wires has to be sealed/masked. Floral wires should not be inserted directly into the cakes (insert into straws or floral picks).
8. The Cake board should not exceed 24 inches x 24 inches. Height should not exceed 4.5 feet.
9. Progress pictures must be provided as proof of your work and internal structure.
10. A photograph of your inspirations AND a brief write-up/description (limited to 100 words) should be displayed beside your cake.
11. Judges reserve the right to insert a needle or skewer into the showpiece if edible elements are deemed questionable.

Judging: Creativity, Development of the new idea, Visual Impact, Workmanship, Degree of Difficulty, Proportion, Balance and Color. Taste is not a criterion.

1. The wedding cake must be at least three (3) tiers and a minimum of 2.5 feet high from the base of the cake, including the topper.
2. Dummies and dummy spacers are permitted.
3. The cake and spacers must be covered with sugar paste, Royal Icing, chocolate or any edible medium.
4. All flowers, if any, must be handmade/edible. Any commercially made flowers will be judged accordingly.
5. Floral wires should not be inserted directly into the cakes (insert straws or floral picks).
6. Cake boards should be covered, and the ribbon is permitted on cake drums only.
7. The base must not exceed 20 inches x 20 inches.

Judging: Creativity, Development of a new idea, Visual Impact, Workmanship, Degree of Difficulty, Proportion, Balance and Color.

1. Your celebration cake must reflect the vibrant, festive, and fun-filled spirit of a Carnival — think masquerade masks, circus performers, carnival floats, or colourful street celebrations.
2. All cakes must be edible and draped either in fondant, whipped cream, buttercream or Ganache.
3. Styrofoam or thermocol may be used when necessary and in a small percentage.
4. Entirely edible decorations would get more weightage.
5. No inedible material should be exposed. Your entry will be DISQUALIFIED if any inedible material is exposed.
6. NO use of inedible decoration/lights is allowed.
7. Adult/Naughty cakes are strictly NOT allowed and will be disqualified.
8. The Cake board should not exceed 14 inches x 14 inches. Height should not exceed 4.5 feet.

Judging: Creativity, Development of the new idea, Visual Impact, Workmanship, Degree of Difficulty, Proportion, Balance and Color. Taste is not a criterion.

1. Display must include a minimum of six (6) individually decorated 100% edible cupcakes dedicated to the theme of Carnival.
2. The cupcakes can be decorated with sugar paste, Royal Icing, chocolate or any edible medium.
3. Non-edible decorations are not permitted.
4. Only one common recipe should be used on all cupcakes.
5. Any decorative topper should be less than the diameter of the cupcake.
6. Stands are permitted to display the cupcakes.
7. All sized cupcakes except giant/jumbo-sized ones are to be displayed.
8. The base area must not exceed 12 inches x 12 inches.

Judging: Individual cupcake decoration, overall presentation, creativity, development of a new idea, visual impact, quality and degree of difficulty.

1. An arrangement of a minimum of 10 full-bloom sugar flowers (created using sugar flower paste only) to be put on display.
2. The floral arrangement can have only berries, fruits, and foliage (created using sugar flower paste).
3. The flowers and foliage may be wired, including stamens, floral tape, ribbons or thread.
4. The base, including the stand or containers, must not exceed 16 inches x 16 inches.
5. There are no height restrictions.
6. Using non-edible bases, vases, containers, wires, stamens, floral tape, ribbons, etc., is permitted. But non-edible beads, diamantes and diamonds are not allowed.
7. A photo of the real flower, the name of the flowers, AND a brief write-up (limited to 100 words) should be displayed next to your display.

Judging: Creativity, Development of a new idea, Visual Impact, Workmanship, Degree of Difficulty, Proportion, Balance and Color.

1. It's your signature rustic cake — the recipe that never lets you down.
2. A minimum of 1 kg should be displayed. The cake or loaf shouldn't be cut into pieces (one part can be cut to show inner layers).
3. The baseboard should not exceed 10 inches x 10 inches.
4. This category will only be judged on taste, texture, moistness, and ingredients.
5. The use of real flowers and leaves is allowed (must be safe, edible, and free from chemicals).
6. Decoration elements will NOT be judgment criteria, although neatness and presentation are expected.
7. Use of commercial pre-mixes, improvers etc., is NOT ALLOWED.
8. Recipe to be displayed beside your bake for judging (complete step-by-step directions, listing each ingredient). Please mention whether egg or eggless.
9. Your Cake Picnic Box will be available for collection in the second half of Day 1, once judging is over.

Judging: Taste, texture, moistness, ingredients used and presentation/plating.