Producing a truly memorable extra-virgin olive oil is only half the story; the other half is placing it in front of the right judges, at the right time, to earn the medals and credibility that open doors to retailers, chefs, export and domestic buyers. Yet with more than two dozen serious competitions now dotting the calendar... from local shows and boutique regional awards to global flagship competitions like NYIOOC and the IOC’s Mario Solinas.... choosing where (and when) to enter can feel complex and confusing. 

To cut through the clutter, The Olive Centre has compiled a comprehensive guide that distils the 2025 competition landscape into a practical roadmap. You’ll discover which Australian and New Zealand shows who can provide some of the best technical feedback.  Which Southern-Hemisphere internationals dovetail with our harvest window, and which global contests deliver the biggest marketing bang for your entry fee. Whether you’re a boutique producer chasing your first medal, benchmark or an established grove looking to bolster export credentials, the list below will help you turn fresh, green fruit into gold-stamped  accolades.

Australian & New Zealand Competitions

May of these competitions will take Interstate entries in different classes

National

• Australian International Olive Awards (AIOA) – national IOC-recognised judging; lab chemistry sheet with every entry. Up to $390 per entry and less for members.  https://internationaloliveawardsaustralia.com.au
• Golden Olive Awards (Australian Golden Olive) – In 2025 will be the 27th Golden Olive Awards - great first-timer venue; free FFA/PV testing. Up to $290 per entry or less for members.  https://australianoliveawards.com.au
  
• New Zealand Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards – ideal for trans-Tasman exporters. Need to be a member to access competition https://www.olivesnz.org.nz/awards/

State

• NSW:  Sydney Royal “Oil & Olives” – Sydney Royal medal artwork carries strong retail pull. Entry fee $94 per exhibit.   https://www.rasnsw.com.au/competitions/food-beverage-and-produce/oil-and-olives-details/
• WA:  Perth Royal Olive Awards – WA benchmark, detailed scorecards. https://www.oliveswa.com.au/events/
• SA:  Royal Adelaide Olive Awards – feedback + promotion during the Royal Adelaide Show. https://www.theshow.com.au/competitions/food-beverage/olive-oil-table-olives
  
• TAS:  Royal Hobart Fine Food Awards – boutique-friendly; classes for flavoured oils. https://www.hobartshowground.com.au/royal-tasmanian-fine-food-awards
  
• VIC:  Royal Melbourne Fine/Australian Food Awards – leverage the RASV medal artwork for marketing. https://m.rasv.com.au/competitions
  

Regional

• NSW:  Hunter Olive Show – NSW boutique focus with consumer tastings. Entry $39. https://www.hunterolives.asn.au

International Competitions

• EU:  Mario Solinas Quality Award – Southern Hemisphere – IOC flagship; winners showcased at global IOC events. https://www.internationaloliveoil.org/mario-solinas-quality-award-2025-southern-hemisphere/
• USA: NYIOOC World Olive-Oil Competition – world’s largest show; QR “Gold” seals & global press. https://nyiooc.org
  
• EU:  EVO IOOC Italy – premium Mediterranean contest; detailed sensory sheets. https://evo-iooc.it/en/
  
• EU: Sol d’Oro – Southern Hemisphere – EU-recognised medal; rotates through SH host nations. Entry EUR150.  https://soldorointernational.com/en/
  
• EU:  Premio BIOL (organic EVOO) – leading organic-only award in Bari, Italy. https://www.facebook.com/premiobiol/
• USA: Los Angeles International EVOO Competition – 25-year pedigree; winners olive oil is poured for tasting at LA County Fair. https://fairplex.com/competitions/olive-oil-competition/
• GREECE:  Athena International Olive-Oil Competition – travelling Greek panel with strong EU buyer reach. https://www.athenaoliveoil.gr/en/awards
  
• UK:  London International Olive-Oil Competition – four award sections (quality, design, health claim, infused). https://www.londonoliveoil.com
  
• JERUSALEM:  TerraOlivo IOOC – Jerusalem-based Mediterranean palate competition. https://terraolivo-iooc.com
  
• JAPAN:  OLIVE JAPAN International Competition – retail showcase at Olive Japan trade fair. https://olivejapan.com/en/competition
  
• JAPAN:  JOOP – Japan Olive-Oil Prize – Asia-Pacific exposure; Tokyo award ceremony. https://jooprize.com
  

Image credit: EVO IOC Judging panel.

Guides

• EVOOLEUM Awards & “Top 100” – Spanish-run; winners featured in annual guidebook. https://www.evooleum.com/en/competition/
• Flos Olei Competition & Guide – inclusion in the renowned yearly “Olive-Oil Atlas”. https://www.flosolei.com/flosoleicompetition

Chefs

• FRANCE:  Olio Nuovo Days – Southern Hemisphere Edition – Paris-based show (19–21 Sep 2025, hosted at Le Monde Festival) dedicated exclusively to early-harvest premium EVOOs from the Southern Hemisphere; includes tasting corner and master classes for buyers and chefs. https://www.olio-nuovo-day.com/olio-nuovo-days/south-hemisphere/
• EU: Armonia Southern-Hemisphere Olive-Oil Championship – connects winning oils with chef programmes. https://www.irvea.org/en/armonia-news-2/

Key Take-Aways

• Medals are only the start. The real prize is the taste descriptor, lab data, sensory notes and publicity that build trust with retailers, chefs and overseas buyers.
• Create Benchmarks Enter one Australian or NZ show within close timeframe of harvest (AIOA, Sydney Royal, Perth Royal, etc.) to fine-tune quality while the oil is fresh.
• Leverage Southern-Hemisphere timing. Aim for Sol d’Oro SH, Mario Solinas SH, Armonia SH or the new Olio Nuovo Days SH to compete when northern oils aren’t yet on the circuit.
  
• Choose one global flagship for brand lift. NYIOOC, LA, Athena, London, EVO IOOC, TerraOlivo or EVOOLEUM each deliver international press and market seals... pick the one that aligns with your target buyers (and budget).
  
• Do the maths. Domestic entries cost ~A $39–250; premiere internationals run US $400–600 plus freight - plan for at least two shows in your annual marketing budget.
  
• Ship it right. Filter, lab-test, bottle within six weeks of dispatch, use insulated packs and keep spare bottles ready for re-runs.
  

Bottom Line

Pair one domestic show (for technical validation) with one Southern-Hemisphere and, if export-minded, one big global contest. With a tight competition calendar and disciplined prep, you’ll turn fresh extra virgin olive oil into gold-stamped traction for the 2025 season, and beyond to stepping into building your brand.

Happy competing, and may your freshest olive oil translate into a glittering haul of gold in 2025!