Italy leads with 5 labels in the Hall of Fame and 13 in “The Best”.
Rome once again becomes the capital of Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Flos Olei 2026, the international guide that showcases the best of world olive growing through 761 labels from 500 producers across 57 countries.
This year’s edition offers an updated and vibrant snapshot of a sector in constant evolution, increasingly focused on quality, research and sustainability. In this context, Italy confirms its role as absolute leader, with 5 companies entering the Hall of Fame and 13 out of 20 securing positions in “The Best” ranking. These results span diverse territories from Tuscany to Puglia and Sardinia, awarding Producer of the Year, Green Producer of the Year and Best Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Alongside Italy, other major olive-growing traditions shine: Spain signs the best Extra Virgin of the year, while Greece, Croatia, South Africa and Chile reflect an increasingly dynamic international landscape.
The guide, 912 pages edited by Marco Oreggia and Laura Marinelli, continues to stand out as an authoritative observatory for discovering the territories and cultivars that define the excellence of “liquid gold”. “We are ready once again in this new edition,” explains Marco Oreggia, “to tell the story of the work, passion and dedication of the producers who contribute to the success of global olive growing. Italy confirms itself as an international benchmark, while vibrant and sustainability-focused realities are emerging around the world.”
A view shared by Laura Marinelli, who highlights how Flos Olei enhances not only the producers but also those who contribute to spreading the culture of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, from chefs to journalists, from importers to cultural promoters. The Roman event unfolds over two days at The Westin Excelsior: Friday, December 5 features the press conference and awards ceremony (by invitation only), while Saturday, December 6 opens the tasting counters along with four masterclasses dedicated to territories, cultivars and production stories.
Making the experience even richer is the participation of chefs and artisans who will interpret the award-winning oils through dedicated recipes and creations: among them Giorgia Marini, Alessandra Camilli, Simona Re, Simone Fracassi, Alessio Congias, Matteo Faenza and Yodying Sasha Phoomcharoen, together with the Chinese cuisine of Sinotèca and the masters of baking and gelato from the association Oltre il Gusto. Not only producers, but also key figures who contribute to the growth of the sector are recognized: the 2026 special awards go to Chic Taste by Yiann Wang (Taiwan) as Importer of the Year, Restaurant Mancini (Sweden) as Restaurant of the Year, Milanka Bulimbašić Botteri of Maslinar magazine (Croatia) as Journalist of the Year, and Yuko Okuma (Japan) for the “Cristina Tiliacos” award. A panorama that confirms how Extra Virgin Olive Oil today represents a global language capable of uniting territories, gastronomic culture and innovation, finding in Rome and in Flos Olei one of its most authoritative platforms.
