Compete in the Sundae Showdown

Think you've got what it takes to be crowned the 2026 Sundae Showdown Champion? Here's how it works.

Submissions close Thursday, April 9

How It Works

Submit Your Recipe

Fill out the form below with your sundae recipe, ingredients, and the story behind your creation. It's free to enter, and you can submit more than one recipe.

Judges Select Finalists

A panel of celebrity judges reviews all submissions and selects 8-10 finalists based on creativity, taste profile, presentation potential, and feasibility.

Your Sundae Gets Made

The IDCC culinary team recreates each finalist recipe in tasting-size portions for the live event.

The Public Votes

On April 19th, attendees taste every finalist sundae and cast their votes. The winner is crowned the 2026 Sundae Showdown Champion.

Key Dates

Now

Submissions open

April 9

Submissions close

Week of April 10

Judges select finalists

Sunday, April 19

The Sundae Showdown — finalists recreated, public votes, champion crowned

Who Can Submit?

Anyone. Individuals, families, home cooks, professional chefs, restaurants, bakeries, ice cream shops, and industry representatives. You don't need to be local — submissions are accepted from anywhere in the country.

Last Year's Finalists

The inaugural 2025 Sundae Showdown received 48 recipe submissions. Eight finalists were selected, ranging from a jalapeño-spiked "Hot Mama!" sundae to the Youth Entrepreneurship Market's stracciatella gelato and mango sorbet mashup to an Olympic wrestler-inspired Oreo creation called "The Dakey."

Sweet Melissa's Ice Cream took the crown. Think you can dethrone the champ?

Ready? Submit Your Recipe

About You

Tell us who's behind this creation.

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone

Optional

I'm submitting as... *

An Individual

A Business

Industry Pro

Business / Organization Name *

Your Recipe

Every recipe must include an ice cream base, a sauce or drizzle, and a garnish — honoring the three components Chester Platt combined when he created the first ice cream sundae in Ithaca in 1892.

Sundae Name *

Give your creation a name worthy of a champion.

Ice Cream Flavor(s) *

Up to two flavors. We'll contact you if we're unable to obtain your requested flavor(s).

Toppings *

Describe the toppings, quantities needed, and any preparation required.

Sauce / Glaze / Drizzle *

At least one. Include quantities and any prep instructions.

Garnish

Optional finishing touch — a cherry on top, if you will.

Allergen Information

List any allergens present in your recipe (nuts, dairy, gluten, etc.)

The Story Behind Your Sundae

Every recipe tells a story. What inspired this creation? Is it a family tradition, a wild experiment, a tribute to something you love? The judges want to know.

Your Story *

🍨

You're in!

Thanks for submitting your recipe to the 2026 Sundae Showdown. The Showdown team will review all submissions and select 8-10 finalists to be recreated by the culinary team at the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center on April 19. If your recipe is selected, we'll be in touch!

Know someone else who should enter? Share this page -- it's free to submit and open to anyone, anywhere.

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