The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph
Saturday 15th August, 2026
9:00am to 2:30pm
Commercial Street, Merbein
FREE
Enquiries: Visit thegreataustralianvanillaslicetriumphmerbein.com or 0400 697 868
Merbein has become famous for The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph, a national baking competition that moved to the town in 2011 after starting in Ouyen in 1998.
The event draws bakers from all over Australia to compete for the title of best vanilla slice Origins and Move to Merbein
• The Beginning: Started in 1998 in Ouyen, Victoria, after then-Premier Jeff Kennett praised the local Mallee Bakery slice.
• Relocation: Ouyen handed the hosting rights to Merbein in 2011, where local groups took over running the popular festival.
• The event moved to Mildura for three years before moving back to Merbein in 2020.
COVID saw the event postponed in 2020 & 2021 and since 2022 the event remains under the stewardship of The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph Merbein Inc Committee
• Local Pride: The town celebrates this history, featuring local landmarks dedicated to the iconic pastry. Event Highlights
• Vanilla Slice Competition Categories: Includes professional, apprentice, and amateur bakers.
• Baking Categories: fruit cake, plum pudding, festive fruit cake & fruit mince tarts, to highlight local dried fruits.
• Festival: markets, food stalls, free family friendly entertainment.
• The Epic Vanilla Slice Eating Competition Event
Major Sponsors
• EOI- Bakery Supplies
• Dried Fruits Australia
• Merbein & District Community Bank
• Mildura Rural City Council
• Merbein Lions Club
• Merbein Rodeo
Following on from the successful running in 2025, the Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph committee has been hard at work for many months planning an even bigger event for 2026.
This event is a major highlight on the Sunraysia Events Calendar.
Last year around 10,000 people descended on Merbein to enjoy the festivities, the fun activities for all ages and of course the sweet treats on offer, and it was hailed a great success.
This year we are anticipating even bigger crowds, and many more entries from bakeries, apprentices and amateur cooks to flow in.
Last year’s winner in the professional section was Sharp’s Bakery of Birchip, and they are returning again this year hoping for back to back wins.
Competition from bakeries throughout Victoria and South Australia will be fierce, so it will be exciting to see who wins the hotly contested crown this year.
Vanilla Slice Eating Competition- Do you have what it takes? The highly coveted title of Vanilla Vortex is up for grabs again this year!
In this dramatic spectacle, contestants battle with hands tied to completely devour two Vanilla Slices in the shortest time possible.
How fast will you be?
Your entry to this year’s Epic Vanilla Slice Eating Competition Conditions of Entry
• Contestants must be 15 years of age or older.
• Entry is only valid once the entry fee has been received.
• Entries close on 12 August (or earlier if all places are filled).
• A maximum of 12 contestants will be accepted.
• Entry is made at the contestant’s own risk.
• Contestants acknowledge the risks associated with rapid food consumption. Competition Rules
• Contestants must eat two vanilla slices without using their hands.
• Contestants must follow all directions given by competition officials.
• Any contestant who uses their hands or receives assistance will be disqualified.
• The judge’s decision is final, and no correspondence or appeals will be entered into.
• Individual entries – $100
• Business entries – $200
Come August 15th, 2026, Commercial Street Merbein will be a hive of activity again, bursting with colour, excitement, performances, street food, music, circus acts, market stalls and of course, a whole array of vanilla slice stalls featuring award-winning bakeries ready to tempt your palates.
There will be special emergency services displays along with a vast range of stallholders and vendors throughout the day.
This event will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase Merbein, Mildura and our region with visitors coming from all over Australia.
For all budding amateur, apprentice or professional bakers, entry forms are available now on the website thegreataustralianvanillaslicetriumphmerbein.com or by contacting Anne Nash on 0439 042 160 for more details.
Baking enthusiasts of all ages are encouraged to enter this cooking competition.
The results of the 2025 Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph competitions are as follows.
2025 Professional Vanilla Slice winners:
• 1st Sharp’s Bakery, Birchip (Victoria)
• 2nd Banana Boogie Bakery, Belair & North Plympton (SA)
• 3rd Sunraysia Bread & Butter Bakery, Mildura & Irymple (Victoria)
2025 Professional Innovative Vanilla Slice winners:
• 1st Sunraysia Bread & Butter Bakery, Mildura & Irymple (Victoria)
• 2nd Northend Bakehouse, Shepparton & Mooroopna (Victoria)
• 3rd Banana Boogie Bakery, Belair & North Plympton (SA)
2025 Apprentice Vanilla Slice winners:
• 1st Bert Ruisons at Banana Boogie Bakery, Belair & North Plympton (SA)
• 2nd Mitch Timberlake at Banana Boogie Bakery, Belair & North Plympton (SA)
• 3rd Stavriana Taliadoros at Sunraysia Bread & Butter Bakery, Mildura & Irymple (Victoria)
2025 People’s Choice Vanilla Slice winner:
• 1st Northend Bakehouse, Shepparton & Mooroopna (Victoria)
2025 Registered Kitchen Vanilla Slice winners:
• 1st Chefs n Co, Cobram (Victoria)
• 2nd Roland Views Homemade Foods, Sheffield (Tasmania)
• 3rd Lock 10 & Weir Restaurant, Wentworth (NSW)
2025 Registered Kitchen Innovative Vanilla Slice winners:
• 1st Lamington flavoured from Roland Views Homemade Foods, Sheffield (Tasmania)
• 2nd Spiced apple flavoured from Roland Views Homemade Foods, Sheffield (Tasmania)
• 3rd Tiramisu flavoured from Roland Views Homemade Foods, Sheffield (Tasmania)
2025 Professional Fruit Mince Tart winners:
• 1st CJ’s Bakery, Christies Beach (South Australia)
• 2nd Hudak’s Bakery, Mildura (Victoria)
• 3rd Hungie Fangs Artisan Bakery, Cobram (Victoria)
2025 Professional Festive Fruit Cake winners:
• 1st Northend Bakehouse, Shepparton & Mooroopna (Victoria)
• 2nd Hungie Fangs Artisan Bakery, Cobram (Victoria)
2025 Professional Plum Pudding winners:
• 1st Northend Bakehouse, Shepparton & Mooroopna (Victoria)
• 2nd Kytons Bakery, Edwardstown (SA)
• 3rd Hudak’s Bakery, Mildura (Victoria)
2025 Professional Fruit Cake winners:
• 1st Hungie Fangs Artisan Bakery, Cobram (Victoria)
• 2nd Kytons Bakery, Edwardstown (SA)
• 3rd Hudak’s Bakery, Mildura (Victoria)
2025 Apprentice Fruit Cake winner:
• 1st Hungie Fangs Artisan Bakery, Cobram (Victoria)
2025 Registered Kitchen Fruit Cake winner:
• 1st Murray House Aged Care, Wentworth (NSW)
2025 Registered Kitchen Plum Pudding winners:
• 1st Stoney Acre Produce, Laura (SA)
• 2nd Murray House Aged Care, Wentworth (NSW)
2025 Amateur Open Vanilla Slice winners:
• 1st Kevin Wisneske
• 2nd Nicola Dobricic
• 3rd Daniel Prevadello
Amateur Primary School Vanilla Slice winners:
• 1st Lilliana Debrick (Wentworth, NSW)
• 2nd Mrs. Earls’ 3/4 class at Gol Gol PS (Gol Gol, NSW)
• 3rd Year 6 class at Gol Gol PS (Gol Gol, NSW)
Amateur Seniors (60+) vanilla slice winners:
• 1st Kevin Wisneske (Mildura, Victoria)
• 2nd Team 3 at Chaffey Aged Care (Merbein, Victoria)
• 3rd Individual 3 at Chaffey Aged Care (Merbein, Victoria)
Amateur Open Fruit Cake winner:
• 1st Kerrie Eames (Mildura, Victoria)
For further information, check out the website, socials or phone: 0479 070 762 or 0439 042 160.
See you there!
https://www.thegreataustralianvanillaslicetriumphmerbein.com
