COMPETITIONS
FLEUR: SEDONA WINE COMPETITION
A Celebration of Arizona Winemaking Excellence
CALL FOR ENTRY
Presented as part of FLEUR: Sedona International Festival of Fine Food and Wine
June 26–28, 2026 — Sedona, Arizona
Set amongst the soaring red rock formations and soulful desert energy of Sedona, the Sedona Wine Competition honors the craft, character, and creativity of Arizona’s winemakers. This prestigious showcase brings together the state's most exceptional producers, celebrating not only the excellence inside the bottle but the artistry that surrounds it.
From high-elevation vineyards to sun-drenched desert estates, Arizona’s wine country is evolving, expressive, and world-class. This competition shines a spotlight on the rising prestige of Arizona wine, in a place as iconic and inspiring as the vintages it celebrates.
Eligibility
Open exclusively to licensed Arizona wineries.
Submission Details
Eligible Wines: All Arizona-produced varietals & blends
Number of Bottles: 3 bottles per entry
Required Info: Wine name, vintage, varietal, AVA, and winery license
Judging Categories Include:
Best Red
Best White
Best Rosé
Best Sparkling
Best Dessert Wine
Founders’ Choices
Best in Show
Best Label & Packaging Design
Shipping / Drop-Off Location: Provided at registration.
Judging & Awards
Wines are evaluated by a distinguished panel of sommeliers, industry professionals, and sensory experts in a blind tasting format, scoring for balance, structure, aroma, flavor, finish, and overall character.
In addition, wines will be judged on the creativity, design excellence, and storytelling of their labels and packaging, celebrating both craftsmanship and visual artistry.
Award-winning wineries will be honored at the FLEUR: Sedona International Festival of Fine Food and Wine awards ceremony.
Why Sedona
Sedona is situated in Verde Valley which is the heart of Arizona wine country. Sedona’s world-renowned red rock landscapes, spiritual energy, and refined desert-luxury atmosphere make it the perfect setting to honor wine as it’s a place where nature and artistry converge. More than a competition, it is an elevated celebration of Arizona’s wine culture, community, and future.
Timeline
Entry Deadline: February 15, 2026
Judging: April 1, 2026
Wine Selection Notification: April1 15, 2026
Public Announcement at Opening Night Ceremony: June 26, 2026
How to Enter
Interested in participating? Fill out the form on the Inquire page and you will be sent the registration form.
FLEUR: SED0NA CULINARY ARTS COMPETITION
Rewarding Excellence in the Culinary Arts
CALL FOR ENTRY
Presented as part of FLEUR: Sedona International Festival of Fine Food and Wine
June 26–28, 2026 — Sedona, Arizona
A showcase of culinary excellence where top chefs present their most innovative, artfully crafted dishes inspired by the flavors, heritage, and natural beauty of Sedona. This competition celebrates creativity, technical mastery, and the transformative power of food as art.
Eligibility
Open to:
• Executive chefs
• Pastry chefs
• Chocolatiers
• Culinary artisans
• Restaurants, resorts, and boutique culinary teams
• Emerging chefs demonstrating exceptional skill and vision
Submission Details
Entry Deadline: February 15, 2026
Judging Categories Include:
1. Chef’s Signature Dish Award
This award honors the dish that embodies the chef’s identity. Judges evaluate concept clarity, personal style, execution, and the story behind the plate. It is a tribute to authenticity and culinary voice.
2. Best Avant-Garde Culinary Art
This category honors the chef who pushes the boundaries of contemporary gastronomy. Judges evaluate innovation, creativity, technique, and the ability to transform ingredients into edible art. Dishes should surprise, delight, and reveal a bold culinary vision.
3. Best Native American Cultural Dish
This category celebrates personal stories, tradition, and culinary lineage. Dishes may honor the chef’s cultural background and the region’s indigenous foodways. Judges value authenticity, respect, and emotional resonance.
4. Best Sedona-Southwestern Inspired Dish
A celebration of Sedona’s red-rock landscape, desert botanicals and Southwest spirit. Entries should reflect the essence of place through color, texture, ingredients, or narrative which captures the natural and spiritual beauty that defines Sedona and its Southwestern spirit.5
5. Best Plant-Based Culinary Art
A celebration of botanical cuisine. This award recognizes plant-forward creativity, ingredient mastery, sustainability, and the transformation of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and flowers into high culinary art.
6. Best Fusion Cuisine
This award honors a dish that seamlessly blends flavors, techniques, and traditions from multiple culinary cultures. Entries should demonstrate harmony, creativity, and refined balance, resulting in a cohesive and elevated fusion expression
7. Best Orchard Heritage Dish
Back in the day, Sedona was known for its lush and glorious fruit orchards. This category celebrates that heritage and an award will be given for the best savory or sweet dish that incorporates the apples, peaches, plums or cherries that grew in Sedona.
8. Best Dessert Creation
From modern pastries to plated masterpieces, this category rewards excellence in sweetness. Judges look for technical skill, creativity, balance of flavor, visual beauty, and an unforgettable finish.
9. Best Chocolate & Cacao Dish
Inspired by La Fleur de Chocolat, one of the festival’s signature events, this award is for extraordinary use of chocolate in any form from sweet or savory. Judges evaluate originality, cacao expression, texture, and flavor depth, as well as how chocolate is elevated into culinary artistry.
10. The FLEUR Masterpiece Award
The festival’s highest honor. This award recognizes a dish that achieves excellence in every dimension: concept, flavor, artistry, innovation, technical execution, and emotional impact. It is given to the creation that most fully represents the spirit of FLEUR: A Symphony of Flavors, Scents & Artistry.
Timeline
Entry Deadline: February 15, 2026
Public Exhibition and Tasting of Dishes: June 26–28, 2026
Awards Ceremony: June 28, 2026
How to Enter:
Interested in participating? Fill out the form on the Inquire page and you will be sent the registration form.
FLEURS DE SEDONA FLORAL COMPETITION
CALL FOR ENTRY
Presented as part of FLEUR: Sedona International Festival of Fine Food and Wine
June 26–28, 2026 — Sedona, Arizona
FLEUR invites floral designers, botanical artists, stylists, installation artists, and creative visionaries to submit entries for the Fleurs de Sedona Floral Competition, a signature celebration of artistry set against the breathtaking red-rock landscape of Sedona.
This juried competition honors Sedona’s natural majesty—its towering buttes, desert wildflowers, canyon silhouettes, and spiritual light through extraordinary floral design. Artists are challenged to create installations or arrangements that merge botanical craft with Sedona’s powerful sense of place.
Eligibility
Open to floral designers, botanical artists, sculptors, students, and creative professionals worldwide. Collaborative teams welcome.
THEME — “Desert Bloom & Canyon Light”
Designers are invited to interpret Sedona’s iconic elements:
Red-rock formations (Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse)
Golden hour glow, canyon shadows, and clear desert sky
Native flora: yucca, agave bloom, prickly pear blossoms, sacred datura, wildflowers
Balance of strength and softness — stone and bloom, earth and art
Installations may be traditional, sculptural, avant-garde, or immersive, but must clearly reflect Sedona’s landscape and the festival’s refined, artistic aesthetic.
Judging Categories Include:
Red Rock Grandeur
Floral artists create commanding installations inspired by Sedona’s monumental red-rock formations. Designs should evoke scale, drama, and sculptural presence—reflecting the strength and majesty of Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and the towering canyon walls.
Desert Wildflower Symphony
A celebration of color, movement, and softness within the desert. Designers craft arrangements or installations that echo the seasonal wildflower bloom—harmonizing native petals, airy textures, and the natural rhythms of Sedona’s botanical landscape.
Canyon Minimalism
An exploration of restraint, balance, and clean design. Artists use negative space, refined composition, and subtle botanical elements to reflect the quiet geometry of Sedona’s canyon lines, sandstone curves, and serene desert simplicity.
Nightfall at Cathedral Rock
A moody, atmospheric category inspired by the deep purples, soft shadows, and celestial glow of Sedona at dusk. Installations may incorporate dark florals, reflective elements, or gentle illumination to capture the enchantment of Cathedral Rock beneath the night sky.
Judging Criteria
A professional jury will evaluate submissions based on:
Artistic Vision & Concept
Craftsmanship & Technical Mastery
Interpretation of Sedona’s Landscape
Originality / Innovation
Composition, Balance & Aesthetic Quality
Sustainability & Florals Used
Overall Impact
Winners will be honored at the festival’s Grand Florale Evening Reception, featured in media and festival photography, and receive recognition across FLEUR’s full 2026 promotional campaign.
Entry Requirements
Applicants must submit:
Concept Statement (250–500 words)
Sketches or Renderings of the proposed design
List of Materials & Estimated Dimensions
Designer Bio (up to 150 words)
Installation Needs (lighting, structure, power, etc.)
Timeline
Entry Deadline: February 15, 2026
Artist Selection Notification: March 1, 2026
Installation Dates: June 24–25, 2026
Public Exhibition: June 26–28, 2026
Awards Ceremony: June 28, 2026
How to Enter:
Interested in participating? Fill out the form on the Inquire page and you will be sent the registration form.