WBA

Beekeepers, scientists and interested parties from across the globe will assemble in Copenhagen, Denmark in September of 2025 for the 49th Congress of Apimondia.

We will celebrate honey in many ways at the Congress like Global Honey Bar, Regional Honey Map, Global Honey Talks & Workshops but honey will no longer be a category, and thus no honey judging, in the World Beekeeping Awards (WBA).

This change, to remove honey as a category in the WBA, was necessitated by the inability to have honey fully tested for adulteration and make awards at the Congress. The lessons learned from Canada 2019 and Chile 2023 were that adequate testing was impossible if we are to award winning honey at the Congress.

World Beekeeping Awards

Apimondia Congress 2025

Changes have been made since the last Apimondia.  Please read carefully.

PLEASE NOTE:  HONEY WILL NO LONGER BE PART OF THE WBA AWARDS

All registration must be completed by 5^th September, 2025.

Entries will not be accepted at the event if they have not been registered first.

A completed application form for each exhibit must be sent in advance to [email protected]

Classes 12, 13 and 14 (beekeeping books) to be registered and submitted to ensure arrival at;

Enid Brown,

Milton House, Main Street, Scotlandwell, Kinross-shire KY13 9JA, Scotland

_____________________________________________________________

between 1^st and  30th June, 2025

Proof of posting must be obtained and emailed to [email protected]
______________________________________________________________

For all other classes staging will be between 10:00 –  16:00 on Tuesday, 23^rd September, 2025 and between 09:00 –  12:00 on Wednesday, 24^th September, 2025. 

 No entries can be accepted after 12:00 on Wednesday, 24^th September, 2025

Judging will commence at 13:00 on Wednesday, 24^th September, 2025

Entry cost is shown alongside each section.

Multiple Entries

• Exhibitors can enter up to 3 entries per class but they can only receive one award.

Individual and Commercial Classes have been combined.

All classes are open to everybody.

• Any honey, wax or mead displayed must be the products of the exhibitor’s own apiary.

Requirements for the exhibitors are:-

• Apart from Section A (mead) only WBA labels may be used.
• Exhibitors are responsible for unpacking and repacking their exhibits.  Stewards will assist as
• appropriate.

Section A.  Mead Entry fee - 50 Euro per exhibit

• 500ml to 750ml bottles can be used with any non leaking closure.
• All bottles must be labelled sweet or dry and labelled as for sale.

Class 1.  One bottle of sweet traditional mead.

Class 2. One bottle of dry traditional mead.

Class 3.  One bottles of metheglin – (mead flavoured with spices)

Class 4.  One bottles of melomel – (mead produced from fruit other than grape or apple)

Section B. Beeswax  Entry fee - 50 Euro per exhibit

Class 5  One beeswax block, between 400g and 600g  and at least 25mm thick. To be displayed flat.   

Class 6.  Three beeswax plain candles (No form of decoration or pattern in the mould). Uniform in size and shape and to be displayed erect. The judge may light one.  

Class 7.  Three beeswax decorated candles. Made by any method, uniform in size and to be displayed erect. The judge may light one.   

Class 8   One model made from beeswax. (This can be beeswax flowers or model.  Candle mould not permitted)

Section C.  Displays Entry fee - 50 Euro per exhibit

• Exhibitors are responsible for unpacking, staging and repacking their exhibits. All moving parts must be battery operated.
• The Display Class will be judged on product quality, aesthetical attractiveness and overall presentation.  Display area must not exceed 600mm x 600mm x 600mm for table display.

Class 9  Decorative display of bee products – any size or shape of container - decorations may be used. This may include beeswax candles.  Each product must be labelled and presented as for sale.  

Sections D, E and F

Section D.  Photographs with a beekeeping theme.  Entry fee - 50 Euro per exhibit

Class 10.  One printed colour photograph, A4 size (or equivalent depending on paper sizes in your country), without any frame or additional decoration.

Class 11.  One close up or macro photograph, A4 size (or equivalent depending on paper sizes in your country), without any frame or additional decoration.

Section E.  Printed Materials Entry fee - 50 Euro per exhibit

Note the requirements for classes 12, 13 & 14

• Publications, in any language, on beekeeping topics.   A brief description (50–300 words) of the exhibit in English is required. Exhibits must not have been entered at any earlier WBA.   Published or updated in, or after 2023.

Class 12.  Three copies of the same Beekeeping Book which is wholly or mainly scientific.

Class 13.  Three copies of the same Beekeeping Book of general interest to beekeepers.

Class 14.  Three copies of the same  Beekeeping Book suitable for children aged up to 16 years.

Class 15.  Three different 2025 issues of a scientific beekeeping journal/magazine.

Class 16.  Three different 2025 issues of a general beekeeping journal/magazine.

Class 17.  Album    This is defined as a book with a collection of autographs, photographs, postage stamps and labels etc. on a beekeeping topic.  

• Class 18.  Poster – theme:- ‘Together, we make the world bloom.’

• Up to and including  A3 size (approximately 300mm x 420mm).  A Poster is a large, single sheet of paper with an announcement or advertisement.     

Section F.  Innovations/Inventions  Entry fee - 50 Euro per exhibit

• Innovation –the prototype must be presented.   Innovation is defined as ‘to introduce a new process or way of doing things’.   
• Invention – a working prototype must be presented. Invention is defined as a unique or novel device 
• Information on dimensions is required with the entry for staging.
• It must not have been exhibited at an earlier WBA.

Class 19  General beekeeping innovation/Invention

Class 20  Scientific innovation/Invention

Class 21  Any one of the following :-cosmetics, lotions, hand cream, soap, toothpaste or Apitherapy products which have not been exhibited at any earlier WBA.    Exhibit to be displayed in suitable packaging showing all ingredients.

Section G.  Trade Stand Class  Entry fee – free

• All trade stands will be judged on their display/information presented/general appearance.   Sizes are approximate.
• For these classes the stands will be judged by a jury composed of one judge chosen by Apimondia Executive, one chosen by the Local Organising Committee and one by the WBA Director.

Class 22  Small stand - Booth size 9m²

Class 23   Medium stand – Booth size 18m²

Class 24   Large stand – Booth size 36m²