27 October 2026 — Handelsbeurs — Antwerp, Belgium
TasteUnbound
How craft, sensory insight and new breakthroughs are opening the future of chocolate taste.
1
Day
8+
Speakers
3
Break-out Rooms
Taste Unbound
About the Summit
Taste is both our
heritage and our
next frontier
Chocolate taste has never stood still. It has been shaped over centuries by craft, cocoa knowledge, sensory expertise and a relentless drive to create experiences people truly crave.
Today, a new era for taste unfolds. Consumers are becoming more adventurous, more discerning and more expressive in what they seek from taste. Across categories, markets and generations, expectations are shifting. People are no longer satisfied with the familiar. They look for chocolate experiences that surprise, delight and give brands a more distinctive place in their lives.
For brands ready to respond, the opportunity is immense. The insight to understand where taste is heading has never been sharper. The expertise to shape it has never been deeper. And the possibilities for chocolate have never felt more open.
On 27 October in Antwerp — a city shaped by centuries of discovery, trade, and a catalyst for the history of cocoa in Western Europe — Barry Callebaut brings together the trends, the expertise, and an innovation that opens new taste possibilities. Not just to witness, but to explore together, and to build on. This is what taste looks like, unbound.
Register your attendance →Arrive & Connect
Guests arrive at the Sapphire Autograph Collection Hotel the evening before the summit. Welcome drinks and an opportunity to connect informally ahead of the main day.
A Taste Journey
A narrative-led, multi-sensory day hosted by Belgian culinary journalist Femke Vandevelde, guiding guests through four movements: Taste is moving. Taste can be shaped. Taste opens up. Taste can be mastered.
A Chocolate Celebration
The perfect close to the day — guests will witness the live proclamation of the World Chocolate Masters winner, followed by an evening of celebration, connection, and of course, exceptional chocolate.
Programme
A journey into the
future of taste
Step into a day designed to challenge what taste can be. From emerging consumer shifts and visionary keynote moments to immersive break-out experiences and the reveal of Barry Callebaut’s latest flavour breakthrough, the programme brings together science, craftsmanship and creativity to explore how taste can move, be shaped, open up and ultimately be mastered.
Welcome drinks & sweets
Arrive, connect and enjoy a first taste of the day ahead.
Opening plenary
opens the Barry Callebaut Innovation Summit and sets the stage for a day of inspiration, discovery and innovation.
Taste is moving
Explore the Future of Taste with , WGSN, and discover the trends, behaviours and expectations shaping tomorrow’s chocolate experiences.
Taste can be shaped
reveals how gastronomy, science and creativity come together to design new flavour possibilities.
Burst your taste lunch
Enjoy a flavour-led lunch experience designed to stimulate the senses and spark conversation.
Taste Opens Up (part 1)
explores how fermentation unlocks new taste profiles and turns craftsmanship into innovation.
Taste Opens Up (part 2)
Be among the first to experience Barry Callebaut’s latest flavour breakthrough.
Taste can be mastered
Join interactive break-out sessions exploring Barry Callebaut’s application expertise, Bean to Bar and A World of Taste.
Closing moment
closes the summit by bringing together the key insights and opportunities for the future of taste.
Join The World Chocolate Masters Finals proclamation & closing party
Celebrate the finalists and end the day with an inspiring closing celebration.
External Speakers
Voices that challenge
the way we taste
Our keynote speakers bring together trend intelligence, culinary vision and fermentation expertise to open up new perspectives on flavour. Each voice adds a distinct layer to the Taste Unbound story, challenging conventions, connecting disciplines and inspiring new ways to think about chocolate innovation.
Femke Vandevelde
Host & moderator
Carla Buzasi
CEO, WGSN Group
Rasmus Munk
Co-owner and Head Chef of Alchemist**
Christian Weij
Fermentation Expert
Kirsten Tibballs
Pastry chef & chocolatier
Event Venue
Handelsbeurs
Antwerp
Built in 1531, the Handelsbeurs is one of Antwerp's most iconic landmarks and one of Europe's oldest stock exchanges. Its extraordinary grand hall — a masterpiece of Gothic and Renaissance architecture — offers a breathtaking setting for an equally extraordinary event.
Official Hotel
Sapphire
Autograph Collection
All summit guests will be accommodated at the Sapphire Autograph Collection — a beautifully curated boutique hotel in the heart of Antwerp, reflecting the city's distinctive character through its design, art, and warm hospitality.
Hotel accommodation is arranged by Barry Callebaut for all invited guests. Please indicate your hotel requirements and any special requests when registering.
By invitation only
Confirm your place
at the summit
The Summit is by invitation only. If you have been invited, register to secure your attendance and complete your travel details. You'll receive a personal link you can use to update your information — hotel requirements, dietary preferences, arrival details — at any time.
Not on the guest list? You can still register your interest — our team will review your request and be in touch.