BagelFest Expands to Los Angeles with West Coast Edition

BagelFest, the US trade and consumer event dedicated to bagel culture, is expanding to the West Coast with the launch of BagelFest West in Los Angeles this April.

The festival, presented by King Arthur Baking Company, will take place on 12 April at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion in partnership with the Jewish Food Lab of Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Organisers expect between 800 and 1,000 attendees and around 30 exhibitors, bringing together bagel bakers, food entrepreneurs and suppliers.

Founded in New York in 2019, BagelFest has grown from a 300-person gathering in Brooklyn into a high-profile industry event. The West Coast edition marks its first expansion beyond New York, reflecting what organisers describe as a growing “global bagel boom”.

The Los Angeles programme will run across two days. An industry mixer on 11 April at Wilshire Boulevard Temple will provide networking opportunities for bakers, shop owners and suppliers. The main event on 12 April will include a morning trade-only session for chefs, buyers and brands, followed by a public session featuring tastings, panel discussions and live demonstrations.

Awards will be presented across several categories, including Best Bagel, Best Sandwich and Rising Star. Previous BagelFest winners in New York have included brands such as PopUp Bagels and Starship Bagel, both of which have since expanded nationally and gained wider media recognition.

BagelFest West is produced by BagelUp, founded by Sam Silverman, and aims to provide a platform for regional bagel businesses to gain exposure, investment and growth opportunities.

Jeff Yankellow, Director of Bakery Food Service at King Arthur Baking Company, said the sponsorship aligns with the company’s focus on community-building through baking, highlighting the role of local bagel shops in neighbourhood food culture across the US.