New York's BagelFest Makes Los Angeles Debut in April

The popular bagel festival is bringing its celebration of all things bagels to the West Coast.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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BagelFest, a famous New York bagel festival, is making its West Coast debut in Los Angeles this April. The event is expected to attract up to 1,000 attendees and will feature top bagel makers, live demos, panel discussions, competitions, and bagel and schmear sampling. The festival will also include a dedicated kids section with activities like make-your-own aprons and bagel-themed crafts.

Why it matters

The arrival of BagelFest in Los Angeles signals the growing popularity of artisanal bagels on the West Coast, challenging the notion that world-class bagels can only be made with New York water. The festival provides a platform for local bagel makers to showcase their skills and compete for various titles, helping to elevate the bagel scene in the region.

The details

Tickets are now on sale for the BagelFest West event, which will take place on April 12 at the Auditory Irmas Pavilion at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple. The festival will feature a variety of competition categories, including Best of the West, Best Bagel, Best Sandwich, Most Creative, Rising Star, and Schmear of the Year. Past contest winners, such as PopUp Bagels, which opened its first Los Angeles location last year, will be in attendance.

  • Tickets for BagelFest West went on sale in February 2026.
  • The BagelFest West event is scheduled for April 12, 2026.

The players

BagelFest

A famous New York bagel festival that is making its West Coast debut in Los Angeles in 2026.

Sam Silverman

The producer of the Los Angeles BagelFest West event.

PopUp Bagels

A past contest winner at BagelFest that opened its first Los Angeles location in Brentwood last year.

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What they’re saying

“A global bagel boom is underway, and the West Coast has fully arrived.”

— Sam Silverman, Producer of BagelFest West (ocregister.com)

What’s next

The BagelFest West event is scheduled to take place on April 12, 2026, at the Auditory Irmas Pavilion in Los Angeles.

The takeaway

The arrival of BagelFest in Los Angeles is a testament to the growing popularity of artisanal bagels on the West Coast, challenging the notion that world-class bagels can only be made with New York water. The festival provides a platform for local bagel makers to showcase their skills and compete, helping to elevate the bagel scene in the region.