G C W C
Glass Cutting World Cup
09. June 2026

The 2026 Glass Cutting World Cup Announces Its Winners

The results of the 11th annual Glass Cutting World Cup (GCWC), a prestigious international competition in artistic glass cutting, were announced at the Rückl glassworks in Nižbor. This year, a total of 89 contestants from eight countries competed and tested their skills across five competition categories. For the first time ever, the championship opened its doors to the general public.

The competition entries once again confirmed the extraordinary level of contemporary glass craftsmanship. A jury composed of leading Czech and international experts evaluated the technical execution, aesthetics, originality, and innovative approach of individual artists. Visitors could admire these works throughout the weekend during a rich accompanying program at the Rückl glassworks, after which the pieces move to an exhibition at the chateau stables in Lány, where they will be on display until June 26, 2026.

“For eleven years now, this format has brought together the world’s best glass cutters to showcase their mastery, creativity, and passion for glass. This year’s competition has once again shown the exceptional work being created in this field and the strong tradition that glass cutting holds not only in the Czech Republic but also abroad,” says Jiří Trtík, founder and director of the GCWC competition.

The absolute winner of GCWC 2026 is Samuel Weisenborn from Germany, Samuel Weisenborn Studio.

Samuel Weisenborn – absolutní vítěz GCWC 2026
Samuel Weisenborn (Germany) – Samuel Weisenborn Studio

Results by Category:

Hand Cutting – Compulsory Shape

  1. place: Samuel Weisenborn, Samuel Weisenborn Studio, Shiesheim, Německo
  2. place: Pavla Bartáková, Bartglass, Česká Lípa
  3. place: Jaromír Smutný, Moser a.s., Karlovy Vary

Hand Cutting – Free Style

  1. place: Michal Němeček, BMRC Group s.r.o., RÜCKL, Nižbor
  2. place: Marek Stárek, Ajetospol. s.r.o., Lindava
  3. place: Radek Kolbábek, ValnerGlasss.r.o, Přibyslav

Glassmaking Schools – Hand Cutting

  1. place: Klára Mikešová, sklářská designérka / Glassartist, Praha
  2. place: Stanislava Georgieva, New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria
  3. place: Petr Švancar, BMRC Group s.r.o., Bomma, Světlá nad Sázavou

Machine Cutting – Designers’ Competition

  1. place: Kateřina Lejsková, OA, SOŠ a SOU Třeboň
  2. place: Simona Slepičková, OA, SOŠ a SOU Třeboň
  3. place: Viktoria Tkachuk, SOŠS a SŠ Nový Bor

The Town of Světlá nad Sázavou Prize was awarded to Sára Nováková (SUPŠ sklářská, Železný Brod) in the Hand Cutting – Glass Schools category.

Accompanying Program and Public Open House

All winning and competition pieces were exhibited directly at the Rückl glassworks for visitors to admire over the weekend. At the same time, a rich accompanying program took place, opening the championship to the general public for the first time.

Visitors were able to peek behind the scenes of Czech crystal production through themed guided tours, visit the hot shop and cutting shop, watch master glassmakers and cutters at work, or try out some of the techniques themselves. The program also included traditional glass jamming featuring leading Czech glassworks, craft demonstrations, a glass cutting competition for the public, a street food zone, beer specials, and artisanal ice cream.

The musical program culminated in a Saturday evening concert by the band Eddie Stoilow on the glassworks grounds.

High-Level Institutional Support

This year’s edition enjoyed extraordinary institutional backing. The event was held under the auspices of the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, as well as the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. This support underscores the competition’s significance in preserving and developing traditional crafts and intangible cultural heritage.

The championship is not just a competition; it is a celebration of human skill, creativity, and tradition that has been among the most valuable assets Czech glassmaking has offered the world for generations.

Jury Members:

  • Petr Nový (CZ) – Chairman of the Jury, historian, chief curator of the Museum of Glass and Jewellery in Jablonec nad Nisou
  • Jiří Trtík, Ing. (CZ) – Founder and Director of GCWC, President of BMRC Group s.r.o.
  • František Janák, ak. mal. (CZ) – painter, glass artist, and educator
  • Vladimír Klein, ak. mal. (CZ) – glass artist and educator
  • Alena Matějka, M.A., Ph.D. (CZ) – glass artist and sculptor
  • Petr Hora (CZ) – glassmaker, sculptor, designer
  • Kateřina Handlová (CZ) – Art Director of the Rückl glassworks
  • Patrik Illo, doc. Mgr. art. (SK) – glass designer and educator
  • Konstantin Valchev, Prof. (BG) – glass artist and educator
  • Jana Zielenski (CZ) – founder and director of the Designblok festival
  • Sylva Petrová (CZ) – glass historian, curator
  • Gabriela Marešová (CZ) – Editor-in-Chief of PročNe magazine

Media Contact: Aneta Hoffmannová, +420 731 102 691, a.hoffmannova@ruckl.cz