# Giant pumpkin growing competitions and records

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/giant-pumpkin-growing-competitions-and-records
> Updated: 2026-10-12T10:01:21.000Z. Sources: 45. Developments: 6.

Giant pumpkin competitions in late 2026 saw various regional and international achievements. In Brandenburg, Germany, Oliver Grafe won the Klaistow championship with an Atlantic Giant weighing 942.2 kilograms. Shortly after, new records were established in the United Kingdom and Poland. In Berkshire, UK, Ian and Stuart Paton previously set a Guinness World Record with ‘Muggle’ at 1,278.8 kg. However, on October 3, Ian Paton set a new solo world record with ‘Bagheera’ weighing approximately 1,296 kg. In Krapkowice, Poland, Krzysztof and Tomasz Olejniczak set a national record with a 918 kg pumpkin. In Denmark, Peter Holst Olsen secured his third consecutive Danish championship with an 1,198 kg pumpkin. In Ludwigsburg, Germany, Matthias Würsching reclaimed the German title with a 986 kg specimen, while Florian Isler secured his third Swiss title with a 651.5 kg Atlantic Giant. By October 10, Ian Paton’s ‘Bagheera’ was confirmed as a Guinness World Record holder at 1,295.8 kg.

Competition intensity increased in mid-October. In Half Moon Bay, California, Travis Gienger of Minnesota won the 53rd annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off with his pumpkin, ‘Rocky’, weighing 2,389 pounds, marking his fifth victory at the event. Simultaneously, in New England, Rhode Island grower Ron Wallace recorded a pumpkin weighing 3,156 pounds. If officially verified by Guinness World Records, this weight would surpass the previous record of 2,857 pounds set by Ian Paton.

## Claims

- Matthias Würsching won the German Pumpkin Weighing Championship in Ludwigsburg with a 986 kg Atlantic Giant pumpkin. (single source)
- The second-place finisher in the German championship weighed 561.5 kg. (single source)
- The German record for pumpkin weight is 1052 kg, held by Luca Stöckl since 2023. (single source)
- Florian Isler won the Swiss Pumpkin and Vegetable Weighing Championship with a 651.5 kg Atlantic Giant. (single source)
- Florian Isler set three Swiss records, including a 7.695-meter sunflower and a 97.2 kg watermelon. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-12: Travis Gienger wins California pumpkin weigh-off as Rhode Island grower nears world record

Giant pumpkin growers are vying for records, with Travis Gienger winning a major California competition and Ron Wallace of Rhode Island awaiting verification for a potential 3,156-pound world record.

16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/travis-gienger-wins-half-moon-bay-giant-pumpkin-competition

### 2026-10-07: Ian Paton sets world record with 1,296 kg giant pumpkin

British grower Ian Paton set a new world record with a 1,296 kg giant pumpkin named Bagheera, achieved through intensive daily care in Berkshire, England.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ian-paton-sets-world-record-with-1296-kg-giant-pumpkin

### 2026-10-04: Matthias Würsching wins German pumpkin championship with 986 kg giant

Matthias Würsching won the German Pumpkin Weighing Championship with a 986 kg Atlantic Giant, while Florian Isler secured his third Swiss title with a 651.5 kg pumpkin and multiple Swiss records.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/matthias-wrsching-wins-german-pumpkin-championship-with-986-kg-giant

### 2026-10-03: Peter Holst Olsen wins Danish giant pumpkin championship

Peter Holst Olsen won the Danish giant pumpkin championship at Tivoli with a record-breaking 1,198 kg pumpkin, marking his third consecutive title.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/peter-holst-olsen-wins-danish-giant-pumpkin-championship

### 2026-10-01: Giant pumpkins set new world and national records

Giant pumpkins have set new records: Ian and Stuart Paton broke the Guinness World Record in the UK with a 1,278.8 kg pumpkin, while Krzysztof and Tomasz Olejniczak set a Polish record with a 918 kg pumpkin.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/giant-pumpkins-set-new-world-and-national-records

### 2026-09-27: Brandenburg pumpkin championship winner falls short of one ton

Oliver Grafe won the Brandenburg pumpkin weighing championship with a 942.2 kg Atlantic Giant, narrowly missing his 1,000 kg goal and the previous year's winning weight.

18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/klaistow-pumpkin-championship-winner-weighs-9422-kilograms

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Cite as: Giant pumpkin growing competitions and records. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/giant-pumpkin-growing-competitions-and-records
