Alexandria’s Bagel Uprising Is Heading to Citi Field to Take On the World’s Best
Del Ray favorite is the only bagel shop from Virginia, Maryland or D.C. selected for the 2026 New York BagelFest.
ALEXANDRIA, VA — From a home kitchen and a Del Ray farmers market to Citi Field in New York City, Bagel Uprising is about to take its biggest bite yet.
The popular Del Ray bagel shop at 2307A Mount Vernon Ave. has been selected to compete in the 2026 New York BagelFest, set for Sunday, Nov. 15, at Citi Field in Queens.
Bagel Uprising is the only competing bagel shop from Virginia, Maryland or Washington, D.C., making the Alexandria business the lone representative from the entire DMV in one of the country’s most competitive bagel events.
More than 25 bagel makers representing 10 states and five countries are expected to compete. It will be Bagel Uprising’s first appearance at BagelFest.
“This was the most competitive process in our history, with less than 9% of applicants selected to compete,” BagelFest founder Sam Silverman said in announcing the 2026 field.
From Del Ray Market Stand to National Stage
Long before New York City entered the picture, Bagel Uprising’s story was taking shape right here in Alexandria.
Founder Chad Breckinridge had been making bagels for years before turning the interest into a business. On Sept. 6, 2015, Bagel Uprising began selling to the public at the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market in Del Ray.
It was a small operation in those early days: bagels made in a home kitchen, then brought to the Sunday market. Customers kept coming back, and demand grew.
Bagel Uprising built a devoted following through local pop-ups and later spent time inside SnackBar on Mount Vernon Avenue before opening its brick-and-mortar Del Ray storefront in 2019.
The shop’s bagels are made in small batches, boiled and baked, with classic varieties including everything, sesame, poppy, salt and plain among the staples. The business has also become known for inventive schmears, breakfast sandwiches and locally made treats, including the babka featured in The Zebra’s recent story about the bakery’s after-hours collaboration with local baker Justin Silverman.
Earlier this summer, Bagel Uprising expanded outside Alexandria with a second location in Ballston. But its roots remain firmly in Del Ray, where the business built its identity — and its fan base.
A Serious Field of Bagel Makers
At Citi Field, Bagel Uprising will compete alongside previous BagelFest champions and established makers from around the country and the world.
Utopia Bagels of New York won Best Bagel in 2024. Ess-a-Bagel captured Best of the Boroughs in 2025. Starship Bagel of Dallas won Best Bagel in 2023 and again in 2025.
International competitors will travel from Canada, Ireland, Spain and India.
Awards include Best Bagel, Schmear of the Year, Most Creative, Best Showmanship and Best Bialy. Festival attendees will also vote in categories including People’s Choice, while the World Bagel Rolling Championship will test competitors’ speed and precision.
BagelFest says its past winners have received national attention, increased media exposure and significant business growth after competing. Thousands of bagel lovers are expected for two tasting sessions featuring samples from participating businesses, along with demonstrations, educational programming, exhibits and family activities.
Tickets go on sale Sept. 8. More information is available through the official BagelFest website.
Alexandria Is Rooting for Its Home Team
For Bagel Uprising, the trip represents an extraordinary journey from those first 100 bagels brought to the Four Mile Run market in 2015.
Eleven years later, the Del Ray shop is headed to New York City to compete alongside some of the best bagel makers in the business — and Alexandria will have a hometown contender at Citi Field.
