International Pizza Challenge 2026 Daily Results

OFFICIAL RESULTS FROM THE 2026 INTERNATIONAL PIZZA EXPO ARE POSTED HERE!

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Results from Thursday, March 26, 2026

Mirko D’Agata Wins Pizza Maker of the Year

Mirko D’Agata of Pizzeria No. 900 in Montreal, Quebec, emerged as Pizza Maker of the Year in the 2026 International Pizza Challenge. Competing against other first-place winners in IPC divisions, D’Agata won the competition’s most prestigious category with a pan pizza, despite his pizzeria’s specialty in Neapolitan pies.

1. Mirko D’Agata – Pizzeria No. 900 (Pan Division)

2. Frederico Santos – Square Pizza Co. (Non-Traditional Division)

3. Patrice Desmeules – Pizzeria No.900 Beauport (Traditional Division)

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Carmine Candito Wins Best of the Best

Carmine Candito of Miami-based ‘O Munaciello is the 2026 Best of the Best winner in the International Pizza Challenge taking place at Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. Candito competed against  Tore Trupiano of Mangia e Beve and Ryan Ososky of DTown Pizzeria. Like all challengers in this division, Candito had to use three secret ingredients: portabello mushrooms, pears and pork belly.

Rankings for the Best of the Best competition are:

1. Carmine Candito – ‘O Munaciello in Miami, Florida

2. Ryan Ososky – DTown Pizzeria in Los Angeles, California

3. Tore Trupiano – Mangia e Bevi in Oceanside, California

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Green Chili Jam Announced as Surprise Ingredient in Pizza Maker of the Year Competition

First-place winners in the 2026 International Pizza Challenge divisions are staging now to compete live in front of judges at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the Pizza Maker of the Year division at Pizza Expo 2026.

The following individuals are competing for the title of Pizza Maker of the Year:

• Patrice Desmeules – Pizzeria No.900 Beauport (Traditional Division)
• Kevin Moreira – Boa Bakery (World’s Best Cheese Slice)
• Frederico Santos – Square Pizza Co. (Non-Traditional Division)
• Mirko D’Agata – Pizzeria No. 900 (Pan Division)
• Loredana Passariello – La Leggenda Pizzeria (Neapolitan)
• Paulo Guerra – @paulomakespizza (Classica)

 

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Best of the Best Is Underway!

Tore Trupiano of Mangia e Bevi, Ryan Ososky of DTown Pizzeria and Carmine Candito of ‘O Munaciello are competing in the Best of the Best competition taking place at Pizza Expo.

The trio has been tasked with making pizza using the following ingredients:

• Portabello mushrooms
• Pears
• Pork Belly

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Selim Dahmane Wins Sandwich Challenge Finals

Selim Dahmane took first place in the International Italian Sandwich Challenge. Scores will be posted later, but the top three competitors in this division were:

1. Selim Dahmane – Mortadella

2. Leonardo Zoppetti – Instituto Conpizza

3. Eric Von Hansen – Caliente Pizza & Draft House

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International Pizza Challenge Announces Winners in Division Finals

Final results from the International Pizza Challenge were announced Thursday at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where the IPC has been staging since Tuesday. Learn who took first place in the following categories:

Traditional Division Final Results

1: Patrice Desmeules – Pizzeria No.900 Beauport

2: Fiodar Huminski – Pizzeria Locali

3: Andrew Crawford – Righteous Slice

 

World’s Best Cheese Slice Final Results

1: Kevin Moreira – Boa Bakery

2: Tony Scardino – Professor Pizza

3: Gennaro Buontempo – Frank’s Pizza and Pasta

 

Non-Traditional Division Final Results

1. Frederico Santos – Square Pizza Co.

2. Michael Balddwin – Testabarra Kitchen and Cocktails

3. Chris Battiste – Miaava East Coast Pizzeria

 

Pan Division Final Results

1. Mirko D’Agata – Pizzeria No.900

2. Lee Kindell – Moto Pizza

3. Davide Lubrano Lavadera – Pizzata Pizzeria

 

Neapolitan Division Final Results

1. Loredana Passariello – La Leggenda Pizzeria

2. Sebastiano Cappellano – Non Solo Pane

3. Hyun-Jin Jung – Eltree

 

Classica Division Final Results

1. Paulo Guerra – @paulomakespizza

2. Vittoria Trupiano – Mangia e Bevi

3. Rosen Naydenov – Hamos LTD (Bulgaria)

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Results from Wednesday, March 25, 2026

The second day of the International Pizza challenge wrapped with winners in the Bacio Legacy Non-Traditional Division (see below) and Daiya Dairy-Free Division. Non-Traditional Regional Winners, Pan Subdivision Winners and Neapolitan Subdivision Winners were announced, along with Qualifiers for the Finals in the following categories:

• Neapolitan Division
• Non-Traditional Division
• Pan Division

Daiya Dairy-Free Traditional Division Results

The following competitors earned the top three scores for the Daiya Dairy-Free Division:

1. Kevin Moreira – Boa Bakery

2. Alejandro Burgaleta – The Pizza Point Miami

3. Chris Battiste – Miaava East Coast Pizzeria

Here is the Daiya Dairy-Free Scoreboard:

Neapolitan Division Preliminary Results

The following pizzaioli earned the top three scores for the Neapolitan Division:

1. Rivka Sears – Righteous Slice

2. Hyun-Jin Jung – Eltree

3. Loredana Passariello – La Leggenda Pizzeria

Here is the Neapolitan Division Preliminary Scoreboard:

 

 

 

Here are the Neapolitan subdivision winners:

Non-Traditional Division Preliminary Results

The following contestants in the Non-Traditional Division qualified for the finals to be held Thursday at Pizza Expo:

Jason Eich – The Best Umbrella

Chris Battiste – Miaava East Coast Pizza

Michael Balddwin – Testabarra Kitchen and Cocktails

Here is the scoreboard for the Non-Traditional Division:

 

and the Non-Traditional Regional Results:

Pan Division Preliminary Results

Winners in the Pan Division at the International Pizza Challenge include:

1. Mirko D’Agata – Pizzeria No.900

2. Lee Kindell – Moto Pizza

3. Davide Lubrano Lavadera – Pizzata Pizzeria

Here is the scoreboard for the Pan Division:

And the Pan Subdivision Winners:

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Wilhelm Rodriguez of Papa’s Pizza in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, claimed first place in the Bacio Legacy Division at the International Pizza Challenge at Pizza Expo on Tuesday afternoon. Rodriguez used a Bacio cheese blend, orange-peach jam, arugula, peppadew peppers and pancetta on his winning pie.

He tells Pizza Today the pizza was inspired by his daughter, Shawnae Rodriguez, who is competing in the International Pizza Challenge this year for the first time. The first-place prize in the Bacio Legacy division is $5,000. Second place is $2,000, and third place is $1,000.

Sean Dempsey of South Dakota-based Dempsey’s Brewery’s second-place entry is a Mexican street corn-inspired pizza, while Rojas’ pizza features 20% blue corn dough and braised beef tongue thinly sliced. He tells Pizza Today the pie is inspired by his love of tacos.

Fifty participants entered Bacio Legacy Division, which staged its preliminary contest Tuesday in Las Vegas during the International Pizza Expo. The top three finalists selected to advance to the finals recreated their pizzas for judges Wednesday afternoon.

Bacio Legacy Division Final Results

1. Wilhelm Rodriguez – Papa’s Pizza

2. Sean Dempsey – Dempseys Brewery

3. Rogelio Rojas – DTown Pizzeria

Here is the Bacio Legacy Division Scoreboard:

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With 730 challengers competing in eight divisions – plus the Italian Sandwich Championship – competitors wasted no time on Tuesday, March 24, the opening day of the International Pizza Expo 2026. Now in its 42nd year, Pizza Expo is the largest conference and trade show in North America devoted to everything pizza. The International Pizza Challenge is among the most anticipated features of the annual event at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Tuesday’s events include preliminary rounds for:

• Traditional American (110 participants)
• World’s Best Cheese Slice (110 participants)
• Italian Classica (110 participants)
• Bacio Legacy (50 participants)
• Italian Sandwich (30 participants)

Finalists in the Bacio Legacy Non-Traditional Division will compete in the Finals on Wednesday, March 24, from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. The top five highest-scoring pizzaioli in the other divisions staged Tuesday will advance to the Finals planned for this Thursday, March 26. Finalists are required to attend a MANDATORY MEETING on Thursday at 7:15 a.m. at the IPC Area on the Pizza Expo show floor.

Awards will be presented Thursday, following the Pizza Maker of the Year competition, during which the top-five-scoring challengers from World’s Best Cheese Slice, Traditional, Non-Traditional, Pan, Classica and Neapolitan divisions will compete for a $5,000 prize.

Scores for Tuesday’s preliminary rounds are as follows:

Traditional American Division Preliminary Results

The Traditional American Division is open to round pizzas ranging in size from 12 inches to 18 inches. Pizzas must include red tomato sauce and no more than two of the following toppings: Pepperoni, Sausage, Bacon, Ham, Mushrooms, Peppers, Tomatoes, Onions or Olives. No par-baking or partial baking is allowed.

The qualifiers in Tuesday’s Preliminary contest include:

1. Anthony Berghela – Romo’s Pizza

2. Andrew Crawford – Righteous Slice

3. Patrice Desmeules – Pizzeria No.900 Beauport

4. Franky Vigliotti – Peppino’s

5. Fiodar Huminski – Pizzeria Locali

Here is the Traditional American Division Scoreboard:

World’s Best Cheese Slice Preliminary Results

The World’s Best Cheese Slice Division is open to all pizza styles. Challengers can top their dough with only traditional red tomato sauce, cheese and spices and select their best three slices to present to judges. Par-baking or partial baking is permitted onsite at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The finalists of Tuesday’s Preliminary contest include:

1. Michele D’amelio – Fermento

2. Kevin Moreira – Boa Bakery

3. Gennaro Buontempo – Frank’s Pizza & Pasta

4. Anthony Ludovici Debrigida – Anto’s Pizza Romana

5. Tony Scardino – Professor Pizza

Here is the World’s Best Cheese Slice Scoreboard:

Italian Classica Division Preliminary Results

New this year, the Italian Classica Division is open to Neapolitan-style round pizzas baked directly on the floor of a high-temp dome oven. No par-baking or partial baking is allowed. Unlike standard Neapolitan pizzas, Italian Classica pizzas must have at least one topping besides sauce and cheese. Competition time is limited to 12 minutes.

The finalists of Tuesday’s Preliminary contest include:

1. Michael Stevens – Palo Mesa Pizza

2. Juan Robles – Triple Beam Pizza

3. Paulo Guerra – @paulomakespizza

4. Rosen Naydenov – Hamos LTD (Bulgaria)

5. Vittoria Trupiano – Mangia e Bevi

Here is the Traditional American Division Scoreboard:

Bacio Legacy Division Preliminary Results

The Bacio Legacy Non-Traditional Division is open to professional U.S. pizzeria and U.S. restaurant chefs from the United States. Each challenger may choose from up to six varieties of Bacio cheese with the intent of highlighting the best Bacio has to offer. Competitors have 30 minutes to assemble and bake their pizzas.

The finalists of Tuesday’s Preliminary contest include:

1. Wilhelm Rodriguez – Papa’s Pizza

2. Rogelio Rojas – DTown Pizzeria

3. Sean Dempsey – Dempseys Brewery

Here is the Bacio Legacy Division Scoreboard:

International Italian Sandwich Championship Preliminary Results

The International Italian Sandwich Competition is open to makers of hot and cold Italian-inspired sandwiches seen on a pizzeria, bakery or Italian restaurant menu. Sandwiches can contain any combination of Italian ingredients, sauces, toppings, and/or décor or garnishes on any type of bread, roll, or bun.

The finalists of Tuesday’s Preliminary contest include:

1. Selim Louis Dahmane – Mortadella

2. Eric Von Hansen – Caliente Pizza & Draft House

3. Giovanni Labbate – Tievoli Pizza Bar

4. Ciro Lubrano Lavadera – Pizzata Pizzeria

5. Leonardo Zoppetti – Instituto Conpizza

Here is the International Italian Sandwich Championship Scoreboard:

 

Competitions Continue!

The International Pizza Challenge continues on Wednesday, March 25. In addition to the finals in the Bacio Legacy Division, preliminary rounds will continue in the Non-traditional, Neapolitan, Pan and Daiya Dairy-Free divisions. We hope to see you there! TO REGISTER FOR PIZZA EXPO, CLICK HERE!

For news about Pizza Expo, visit our news hub page!