GET YOUR SLICE OF THE GLORY
Giving Australia’s pizza professionals a platform to compete, be judged by industry experts, and earn serious recognition.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
The Australian Pizza Championships return to ICC Sydney on 25–26 May 2026, bringing together the nation’s most skilled pizzaioli for two days of high-stakes competition.
Watch top chefs from restaurants, pizzerias, QSRs, pubs, hotels and independent venues showcase their technique, creativity and passion for the craft, earning national recognition for the art of pizza making.
Competitors will battle it out across four categories: Best Classic Pizza, Best Creative Pizza, Pizza Chef of the Year, and Best STG Pizza. The STG winner will also earn a spot at the World Pizza Championship, proudly supported by Le 5 Stagioni.
*Applications Closed
Competitor Notification: 17 April
CATEGORIES
CLASSIC PIZZA
A uniquely crafted traditional Italian style pizza, using direct or indirect dough (biga & polish permitted) & high quality Italian produce & fresh ingredients.
CREATIVE PIZZA
Competitors will be judged on their inventiveness & creativity with the inclusions of provided sponsor ingredients.
NEAPOLITAN STG (Specialità Tradizionale Garantita) PIZZA
Pizza Napoletana TSG (Traditional Speciality Guaranteed) competition will take place using wood-fired ovens. $150 registration fee applies for STG category.
2026 Judges
Australia's Best Pizza Awards & Competition 2025 Winners Announced
Pizza Chef of the Year: Emanuele Malara from Ciccio’s Pizza and Gelato
Best Classic Pizza: Emanuele Malara from Ciccio’s Pizza and Gelato
Best Creative Pizza: Nicola Pellegrino from Ollie’s Italian
A huge congratulations to last year’s pizza champions who brought passion, precision, and serious flavour to the table! Emanuele Malara from Ciccio’s Pizza and Gelato has taken out not one but two major titles – Pizza Chef of the Year and Best Classic Pizza, impressing the judges with his mastery of tradition and technique. Meanwhile, Nicola Pellegrino from Ollie’s Italian claimed the coveted Best Creative Pizza award, delivering bold innovation with every slice. Bravo to our incredible winners – you’ve raised the bar for pizza excellence across the country!
Australian Pizza Championships Supported By
FAQs
Key Dates
Applications Closed — for any enquiries, please email customercare@nationalmedia.com.au
Competitors Notification: 17th April, 2026
Competition Dates: 25th-26th May, 2026, ICC Sydney
Prizes
Prizes Best Classic Pizza: $500.00
Prize Money Best Creative Pizza: $500.00 Prize Money
Pizza Chef of the Year: $2,500
Prize Money Best STG Pizza: $2,500 plus the winner of the STG category will be taken to compete at The World Pizza Championship by supporting sponsor Le 5 Stagioni.
Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be substituted.
How to Apply
Applications for this competition are now closed. To watch it live, please visit our registration page to secure your pass to attend.
How it Works
Classic & Creative competitors will have 30minutes to compete (10mins prep, 15mins cook, 5mins clean) Competitors are required to cook two identical pizzas for each category, ‘Classic’ and ‘Creative’, in their allocated 30minute heat time. Total of four pizzas.
Neapolitan STG competitors will have 10 minutes to weigh ingredients and to cook one pizza in their allocated heat time. Competitors that exceed 10 minutes will be disqualified. STG Competitors will have 5mins to clean their stations at the conclusion of their cook.
Judging Criteria
The Signature & Creative rounds will be point-based, participants will accumulate points across all criteria for both rounds, with their total score determining who is the ‘Pizza Chef of the Year’ winner.
The STG category is also points based. The competitor with the highest score will win ‘Best STG Pizza’.
Pizzas will be graded by an esteemed panel of judges using a universal score sheet. Criteria includes:
- Preparation & execution
- Balance of flavours & ingredients
- Overall look & aesthetic
- Technical execution
- Presentation (competitor & workstation)
- Cooking precision
Equipment
Competitors will be allocated one of four stations. You will have access to 1x oven, depending on which station you have been allocated. Each station will have access to a range of equipment – see full list here in the application guidelines.
Any items not mentioned, must be provided by the competitor.