La Città della Pizza, the national competition that annually celebrates the world's top talent in the art of pizza, kicks off this year in Rome. Rome and Milan will be the selection stages, bringing together participants from across the country. The first event in Rome is scheduled for Monday, May 4th, at the Pratesi Hotel Division at Via JF Kennedy, 72 in Ciampino. The Milanese call will follow on Monday, June 22nd, at the Pratesi Hotel Division's Milan office at Via Antonio Meucci 4. From these two days, the finalists will be selected and will compete in the grand finale in Piazza di Siena on September 13th, the final day of Vinòforum 2026.
"Reaching its tenth edition is confirmation of a solid path: the contest is increasingly establishing itself as a benchmark for the world of Italian pizza," says Emiliano de Venuti, creator of La Città della Pizza, "helping to showcase emerging professionals and the industry's leading figures. La Città della Pizza was born and continues to be a hub for the present and future of the industry, showcasing new talent and thus helping to chronicle the evolution of an art form that is one of the undisputed symbols of our country. We expect the highest standards for this edition as well: year after year, the pizza chefs have never ceased to amaze us, both in their technical expertise and, above all, in their passion."
At each stage, the pizza chefs will compete in two heats: the first will be dedicated to the great classics, with a pizza of their choice between Margherita and Marinara, made with the highest-quality ingredients provided by the event's partners: Caputo flour, Sorì Fior di Latte, and Cirio Alta Cucina tomatoes. The eight pizza chefs with the highest scores will compete in a second heat in the afternoon, dedicated to their signature dish, where they will be able to showcase not only their technical skills but also their creativity in pairings.
Appearance, aroma, dough, cooking, balance, overall flavor, and choice of toppings remain the criteria evaluated by the technical jury led by Luciano Pignataro and Luciana Squadrilli, creators of La Città della Pizza since 2017. Special attention will also be paid to the choice of extra virgin olive oil used to top the pizzas.
The judges will select the six finalists, the three with the highest scores on each of the two days, who will advance to the final challenge to win the title of La Città della Pizza, with a prize worth €4.000,00 in products and services from partner companies up for grabs.
Applications are officially open and can be submitted exclusively through the website www.lacittadellapizza.it by completing the relevant participation form.
