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FRANCESCO MARTUCCI NAMED THE BEST PIZZA CHEF 2026 BY THE BEST PIZZA AWARDS

From Naples to New York, Tokyo to Las Vegas — the world’s most credible pizza ranking unveils its 2026 champions across a record-breaking night of Legacy & Future in Milan.

Milan, Italy

Milan, Italy – 24 June 2026 – Milan once again took center stage as The Best Pizza Awards powered by Molini Pizzuti returned for its most ambitious edition to date. The 2026 celebration welcomed more than 500 guests, including 300 pizza chefs, 200 international journalists, and leading figures from the global hospitality community for a night dedicated to the legacy and future of pizza.

THE 2026 LEADING PLACES

The 2026 edition was crowned with the announcement of the leading three places — a moment of recognition that reflects the depth, diversity, and excellence of the global pizza scene today.

Francesco Martucci

I Masanielli, Caserta, Italy

Roberto Davanzo

Bob Alchimia a Spicchi, Montepaone, Italy

Francesco Capece

Confine - Milan - Italy

Milan 2026

Special Awards

Beyond the leading three places, this year's Special Awards honoured the creativity, expertise and distinctiveness of pizza chefs across eleven categories — recognising those who push boundaries while staying true to the craft.

The Best Pizza Experience

The Best Pizza Margherita

The Best Pizza Identity

The Best Fried Pizza

The Best Pizza FoodArt

The Best Pastry Pizza

The Best Pizza Social Media

The Best Pizza NextGen

The Best Street Pizza

The Best Pizza Icon

The Best Pizza Legend

These awards celebrate both mastery and imagination, recognizing pizza chefs who push boundaries while staying true to the craft.

100 Was Never Enough - Ones To Follow

Alongside the Top 100, The Best Pizza Awards introduced Ones to Follow, a selection of fifty pizza chefs whose work merits recognition beyond the main ranking. The list is not ordered and carries no hierarchy, with each name presented as equally deserving. It gathers emerging talents from across the global scene — the chefs to watch and to discover — whose creativity and craft are helping shape the direction of contemporary pizza. Through the selection, the platform aims to direct the attention of the international pizza community toward the names defining the category’s next chapter.

Together, the Top 100 and the Ones to Follow represent 150 pizza chefs spanning 39 countries across five continents.

“The Best Pizza Awards has always been about more than ranking. It is a movement built by pizza chefs, for pizza chefs — honoring the heritage of pizza while driving it fearlessly into the future. Tonight, wecelebrated both the legacy of those who shaped this craft and the future of those who will redefine it.”

— Cristian Gadau, CEO of The Best Pizza Awards.

A Growing Global Movement

Since its founding, The Best Pizza Awards has worked to break down barriers within the pizza world, championing pizzaiolos across regions, styles and traditions. What began as a virtual celebration in 2023 grew into a groundbreaking live event in 2024, followed by the largest edition to date in 2025, a year that generated more than 527 global articles, a reach of over 3.8 billion and an AVE of $32.4 million.

In 2026, the platform expands even further, with strengthened international representation, new opportunities for emerging talent and a renewed focus on the artistry, science and identity of pizza as a global cultural symbol.

The 2026 Programme:

What to Expect

Pizza Show Masterclasses

Interactive masterclasses led by world-renowned pizza chefs offering rare access to signature techniques, regional traditions and cutting-edge culinary innovation.

Pizza Talks

Thought-provoking conversations uniting leading pizza chefs, journalists and pizza authorities to explore identity, craft, sustainability and the future of the industry.

The Best Pizza Awards Gala

The highlight of the evening, honouring the 2026 Top 100 and spotlighting excellence across the craft.

The Best Pizza Party

A vibrant late-night celebration where global pizza chefs cook side by side, creating an immersive and joyful end to the festival.

A Platform Built on Integrity

The Best Pizza Awards stand apart for their unwavering commitment to credibility. Its global voting panel is composed exclusively of professionals with proven expertise in evaluating culinary excellence, ensuring each accolade reflects genuine merit. This chef-first approach mirrors the standards of The Best Chef Awards, reinforcing the shared mission to elevate gastronomy as a cultural and creative force.

Pizza Talks 2026

Meet our speakers

Cristian Santomauro

The last custodian of the Ammaccata, an ancient type of Cilentan pizza. Santomauro was honored “The Best Pizza Identity 2024.” A passionate educator and advocate of circular agroecology, he cultivates ancient grains, “quarantino” tomatoes, and a synergic garden around his pizzeria.

Rasmus Munk

He is one of the most renowned chefs worldwide, particularly known for his highly innovative approach to cooking and for his culinary creations that go beyond the traditional concept of „food”.

Franco Pepe

Franco Pepe, a native of Caiazzo, represents the third generation of a family of bakers and pizza makers whose story begins in 1938 with his grandfather Ciccio.

Marisol Doyle

Marisol Doyle, born and raised in Sonora, Mexico, didn’t begin working with dough until 2016, when she launched a bagel business in Mississippi.

Franco Kalifon

Franco Kalifon is an Argentine baker, pizzaiolo, and entrepreneur, internationally recognized for redefining New York-style pizza in Buenos Aires through a combination of artisan craftsmanship, contemporary vision, and high-quality ingredients. As co-founder of Kalis Pizza, he has built a distinctive culinary identity centered on precision, speed, and flavor — a philosophy he describes as “fast good.”

Mauro Colagreco

Mauro Colagreco is an internationally acclaimed chef known for transforming Mirazur into a symbol of sustainable, nature-driven gastronomy. Alongside his international culinary projects, he also develops innovative pizza concepts that combine Italian tradition, creativity, and environmental responsibility.

Anthony Mangieri

Founder of Una Pizza Napoletana, widely regarded as one of the world’s best pizzerias, he is known for his uncompromising approach to quality and authenticity. Combining traditional Italian craftsmanship with a relentless pursuit of simplicity and perfection, he has earned international recognition for his dedication to the art of pizza.

Francesco Martucci

When passion becomes instinct and emotion turns into something explosive, warm, addictive — impossible to live without — one name rises above all: Francesco Martucci — I Masanielli, Caserta ⚔️🍕Ranked #1 at The Best Pizza Awards 2025, he is more than a chef, more than a reference point: a unique artist whose vision changed the language of dough forever. Every creation is intensity. Every bite leaves a mark. And once you enter his world, there is no going back.

Dr. Lucia De Luca

Researcher in Food Science and Technology at the University of Naples Federico II, she represents a new generation of scientists exploring the hidden mechanisms that shape quality, flavour, and innovation in food. Her work bridges the gap between research and gastronomy, helping us better understand the processes that transform simple ingredients into extraordinary experiences. Because pizza is not only tradition. It is also science in motion.

Master Class 2026