From 10 to 12 November in Paestum there will be the 12th DOC Pizza World Championship, in memory of Antonio Giaccoli
The frame (or rather, the cornice, since we are talking about pizza) is that of the Doric temples of Paestum (province of Salerno), the archaeological site considered a unique example of the culture of Magna Graecia. On the other hand, pizza making is also an art in all respects. And as art, it deserves a competition that enhances its importance for Italian history and culture.
And here it is, from Tuesday 10th to Thursday 12th Novemberthe DOC Pizza World Championship is back. This is the twelfth edition of one of the most important and heartfelt events in this gastronomic sector at an international level, open to both pizza chefs and international ones. The competition will be held within the spaces of Next – Nuova Esposizione Ex Tabacchificio di Cafasso.
The 2026 program also lives on in the memory of the late Antonio Giaccoliwho passed away on June 30th, who was the creator and guide of this Championship in past years. An initiative which, moreover, translates into a concrete opportunity one of the values in which Antonio believed most: young people and their education.
And they are well 24 categories for professionals, 3 special trophies and 1 category for amateurs in which participants of the twelfth edition of the DOC Pizza World Championship can register: 4 Top categories from which the name of the 2026 DOC Pizza World Champion will be decided, 8 Special categories, 4 group categories, 3 skill categories, 3 special trophies, 1 amateur competition.
The categories of the DOC Pizza World Championship
These are the 4 categories Top from which the name of the 2026 DOC World Pizza Champion will be elected:
- Classic Pizza, or the competitor’s specialty pizza;
- Pizza Margherita DOC, even without respecting the TSG specifications;
- Contemporary Pizza, made with all modern dough techniques;
- Cart Wheel Pizza, the classic Neapolitan pizza with a diameter between 35 and 40 cm.
Here are the 8 categories Special:
- Pizza in Teglia, or the classic sliced pizza;
- Pizza in Pala, the classic crunchy pizza;
- Pinsa Romana, famous for its oval shape;
- Gluten-free pizza, gluten-free margherita or classic pizza;
- Fried Pizza, the classic “battilocchio” or the large one with “two breasts”;
- Fried foods, i.e. the 3 types of classic and contemporary fried foods such as potato crocchè, arancino and pasta omelette;
- Pizza Gourmet, pizza made as a haute cuisine dish, both savory and sweet;
- Roman pizza with a rolling pin, new this year, or the classic Roman round pizza rolled out with a rolling pin;
And the 4 categories of Group:
- Pizza in Team, with multiple competitors who can compete as a team even in different categories;
- Pizza for two, collaboration with a chef or pastry chef or pizza chef;
- Pizzeria Brand, a real mini-tournament between large pizzeria chains;
- Pizza DOC School, or the competition dedicated to hotel schools.
The 3 categories of Abilityinstead, they are:
- Free Style, the real acrobatic show between pizza and pizza chef;
- Wider pizza, the pizza with the longest diameter;
- Faster pizza, pizza rolled out in the shortest time possible.
These, however, are the 3 trophies of the 2026 edition:
- Trofeo Panuozzo DOC, dedicated to a true brother of pizza;
- Pizza and Wine Trophy where the pairing of pizza and a glass of wine is celebrated and rewarded;
- Pizza and Drink Trophy or the pairing between pizza and cocktails.
And finally Pizza DOC Loversthe category for amateur pizza makers, a true intuition of Giaccoli. In short, an unmissable event for lovers of that extraordinary product which, in Italy and abroad, is one of the major symbols of our nation’s gastronomic culture.
