GET YOUR SLICE OF THE GLORY
2026 QUEENSLAND PIZZA CHEF OF THE YEAR CROWNED!
A huge congratulations to Antonio Masella, owner of Maiori Pizzeria, on taking home two titles: Queensland Pizza Chef of the Year and Best Classic Pizza!
What an incredible achievement!
2026 CREATIVE PIZZA WINNER
Congratulations to Anthony Taranto from Otto Cucina on winning Best Creative Pizza!
The championships celebrated the exceptional craftsmanship, creativity and passion of Queensland’s talented pizza chefs.
The championships celebrated the exceptional craftsmanship, creativity and passion of Queensland’s talented pizza chefs. Thank you to all our participants for making this year’s competition such a fantastic showcase of Queensland’s pizza scene!
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
Queensland’s Pizza Championships will bring together locally skilled pizzaioli’s across two days of high-stakes competition.
Watch top QLD pizza makers from restaurants, pizzerias, QSR’s, pubs, hotels and independent venues showcase their technique, creativity and passion for the craft, earning state recognition and a place in the Australian Pizza Championships in 2027 at Food & Hospitality Week.
Competitors will battle it out across two categories: Best Classic Pizza and Best Creative Pizza, with the overall winner being the Queensland Pizza Chef of the Year.
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.
2026 JUDGES & HOSTS
Johnny Di Francesco
Head Judge
Gradi Group | AVPN
Daniel Semrani
Owner & Chef | Gigi’s Balmain
Stefano Spataro
Pizza Consultant
Nicholas Kalogeropoulos
MC
2026 COMPETITORS
FINALISTS
FINAL SCORES
| PLACE | PIZZAIOLO | SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best Classic Pizza & QLD Pizza Chef of the Year – Antonio Masella | 194.7 |
| 2 | Best Creative Pizza – Anthony Taranto | 193.7 |
| 3 | Luca Ferone | 189.0 |
| 4 | Maurizio Franco | 181.0 |
| 5 | Tommaso Freccero | 177.3 |
| 6 | Andrea Caprarelli | 174.0 |
| 7 | Andrea Ricci | 173.7 |
| 8 | Jim Parker | 171.3 |
| 9 | Alex Martin | 167.0 |
| 10 | Elia Monacelli | 165.7 |
| 11 | Manuel Casagni | 163.0 |
| 12 | Matteo Fanelli | 161.7 |
| 13 | Sebastien Luximon | 161.0 |
| 14 | Paul Ramunno | 152.3 |
| 15 | Carlo Bacioterracino | 151.7 |
| 16 | Diego Caradenti | 149.0 |
| 17 | Suraj Tamang | 149.0 |
| 18 | Tony Reyes | 148.3 |
| 19 | Matty Wotton | 146.7 |
| 20 | Simone Wright | 146.3 |
| 21 | Arnold Esteban | 145.7 |
| 22 | Darren Brown | 141.0 |
| 23 | Greg Burnett | 136.7 |
| 24 | Daniele Caridi | 131.0 |
| 25 | Stuart Derham | 130.7 |
| 26 | Giovanni Barbato | 125.7 |
| 27 | Louis Oberleuter | 120.3 |
| 28 | Nicolas Pérez | 118.0 |
| 29 | Civan Bayrak | 108.7 |
THE DETAILS
KEY DATES & TIMES
Applications Close – 17th September
Finalists Notified – 21st September
Competition Dates – 12-13th October 2026 | BCEC
PRIZES
- Best Classic Pizza – $500
- Best Creative Pizza – $500
- Queensland Pizza Chef of the Year – $1,500.00 + Flights, Accommodation & Transfers to compete in Australian Pizza Championships at Food & Hospitality Week
Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be substituted
HOW TO APPLY
Entries for the 2026 Queensland’s Pizza Championships have now closed.
Check back for updates on when 2027 entries open.
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.
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 ‘Queensland Pizza Chef of the Year’ winner.
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 two stations. You will have access to 1x ovens, 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.
FULL GUIDELINES
QUEENSLAND PIZZA CHAMPIONSHIPS
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
