Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Everything You Need to Know About Pizza Expo 2026
We just dropped our highly anticipated Pizza Expo Update Show video, and our team is practically buzzing with excitement about what’s hitting the show floor this year. Senior Creative Director Josh Keown, Pizza Today Editor in Chief Denise Greer and Senior Editor Kate Lavin are here to get you ready for the biggest event the pizza business.
For 2026, we are rolling out some massive surprises that you absolutely have to see to believe. From the world's best gelato to brand new culinary competitions and a secret-menu education village, this year's Expo is going to blow your mind. Let’s break down exactly what you need to prepare for before you touch down in Vegas.
Visit pizzaexpo.pizzatoday.com
Bringing the World’s Best Together Under One Roof
Just when you thought the show floor couldn't possibly get any tastier, we went ahead and added something truly spectacular to the lineup.
The Gelato Festival World Masters Grand Finale
We are officially hosting the Gelato Festival World Masters Grand Finale! This event only happens once every four years. Think of it as the Olympics of dessert. After hundreds of intense qualifying rounds across the globe, the absolute best gelato makers are bringing their craft to our house. That means you get to experience the world's best pizza and the world's best gelato in one single building.
Fresh Competitions to Watch
This year, we added three exciting new categories to the International Pizza Challenge: the Italian Classica, the Bacio Legacy, and the Non-Traditional and Dietary Free competitions. This brings our total to an incredible 12 live competitions! You are going to see some wild, innovative pies being tossed, baked and judged by the legends of our industry.
Education That Pays for Itself
Many success stories over the past few years have come from attendees who completely turned their businesses around after sitting in on our education program. You don’t get what you want, you get what you negotiate and learn. This year, we are coming in hot with 13 workshops, 12 live demos, and 40 in-depth education sessions.
Paid Workshops and Seminars
If you can get to Vegas early on Sunday or Monday, you absolutely must sign up for the paid workshops. These intensive, four-hour sessions are literally money in your pocket. Industry veterans cover everything from kitchen efficiencies to opening a brand-new restaurant and fixing those sneaky profit holes that drain your bank account. Do not wait until you arrive in Vegas to sign up. Go back into your registration right now and secure your spot, because the live demo sessions during show floor hours fill up lightning fast!
Killer Keynotes You Cannot Miss
First up, we have Michelin-starred chef Wylie Dufresne. Get ready to geek out. He makes molecular gastronomy accessible, fun, and totally fascinating.
Next, we are bringing in Hengam and Matthew Stanfield from Matanga's Pizza in San Antonio, Texas. They won our Pizzeria of the Year last year, and they are absolute geniuses. Pizza Today saw their operation in person, and their knowledge of operational efficiency is off the charts. If you only do one thing this week, catch their keynote. They will give you real, actionable ideas to skyrocket your business operations.
Networking, Parties, and the Pizza Today Village
If there is one thing this Expo is known for, it is the unmatched camaraderie of the pizza community. We curated some incredible events to help you connect, share war stories, and build lifelong friendships with folks who understand exactly what you go through every Friday night.
Introducing the Pizza Today Village
Our team is hard at work on a first-time activation called the Pizza Today Village. This place has absolutely everything. We are setting up a merch station with limited-edition Pizza Expo t-shirts, a live recording space for the Hot Slice podcast, and a classroom area for special demos. Here is the kicker: the topics and teachers for these demos are strictly on a "secret menu." We won't announce them until the morning of, so you have to show up to see what all the fuss is about.
Beer and Bull and Dough Acrobatics
Beer and Bull is back, and we are calling it Beer and Bull 2.0! Pizza Man Dan is emceeing this year, and we will be facilitating lively roundtable discussions packed with highly topical information straight from the pages of Pizza Today.
If you arrive early, hit up the Happy Hour networking session on Monday night in room W 231 for some food, drinks, and great conversations.
And of course, you absolutely cannot miss the World Pizza Game Finals and Block Party on Wednesday night. The dough acrobatics are incredibly intense, so grab a seat early and enjoy the show!
For all things Pizza Expo 2026 News , visit: pizzatoday.com/news/pizza-expo-2026-news-from-the-worlds-largest-pizza-show/615419
Everything You Need to Know About Pizza Expo 2026
We just dropped our highly anticipated Pizza Expo Update Show video, and our team is practically buzzing with excitement about what’s hitting the show floor this year. Senior Creative Director Josh Keown, Pizza Today Editor in Chief Denise Greer and Senior Editor Kate Lavin are here to get you ready for the biggest event the pizza business.
For 2026, we are rolling out some massive surprises that you absolutely have to see to believe. From the world's best gelato to brand new culinary competitions and a secret-menu education village, this year's Expo is going to blow your mind. Let’s break down exactly what you need to prepare for before you touch down in Vegas.
Visit pizzaexpo.pizzatoday.com
Bringing the World’s Best Together Under One Roof
Just when you thought the show floor couldn't possibly get any tastier, we went ahead and added something truly spectacular to the lineup.
The Gelato Festival World Masters Grand Finale
We are officially hosting the Gelato Festival World Masters Grand Finale! This event only happens once every four years. Think of it as the Olympics of dessert. After hundreds of intense qualifying rounds across the globe, the absolute best gelato makers are bringing their craft to our house. That means you get to experience the world's best pizza and the world's best gelato in one single building.
Fresh Competitions to Watch
This year, we added three exciting new categories to the International Pizza Challenge: the Italian Classica, the Bacio Legacy, and the Non-Traditional and Dietary Free competitions. This brings our total to an incredible 12 live competitions! You are going to see some wild, innovative pies being tossed, baked and judged by the legends of our industry.
Education That Pays for Itself
Many success stories over the past few years have come from attendees who completely turned their businesses around after sitting in on our education program. You don’t get what you want, you get what you negotiate and learn. This year, we are coming in hot with 13 workshops, 12 live demos, and 40 in-depth education sessions.
Paid Workshops and Seminars
If you can get to Vegas early on Sunday or Monday, you absolutely must sign up for the paid workshops. These intensive, four-hour sessions are literally money in your pocket. Industry veterans cover everything from kitchen efficiencies to opening a brand-new restaurant and fixing those sneaky profit holes that drain your bank account. Do not wait until you arrive in Vegas to sign up. Go back into your registration right now and secure your spot, because the live demo sessions during show floor hours fill up lightning fast!
Killer Keynotes You Cannot Miss
First up, we have Michelin-starred chef Wylie Dufresne. Get ready to geek out. He makes molecular gastronomy accessible, fun, and totally fascinating.
Next, we are bringing in Hengam and Matthew Stanfield from Matanga's Pizza in San Antonio, Texas. They won our Pizzeria of the Year last year, and they are absolute geniuses. Pizza Today saw their operation in person, and their knowledge of operational efficiency is off the charts. If you only do one thing this week, catch their keynote. They will give you real, actionable ideas to skyrocket your business operations.
Networking, Parties, and the Pizza Today Village
If there is one thing this Expo is known for, it is the unmatched camaraderie of the pizza community. We curated some incredible events to help you connect, share war stories, and build lifelong friendships with folks who understand exactly what you go through every Friday night.
Introducing the Pizza Today Village
Our team is hard at work on a first-time activation called the Pizza Today Village. This place has absolutely everything. We are setting up a merch station with limited-edition Pizza Expo t-shirts, a live recording space for the Hot Slice podcast, and a classroom area for special demos. Here is the kicker: the topics and teachers for these demos are strictly on a "secret menu." We won't announce them until the morning of, so you have to show up to see what all the fuss is about.
Beer and Bull and Dough Acrobatics
Beer and Bull is back, and we are calling it Beer and Bull 2.0! Pizza Man Dan is emceeing this year, and we will be facilitating lively roundtable discussions packed with highly topical information straight from the pages of Pizza Today.
If you arrive early, hit up the Happy Hour networking session on Monday night in room W 231 for some food, drinks, and great conversations.
And of course, you absolutely cannot miss the World Pizza Game Finals and Block Party on Wednesday night. The dough acrobatics are incredibly intense, so grab a seat early and enjoy the show!
For all things Pizza Expo 2026 News , visit: pizzatoday.com/news/pizza-expo-2026-news-from-the-worlds-largest-pizza-show/615419
