Contemporary Pizza World Championship

A world championship dedicated to signature pizza

The Contemporary Pizza World Championship is the event that has chosen Crispiano, in the province of Taranto, as the stage for a major international gastronomic challenge. Established in 2024, the event brings dozens of master pizza makers and chefs from across Italy and abroad to the heart of Puglia, all competing to celebrate the creativity, tradition, and excellence of pizza as a true contemporary art form.

The venue is the expansive Parco delle Querce, a large green area on the outskirts of the town that transforms into a "pizza village," complete with ovens, workstations, stages, and public areas. The organization is handled by the Accademia Professionale del Gusto, led by master pizza maker Domenico Rossini, who sought to provide the Ionian territory with an event capable of attracting professionals and enthusiasts from everywhere.

Competition categories

The heart of the event lies in the competitions, divided into numerous categories that compare different styles and techniques: amateur, classic, gourmet, contemporary, Neapolitan, chef category, gluten-free, and team trials. These are joined by the most spectacular specialties, such as pizza in pala (peel pizza), pizza ruota di carro (wagon wheel pizza), and the imaginative "genius and madness" category.

Alongside the preparation contests, there are skill tests, which are among the public's favorites: acrobatic freestyle, the widest pizza challenge, the fastest pizza, junior freestyle for under-14s, and the dough-balling (staglio) test. The contestants are evaluated by a prestigious jury composed of industry experts, international championship judges, and world champions.

Solidarity, entertainment, and the territory

The Championship is not just about competition. A distinctive feature of the event is the space dedicated to inclusion, with workshops and moments involving local young people with disabilities who have learned the art of pizza making. Between competitions, the public can enjoy shows, entertainment, and social gatherings in a festive atmosphere that enlivens the entire park.

For the Municipality of Crispiano and the entire province of Taranto, the event represents an important showcase, capable of combining food and wine promotion, professionalism, and social awareness. An appointment that, in just a few editions, has carved out a place among the reference events in the Apulian and national pizza scene.

Useful information

The event takes place in late autumn at the Parco delle Querce in Crispiano. Access requires tickets and registrations available online and on-site, with limited spots. To find out the dates, program, and participation methods for the next edition, it is advisable to follow the channels of the Accademia Professionale del Gusto.