National Pizza Day

National Pizza Day History

National Pizza Day is dedicated to honoring one of America’s favorite meals, pizza. Uniting food lovers across the nation, this Observance seeks to highlight the cultural significance of pizza, a dish with roots in Italy that has become a staple of American life. Famous for its adaptable and easily personalized nature, pizza can be enjoyed in a variety of styles, toppings, and crusts, thus making it a universal delight that caters to diverse tastes and diets.

The American love affair with pizza started with Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Immigrants from Naples brought over the classic Neapolitan style pizza, which quickly gained popularity among the masses. Today, unique regional variants such as New York style thin crust pizzas and Chicago's deep-dish pizzas stand as testaments to the degree of pizza's integration into American culture. Consequently, National Pizza Day serves as a validation of the pizza's central role in American dining and its influence on social gatherings, family dinners, and festive occasions.

In the United States, National Pizza Day is typically observed by indulging in the beloved dish in its many forms. This can involve dining at local pizzerias, hosting homemade pizza parties, or simply enjoying a carry-out from a favorite pizza chain. Social media platforms brim with photos and posts celebrating the day, reflecting the ever-popular #NationalPizzaDay trend. This nationwide spread of pizza love occurs every year on February 9th, ensuring that the depth of America's fondness for pizza is celebrated accordingly.

Top 10 Facts for National Pizza Day in 2026

• In 2024, French chefs set a staggering world record by topping a single pizza with 1,001 different types of cheese, surpassing the previous record of 834 varieties.
• The most expensive pizza in the world, known as the Louis XIII, is priced at $12,000 and features lavish ingredients such as three types of caviar, lobster from Norway, and hand-collected grains of pink Australian sea salt.
• In 2001, a six-inch salami pizza became the first to be delivered to outer space when it was sent to the International Space Station via a Russian supply rocket.
• During the late 1960s, the 113th Military Intelligence Group of the U.S. Army reportedly used fake pizza deliveries as a tactic to spy on reporters and politicians, a historical tidbit later detailed in The New Yorker.
• Modern culinary technology has advanced to the point where artificial intelligence is being used to analyze photos and teach robotic systems how to replicate the specific ingredient layering of artisanal pizzas.
• One of the first ever recorded online purchases was a large pepperoni and mushroom pizza from Pizza Hut, which occurred in 1994 when the internet was still in its infancy.
• The traditional art of the Neapolitan "Pizzaiuolo" has been officially recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting the cultural and social significance of the practice beyond just its ingredients.
• In January 2023, the record for the world’s largest pizza was reclaimed by Pizza Hut with a massive pie spanning nearly 14,000 square feet, which required over 13,000 pounds of dough to assemble.
• Current industry data suggests that 2026 will see a significant surge in the Gourmet Pizza Variations theme, with ingredients like burrata, pickled onions, and hot honey becoming staples on mainstream menus.
• The Detroit-style pizza, characterized by its rectangular shape and thick, crispy crust, is projected to be one of the fastest-growing regional styles in North America.

In the News and Trending in the US for National Pizza Day

Top things to do in the US for National Pizza Day

• Visit your favorite pizzeria. Most pizzerias will offer discounts and specials to celebrate National Pizza Day.
• Try a pizza with unique toppings. Here are some of our favorites:
  1) Chicken Tikka Masala Pizza
  2) Beer Battered Fried Calamari Pizza
  3) Butternut Squash and Sage Pizza
  4) Fried Chicken Pizza
  5) Brown Butter Lobster and Spinach Pizza with Bacon and Fontina
• Attend a pizza festival! Here are some of our favorites to consider:
  1) Cleveland Pizza Fest
  2) Phoenix Pizza Festival
  3) Pizza Festival - Los Angeles
  4) Chicago Pizza Fest
  5) Pizza Fest Seattle: Annual Punk Festival+Pizza-Eating Contest
• Make your own pizza at home from scratch. Make the dough, perhaps gluten-free or whole wheat, make the sauce using tomatoes and spices, grate the cheese and finally cover it up with all of your favorite toppings.
• Make it a pizza and a movie kind of night. Watch the Academy Award nominees for ‘Best Picture’ (2020):
  1917
  Ford v Ferrari
  Joker
  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
  Parasite
  The Irishman
  Little Women
  Jojo Rabbit