National Pizza Day

National Pizza Day History

National Pizza Day celebrates one of the world's favourite meals, pizza. This observance is a true testament to the global popularity of pizza, a dish that originated in Italy, but has evolved with diverse versions in many other countries. It’s a celebration not only of the delightful combination of cheese, dough, and sauce, but also of the cultural significance, history, and gastronomic artistry associated with pizza.

Despite its Italian roots, pizza has carved its place into British cuisine, with its own unique adaptations such as the Margherita with cheddar, the Full English Breakfast pizza, or the Scotch Bonnet chilli pizza. National Pizza Day taps into the love Britons have for this food, encouraging them to consider pizza's rich culinary history as well as its modern incarnations in the United Kingdom. The first American-style pizza shop, known as Pizzaland, was established in the UK in the 1960s and this paved the way for the growth of British pizza culture that we see celebrated on National Pizza Day today.

In the United Kingdom, National Pizza Day is typically observed with enthusiasm. Special deals and discounts in pizza outlets are common occurrences, with several restaurants offering unique pizza recipes for the event. These range from traditional Neapolitan style thin-crust pizzas to newer innovative creations. Social media is also awash with posts dedicated to this day, using the hashtag #NationalPizzaDay. In the United Kingdom, National Pizza Day falls on the same day as the United States, being celebrated on February 9th each year. It's a time when people across the UK celebrate their love for pizza in all its forms, turning a normal meal into a gastronomic celebration.

Top 9 Facts for 2026 National Pizza Day in the UK

• The upcoming observance of National Pizza Day on 9 February 2026 highlights the UK's status as a nation of pizza enthusiasts, with the average Briton estimated to consume approximately 731 pizzas over the course of their lifetime.
• While classic pepperoni remains the most frequently requested topping across the country, 2026 is seeing a significant surge in the popularity of hot honey and 'nduja as diners increasingly favour "sweet-heat" flavour profiles.
• The origins of the modern pizza market in the United Kingdom can be traced back to 1965, when the founder of Pizza Express, Peter Boizot, opened the first branch in Wardour Street, London, after importing a specialist oven from Italy.
• In a unique display of culinary devotion, a group in London previously set a Guinness World Record for the Largest human image of a pizza, which involved 810 participants dressed in colours representing dough, tomato sauce, and various toppings.
• Scottish pizzerias often celebrate the occasion by offering regional variations, such as pizzas topped with haggis or even deep-frying slices in a style colloquially known as a pizza crunch.
• The industry's shift towards plant-based options continues to gain momentum, following the historic moment when a vegan entry first secured the top prize at the National Pizza Awards in the UK.
• Beyond the kitchen, the dish has even influenced geometry through the Pizza Theorem, a mathematical concept that explains the equality of two areas when a disk is partitioned in a specific manner, mimicking traditional slicing techniques.
• The enduring popularity of the Margherita pizza is rooted in a royal tribute, as it was famously created in 1889 to honour Queen Margherita of Savoy using ingredients that represent the red, white, and green of the Italian flag.
• Many British households are now opting for the DIY pizza night trend, fuelled by a rise in the sales of outdoor stone ovens and gourmet kits that allow for the creation of authentic Neapolitan-style crusts at home.

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

Top things to do in the UK 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
• Create a Pizza Crawl: Along the lines of a pub crawl, map out several popular pizza spots and try a slice (or two) from each. This could be within one city, or for a fun travel adventure, you could expand it to several cities!
• Frankie & Benny's National Pizza Day Celebration: This popular Italian-American restaurant chain usually offers discounts or special deals on pizzas to mark the event.