Canadian pizzeria with Toronto location crowned best in the world

Think you have to travel to Italy to find the best pizza on the globe? Think again. According to the results of the world's largest pizza competition, the world's best pizza is being made right here in Canada.

The 2026 International Pizza Challenge (IPC) at Pizza Expo in Las Vegas saw pizzaiolos and restaurants from around the world compete for glory for a single weekend in March, vying for recognition among the world's best and brightest pies.

Canada, as the international pizza community would soon find out during the competition, did not come to play.

The competition runs throughout the expo, with individual pizzaiolos competing in one of eight divisions. Canadian chefs landed first-place finishes in five.

While Toronto's Paulo Guerra took home first place in the Italian Classico category, and Binbrook's Kevin Moreira (Boa Bakery) came first in both the Best Cheese Slice and Dairy-free categories, it was a Montreal-based pizza chain that really stole the show.

Pizzeria No. 900's Patrice Desmeules landed a first-place finish in the Traditional division, while his colleague, Pizzeria No.900 Executive Chef Mirko D'Agata, took home the top prize in the Pan division.

The top finishers in each category then went on to compete for the title of Pizza Maker of the Year, and, lo and behold, D'Agata walked away with the top honour. Not to be outdone, Desmeules also managed an impressive finish, coming third just below D'Agata.

Mirko D'Agata accepts the title of Pizza Maker of the Year at IPC 2026. Photo courtesy of @cravingcurator.

"Winning this title against the best pizzaiolo from each category is an immense honour," D'Agata says.

With a swath of locations across Quebec, Pizzeria No.900's finesse on the world pizza scene is well-documented, so the win comes as little surprise, but it still carries quite the glow of national pride, doesn't it?

Before you go booking your Via Rail tickets to Montreal to try Pizzeria No.900 for yourself, turn your gaze to home turf first. Pizzeria No.900 currently operates one Toronto location in the Beaches, so while you plan your summer beach days, map out some time to head over for a fresh slice.

Pizzeria No.900 Beaches is located at 1987 Queen St. E.