Antonio Masella named Queensland Pizza Chef of the Year 2026

Antonio Masella of Maiori Pizzeria is Queensland Pizza Chef of the Year 2026. The result was announced on Tuesday 13 October at the Queensland Pizza Championships, held on the floor of Food & Hospitality Queensland at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Masella also won Best Classic Pizza, the category for a traditional Italian-style pizza, taking two of the three titles on offer. The overall title carries a $1,500 prize and a place at the Australian Pizza Championships, with flights, accommodation and transfers included. Best Classic Pizza carries $500.

Anthony Taranto of Otto Cucina won Best Creative Pizza and its $500 prize. That category is judged on inventiveness and creativity, with each pizza built around ingredients from the competition's sponsors.

The organisers listed 30 finalists, from neighbourhood pizzerias to hotel and pub kitchens. Heats ran across both days of the trade show before the winners were announced late on Tuesday afternoon. Johnny Di Francesco of Gradi Group and AVPN was head judge, joined by Daniel Semrani of Gigi's Balmain and pizza consultant Stefano Spataro.

The championships are one of several live competitions inside Food & Hospitality Queensland, a two-day, trade-only show for people who work in hospitality, foodservice and retail. This year it ran on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 October, with ovens set up on a dedicated stage among the exhibitors. As Queensland Pizza Chef of the Year, Masella now goes on to represent the state at the national championships.

We were on the show floor for the announcement. More results and coverage from the show are coming soon.