Official Judges of the Australian Pizza Championship
Shop225's master pizzaiolo was handpicked to judge the Australian Pizza Championships (the national hunt for the best pizza in Australia) held at ICC Sydney, 25–26 May 2026
2026
AUSTRALIAN PIZZA CHAMPIONSHIPS
ICC Sydney
HOST VANUE
4
CATEGORIES JUDGES
25–26 May
COMPETITION DATES
Australia's Best Pizza Awards, Judged at The Highest Level
The Australian Pizza Championships, staged as part of Australia's Best Pizza Awards at the Pizza Pasta & Italian Food Show during Food & Hospitality Week, is the country's premier stage for award-winning pizza. Held at ICC Sydney from 25–26 May 2026, the championship brings together the nation's most skilled pizzaioli for two days of high-stakes competition to find the best pizza in Australia.
Competitors battle across four categories, Best Classic Pizza, Best Creative Pizza, Pizza Chef of the Year and Best STG (Neapolitan) Pizza, with every entry graded by an esteemed panel of judges against a universal score sheet covering dough, bake, flavour, technique and presentation. The Best STG winner earns a coveted place at the World Pizza Championship in Parma, Italy.
Being invited to sit on that panel places Lorenzo among the most respected authorities on authentic Italian, Neapolitan, and wood-fired pizza in the country.
AUSTRALIAN PIZZA CHAMPIONSHIPS
“It was my honour to be appointed as a judge. Congratulations to the winners, and well done to everyone who participated. It takes lots of courage to put yourself under scrutiny. Everyone did a terrific job!”
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Lorenzo Tron, master pizzaiolo & owner, Shop225
The Categories Lorenzo Helped Judge
Best Classic Pizza
Traditional Italian-style pizza using direct or indirect dough and premium Italian produce, the benchmark of authentic Italian pizza.
Best Creative Pizza
Inventiveness and flair, with chefs judged on creativity and bold use of sponsor ingredients.
Pizza Chef of the Year
A points-based title awarded across all rounds, the most coveted prize for any Australian pizzaiolo.
Best STG Pizza
Wood-fired Neapolitan STG craft, with the winner earning a place at the World Pizza Championship in Italy.
FAVOURITE PIZZERIA
The Pedigree Behind Pascoe Vale's Favourite Pizzeria
When you're judging the best pizza in Australia, you bring a lifetime of craft to the table. That same standard is what guests taste every night at Shop225 in Pascoe Vale, award-winning pizza built on traditional dough fermentation, premium Italian ingredients and genuine wood-fired and Neapolitan technique.
It also shapes the kitchen's hands-on pizza cooking classes in Melbourne, where home cooks learn directly from a championship-level pizzaiolo, with gluten-free, vegan and halal options available.