IPC Coordinators Michael LaMarca, Jeremy Galvin with Master Pizza on The Hot Slice Podcast

Pizza Expo 2024 in Las Vegas in March is our 40th Anniversary. There are some huge updates to the International Pizza Challenge, so we have brought Michael LaMarca and Jeremy Galvin on the show to give us the skinny. Michael, Jeremy and their team at Master Pizza and beyond make IPC a success each year coordinating the largest pizza-making competition in the U.S.

What is International Pizza Challenge?

International Pizza Challenge has evolved and grown in stature and prize money to become the most prestigious pizza-making competition in North America, if not the world. This year, we’ll have 5 divisions: Traditional, Non-Traditional, Neapolitan/STG, Pan, & World’s Best Cheese Slice, which will be represented in the pizza bake-off that will showcase 240 of the world’s best pizza makers. Each competitor will have the opportunity to bake their signature pizza on the spot at Pizza Expo, which will then be presented to a renowned panel of accredited chefs. The bake-offs will take place Tuesday through Thursday in the International Pizza Challenge contest area. The winners of each division will face off against each other in a mystery-ingredient bake-off to determine who will be named the 2024 Pizza Maker of the Year.

Here is a look at the 2024 International Pizza Challenge Schedule:

Tuesday, March 19 (Preliminary Rounds)

Top 5 scores in each division will advance to Thursday finals

Division                                       Time                      # of Participants

World’s Best Cheese Slice       8:00 AM – 4:00 PM        50

Pan                                             8:00 AM – 4:00 PM        50

Traditional                                 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM      80

CMAB – Professional Division Preliminaries   8:00 AM – 4:00 PM        20

Wednesday, March 20 (Preliminary Rounds)

Division                                   Time                            # of Participants          Thursday Finals?

Non-Traditional                       8:00 AM – 5:00 PM     80                                Yes

Neapolitan                              8:00 AM – 5:00 PM     80                                Yes

Ooni Traditional & Pan            8:00 AM – 5:00 PM     30                                No

Daiya Vegan                            8:00 AM – 5:00 PM     30                                No

Thursday, March 21

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Finals for all divisions

Traditional, Non-Traditional, Neapolitan, Pan, & World’s Best Cheese Slice

Location: Comp Areas A & B

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM – CMAB Finals (Publicy Judged)

Location: Comp Area A

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Best of the Best (Publicly Judged)

Location: Comp Area A

12:45 PM – 1:45 PM – Pizza Maker of the Year (Publicly Judged)

Location: Comp Area A

1:45 PM – 2:00 PM – Mixer Giveaway, Awards, & WPC Donation

Location: Comp Area B

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM – Awards, Recognition, & More Giveaways

Location: Comp Area A

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM – $10k MEGA Bucks Winner

Location: Comp Area A

Learn more about International Pizza Challenge at https://pizzaexpo.pizzatoday.com/giveaway-rules-regulations/international-pizza-challenge/.

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