National Pizza Day is on Tuesday, February 9, 2027, and it comes around every February 9. It’s a day to order from your favorite pizzeria, try a new regional style or stretch your own dough at home. Many chains mark it with deals.
When Is National Pizza Day?
It’s always February 9. It’s an unofficial food day, so offers change every year. Check your favorite chains’ apps a few days ahead, since many deals are app-only.
Who Started National Pizza Day?
No founder or start year has been documented. It isn’t tied to a company, a law or an anniversary.
Background: where pizza was invented
Modern pizza took shape in Naples, Italy, in the 1700s and early 1800s. History.com describes a busy port city full of working poor, called “lazzaroni,” who bought cheap flatbreads from street vendors. Early toppings included tomatoes, cheese, oil, anchovies and garlic.
Is the pizza margherita story true?
Probably not. The popular tale says pizza maker Raffaele Esposito served Queen Margherita a tomato, mozzarella and basil pizza in June 1889. Merriam-Webster calls this a legend.
It points to a 2014 study by researcher Zachary Nowak, which found the “royal approval” letter was likely a forgery. The pizza itself is real, and the name very likely does honor the queen.
How Pizza Became an American Favorite
Italian immigrants brought pizza to U.S. cities around the turn of the 20th century. One of the first documented American pizzerias was G. Lombardi’s on Spring Street in Manhattan, licensed to sell pizza in 1905.
Pizza spread far beyond Italian neighborhoods after World War II. As Italian American families moved from cities to suburbs, pizzerias followed them. The day celebrates that journey, from Naples street food to an everyday American meal.
How to Celebrate National Pizza Day
- Join a loyalty program early: some rewards need an account before February 9.
- Check local shops’ social pages: independent pizzerias often post specials the morning of the day.
- Taste regional styles: compare a thin New York slice, a square Detroit pie and a charred New Haven “apizza.”
- Make Neapolitan-style dough: use just flour, water, salt and yeast, then bake on your oven’s hottest setting.
- Host a build-your-own night: set out dough balls, sauce, fresh mozzarella and toppings.
- Run a blind taste test: order cheese pizzas from three local shops, hide the boxes and vote.
- Try a historic margherita: keep it to tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil and olive oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there other pizza days?
Yes. National Cheese Pizza Day falls on September 5, and National Pepperoni Pizza Day follows on September 20.
What toppings go on a classic margherita?
Merriam-Webster defines it as a Neapolitan pizza with crushed tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil and olive oil. Those colors match the Italian flag.
Is Neapolitan pizza-making officially protected?
It’s recognized. In 2017, UNESCO added the art of the Neapolitan pizzaiuolo to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list, covering everything from dough to wood-fired baking.