Voting Rules

Voting Rules

The Best Pizza 2025 Awards

Our goal is to create a fair, efficient, and transparent selection process that engages all participants equally. By refining our voting standards, we aim to elevate the decision-making process while maintaining credibility. These standards are based on years of experience and mirror the rigorous methodology applied in The Best Chef Awards.

Voting Rules:

  1. Voters are selected by The Best Chef Awards platform through an approved application or direct nomination by The Best Chef Awards board. 
  2. Voting opens upon the announcement of The Best Pizza Awards platform.
  3. The online survey remains open for one month.
  4. Each voter can submit only one application.
  5. Pizza chefs cannot vote for themselves or for colleagues within the same pizzeria/restaurant.
  6. All votes are strictly verified.
  7. The voting process is strictly confidential—both votes and voter identities cannot be disclosed or discussed.

Voters’ Platform

The voting system leverages The Best Chef Awards’ established network of professionals to ensure a transparent and globally recognised process. This includes food journalists, gastronomy experts: a selection of 362 pizza chefs and 150 industry professionals (global selection of journalists, critics, and foodies) from 60 countries.

The voting process maintains a balanced approach, ensuring that industry professionals and pizza chefs have equal influence in determining winners. This guarantees impartiality, free from external pressures or subjective biases.

Voting Process: Two Parts

  1. General Voting
  2. Special Awards & Additional Voting

Survey Structure

First Part: General Voting

  • Each voter selects their top 10 favourite pizza chefs (three must be from their own country).
  • Points are assigned from 10 to 1 (10 being the highest).
  • Votes are for the chef, not the pizzeria.
  • To be eligible, a chef must actively work at a venue where their pizza can be tasted.
  • Voters may be required to provide proof of their visits (photos, bills, or reservation details) upon request.

Second Part: Special Awards & Additional Voting

Voters select three pizza chefs for each of the following categories. Each vote contributes 3 points to the Top 100 ranking (the same chef can be listed in multiple categories):

  • Science & Technique (Technique Award): Honouring chefs who innovate in dough-making, traditional toppings, and modern approaches. 
  • Art & Creativity (Food Art Award): Recognising pizza as a form of culinary artistry.
  • Awareness & Local Products (Identity Award): Celebrating sustainable practices and a commitment to local produce.

Additionally, voters nominate/select one pizza chef for each of the following specialised awards:

  • The Best Pizza NextGen
  • The Best Pizza Margherita
  • The Best Fried Pizza
  • The Best Pastry Pizza
  • The Best Street Pizza
  • The Best Pizza Social Impact
  • The Best Pizza Experience
Award Descriptions

The Best Pizza Technique Award:
Recognising outstanding research, technical experimentation, and innovation in transforming raw ingredients.

The Best Pizza Food Art Award:
Honouring chefs who elevate pizza into an art form.

The Best Pizza Identity Award:
Celebrating chefs who embody authenticity and regional tradition.

The Best Pizza NextGen Award:
Celebrating a rising star in the pizza world.

The Best Pizza Margherita Award:
Honouring the chef who perfects the classic Margherita.

The Best Fried Pizza Award:
Recognising excellence in traditional and innovative fried pizza.

The Best Pastry Pizza Award:
Awarded to the chef who creates the best sweet pizza.

The Best Street Pizza Award:
Recognising the best grab-and-go pizza slice.

The Best Pizza Social Impact Award:
Awarded to a chef with the most impactful social media presence and compelling storytelling (not for branding agencies or social media managers).

The Best Pizza Experience Award:
Given to the pizzeria delivering an exceptional dining experience.

Results Calculation

For the Top 100 Pizza Chefs, results are determined by total points from the first and second voting rounds (excluding special awards).

For Special Awards, the votes form a shortlist, which is then reviewed by a professional panel to determine The Best Pizza 2025 special awards winners.

Eligibility & Nominations

  • Any pizza chef actively working during the voting period is eligible, regardless of awards or experience level.
  • While recommendations are welcome, nominations do not guarantee inclusion in the shortlist.
  • To recommend a chef, please email: info@thebestchefpizza.com

Results Announcement

Winners will be revealed:

  • At The Best Pizza Annual Event on June 25, 2025
  • On Social Media & Official Website on June 25, 2025