The 8th Annual Real California Pizza Contest is now accepting entries, with professional pizza chefs and eligible culinary students invited to compete for prize money, a trip to Napa and, naturally, a little national pizza glory. Hosted by the California Milk Advisory Board, the 2026 competition features two categories: On the Menu and California Freestyle.
The On the Menu category is for an innovative pizza already on a 
regular menu, seasonal menu or LTO, and it must include at least two Real California cheese or dairy products, one of them Mozzarella. The California Freestyle category calls for an original, cheese-centric pizza featuring at least three Real California cheese or dairy products, including Mozzarella, along with ingredients or toppings grown in or popular in the Golden State.
Entries are due by April 24, 2026, and each submission must include a pizza name, a completed entry form, an ingredient list specifying the Real California cheese brands used, photo(s) of the prepared pizza and a short description. Contest rules also note that each pizza can have no more than three additional toppings, not counting crust, sauce or spices. Eight finalists—four per category—will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the live bake-off finals set for July 13-15, 2026, at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa, California.
Prize money includes $5,000 for each category winner, an additional $2,500 for the Grand Prize Winner and $1,000 for the remaining finalists.
If you’ve got a recipe worthy of pizza glory, this is your shot. Contest rules, requirements and entry information are available at realcaliforniamilkfoodservice.com/pizza-contest.
