Elementi co-owner Stefano Spataro finishes second in the classic category at the 2026 Campionato Mondiale della Pizza
Brisbane chef Stefano Spataro has finished second in the Pizza Classica category at the 2026 Campionato Mondiale della Pizza in Parma, Italy.
Stefano, co-owner and head chef at Elementi in Paddington, also placed seventh in the Gluten Free Pizza category and 36th in Pizza Napoletana STG, underlining the strength of his performance across multiple divisions.
A strong result on one of pizza’s biggest stages
Held annually in Parma, the Campionato Mondiale della Pizza remains one of the most recognisable competitions in the global pizza calendar.
In Pizza Classica, competitors are given 12 minutes to prepare, bake and present a pizza. Judging covers oven preparation, taste, cooking quality, professionalism, technique, timing and presentation. The pizza must be round and baked directly on the refractory stone in either a wood or electric oven.
For Stefano, the silver medal is the clearest sign yet that his competition form is building year by year rather than arriving as a one-off result. It gives Brisbane a place on the podium at one of the industry’s most competitive events.
Another step forward for Elementi
Elementi opened in Paddington in 2021 and was founded by Stefano alongside Mauricio Zarate and Pedro Sanson, with the trio having previously worked together at Beccofino.
The restaurant has since established itself as one of Brisbane’s best-known destinations for Italian food and pizza, with its Given Terrace address now closely tied to Stefano’s competition success.
The Parma result also builds on Stefano’s momentum in Australia. In 2025, he was crowned Best Overall Pizza Chef at the inaugural State of Origin Pizza Battle, reinforcing his standing in the local pizza scene ahead of this latest result in Italy.
Australian presence in the results
Another notable Australian result came in Pizza Napoletana STG, where Melbourne’s Johnny Di Francesco finished fifth.
For Stefano, though, this year’s story is the podium finish. Second in Pizza Classica is a major result at an event of this scale, and one that gives Elementi a clear international calling card back home in Brisbane.
