The pizzaiolos from NO.900 and Locali named the best in the world!
Mirko D’Agata, Fiodar Huminski and Patrice Desmeules triumphed on the podium at the International Pizza Challenge of Pizza Expo 2026 — here are the achievements of three of the best pizzaiolos in the world.
Montreal has once again made its mark on the biggest pizza stage on the planet. At the International Pizza Challenge of Pizza Expo 2026, held from March 24 to 26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, three local pizzaiolos took top honours against nearly 750 competitors from around the world. The kind of news that gives you chills — and confirms what we’ve been sensing for some time now: Quebec’s pizza know-how has nothing left to prove.
Leading this remarkable showing is Mirko D’Agata, executive chef of Groupe NO.900, who claimed nothing less than the ultimate title of World Champion Pizza Maker — the best pizzaiolo across all categories. After taking first place in the Pan Pizza category, Mirko went on to face the champions of each division and was crowned overall winner of the entire competition, a victory that visibly moved the Italian-born pizzaiolo. The icing on the pizza: Mirko D’Agata also became the first Quebecer to be inducted into the World Pizza Champions, a prestigious organization that includes only 70 elite pizzaiolos worldwide, by invitation only.
Over at Locali, the little sister of NO.900 that opened on Saint-Zotique just a few months ago, the results are just as impressive. Patrice Desmeules took first place in the highly competitive American Traditional category, while Fiodar Huminski, executive chef of Locali, finished second in the same division. A Quebec double on the world podium in one of the competition’s most competitive categories.
For those who have been following the evolution of Montreal’s pizza scene in recent years, these wins come as no surprise. Groupe NO.900, with its now-iconic Neapolitan pizzerias, and Locali, which offers a more accessible approach without compromising on quality, have helped raise standards and foster a true pizza culture here at home. Montreal, long known for its bagels and French-influenced gastronomy, is becoming a world-class pizza destination — and it’s thanks to passionate artisans like Mirko, Fiodar and Patrice that this is happening. Thank you, 900 times over!
By securing three podium finishes on the world’s biggest pizza stage, our pizzaiolos have just written a new chapter in culinary history. And honestly, we couldn’t be prouder. Auguri!
Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Mirko D'Agata
