International Hawaiian Pizza Day
August 20
About International Hawaiian Pizza Day
International Hawaiian Pizza Day takes place on Thursday, 20 August 2026. The day celebrates the famously divisive pizza topped with ham and pineapple, and it deliberately falls on the birthday of the man who created it, Sam Panopoulos. It is a chance for pizza lovers around the world to settle the great pineapple debate over a slice.
How to Celebrate International Hawaiian Pizza Day
This is a day made for eating, debating, and having a bit of fun with friends. Here are eight ways to mark it.
- Order a Hawaiian pizza – The simplest way to take part is to order the classic combination of tomato sauce, cheese, ham, and pineapple from your favourite pizzeria.
- Make one at home – Build your own from scratch and control the balance of sweet pineapple and salty ham to your taste.
- Host a pineapple debate – Few foods divide opinion like this one. Invite friends to argue both sides over dinner and put it to a vote.
- Experiment with toppings – Try swapping ham for bacon or adding jalapenos to balance the sweetness, a popular modern twist.
- Raise a toast to Sam Panopoulos – The day is his birthday, so a quiet thank you to the inventor is in order.
- Compare versions – Order the same pizza from two or three different places and judge whose Hawaiian comes out on top.
- Convert a sceptic – Challenge a pineapple-on-pizza doubter to a blind taste test.
- Share your slice online – Post a photo of your pizza and join the worldwide conversation.
What is International Hawaiian Pizza Day?
International Hawaiian Pizza Day is an annual food celebration dedicated to the ham and pineapple pizza. Despite its name, the pizza has nothing to do with Hawaii. It was invented in Canada and named after the brand of tinned pineapple used to make it. The day is observed by pizza fans worldwide and has become a light-hearted excuse to revisit one of the most debated foods on any menu.
When is International Hawaiian Pizza Day?
International Hawaiian Pizza Day is celebrated every year on 20 August. In 2026 it falls on a Thursday. The date is fixed because it marks the birthday of Sam Panopoulos, the creator of Hawaiian pizza, who was born on 20 August 1934.
The History of International Hawaiian Pizza Day
The story begins not in the Pacific but in Ontario, Canada. Sam Panopoulos was born in the village of Vourvoura, Greece, on 20 August 1934, and later emigrated to Canada, where he and his brothers ran several restaurants in the southwest of the province. In 1962, at his Satellite Restaurant in Chatham, Ontario, Panopoulos decided to experiment. Inspired by the sweet and savoury combinations he had seen in Chinese cooking, he tried adding canned pineapple to a pizza alongside ham.
He named the creation “Hawaiian” after the brand of tinned pineapple he used, not after the American state. Customers were sceptical at first, and Panopoulos later recalled people telling him he was crazy. The combination slowly caught on, however, and went on to become one of the most popular and most argued-about pizzas in the world. Panopoulos died in London, Ontario, on 9 June 2017, by which time his invention had spread to menus across the globe.
The awareness day was established to honour both the pizza and its inventor, and the choice of 20 August deliberately ties the celebration to Panopoulos’s birthday. It has grown into an international observance embraced by restaurants and home cooks who relish the topping, and by the many who enjoy the debate it provokes.
Fun Facts About International Hawaiian Pizza Day
- Hawaiian pizza was invented in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, in 1962, not in Hawaii.
- It is named after a brand of canned pineapple, not the US state.
- Its creator, Sam Panopoulos, was Greek-born and emigrated to Canada.
- The pizza is among the most divisive foods in the world, sparking countless debates over whether pineapple belongs on pizza.
- In 2017, the President of Iceland joked that he would ban pineapple on pizza if he could, drawing international attention to the topping.
- The day falls on 20 August because that was Panopoulos’s birthday.
Why International Hawaiian Pizza Day Matters
Beyond the fun, the day is a reminder that some of the most beloved foods come from creative experiments and unexpected places. It celebrates culinary invention and gives pizzerias a reason to feature a fan favourite. If you enjoy marking pizza milestones, you might also like National Pizza Day, which celebrates the dish in all its many forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is International Hawaiian Pizza Day?
It is an annual food celebration dedicated to ham and pineapple pizza, observed worldwide on the birthday of its inventor.
When is International Hawaiian Pizza Day in 2026?
It takes place on Thursday, 20 August 2026. The date is fixed each year.
Who invented Hawaiian pizza?
Sam Panopoulos, a Greek-born Canadian restaurateur, created it in 1962 at his Satellite Restaurant in Chatham, Ontario. He named it after the brand of canned pineapple he used.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best Hawaiian pizza photos on social media with #InternationalHawaiianPizzaDay and #HawaiianPizzaDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to take a side in the great pineapple debate.
Related Awareness Days
- National Pizza Day – A worldwide celebration of pizza in every style and topping.
- National Detroit-Style Pizza Day – Honouring the thick, crispy-edged square pizza born in Detroit.
- National Deep Dish Pizza Day – Celebrating Chicago’s famously tall, hearty take on pizza.
Links
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