National Detroit-Style Pizza Day
June 23
About National Detroit-Style Pizza Day
National Detroit-Style Pizza Day falls on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. The day celebrates the rectangular, deep-pan pizza that originated in Detroit in 1946, known for its thick airy crust, cheese caramelised right to the edges, and a layer of sauce ladled on top. It is a chance for pizza lovers across the United States to seek out a slice, fire up the oven at home, or simply learn what sets this Motor City classic apart.
How to Celebrate National Detroit-Style Pizza Day
This is a day made for eating, baking, and sharing. Here are plenty of ways to mark the occasion.
- Order from a Detroit-style specialist – Track down a pizzeria that makes the genuine article in a rectangular steel pan. Buddy’s Pizza in metro Detroit is the birthplace of the style, but you will now find authentic versions at independent shops across the country.
- Bake your own at home – You do not need a restaurant kitchen. A well-oiled rectangular metal pan, a high-hydration dough left to prove, brick or mozzarella cheese pushed to the edges, and a couple of stripes of sauce on top will get you remarkably close.
- Chase the crispy frico edge – The caramelised, lacy cheese crust that forms against the side of the pan, known as frico, is the signature of the style. Make sure your cheese reaches the very edge so it browns and crisps as it bakes.
- Layer it the Detroit way – Put the cheese down first, add toppings, then finish with stripes of sauce ladled on top after baking. This upside-down assembly keeps the crust from going soggy and is part of what makes the style distinctive.
- Host a pizza night – Invite friends and family round, set up a few pans, and let everyone build their own. The square slices are easy to portion and share, which makes it a sociable choice.
- Run a taste comparison – Line up a Detroit-style square next to a Chicago deep dish and a thin New York slice, and taste them side by side. It is a fun way to appreciate how regional American pizza styles differ.
- Try a creative topping – Pepperoni that cups and crisps is a Detroit favourite, but the sturdy crust handles bold combinations well. Experiment with hot honey, ricotta, or roasted vegetables.
- Share it on social media – Photograph your golden, cheesy-edged square and post it to spread the word. Tag a friend who has never tried Detroit-style and challenge them to give it a go.
What is National Detroit-Style Pizza Day?
National Detroit-Style Pizza Day is an annual food celebration dedicated to one of America’s most distinctive regional pizzas. Detroit-style pizza is a rectangular pan pizza with a thick, crisp yet chewy crust, cheese spread all the way to the edges so it caramelises against the pan, and sauce applied on top rather than underneath. The day is enjoyed by home cooks, pizzeria owners, and food enthusiasts who want to honour the Motor City’s contribution to pizza culture. It sits alongside a calendar full of pizza holidays celebrated throughout the year in the United States.
When is National Detroit-Style Pizza Day?
National Detroit-Style Pizza Day is observed every year on 23 June. In 2026 it falls on a Tuesday. The date is fixed, so it lands on 23 June regardless of the day of the week, making it easy to plan a celebration year after year.
The History of National Detroit-Style Pizza Day
The story of Detroit-style pizza begins in 1946 at Buddy’s Rendezvous, a former speakeasy at the corner of Six Mile Road and Conant Street in Detroit. The bar was owned by Gus and Anna Guerra, and the original square pizza is said to have been based on a Sicilian recipe, attributed either to Anna’s mother’s sfincione or to a Sicilian employee named Connie Piccinato. What made the dish unmistakable was the pan. Suitable baking trays were hard to come by after the war, so the Guerras used blue steel pans sourced from local automotive suppliers, the same kind used to hold small parts and drip oil on factory floors. Those heavyweight rectangular pans gave the pizza its tall, airy crust and the crisp, caramelised cheese edge that defines the style.
The recipe spread as employees and admirers opened their own shops, and Detroit-style pizza became a beloved local institution across the metro area for decades. It remained largely a regional secret until the 2010s, when it began to gain national attention. In 2013, Little Caesars, the Detroit-founded chain started by Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1959, became the first national pizza company to put a Detroit-style deep dish on menus across the country, introducing the style to millions who had never visited Michigan.
From there the square pie went global, appearing on menus from independent pizzerias to international competitions. National Detroit-Style Pizza Day was established to mark the date and give fans a yearly reason to celebrate the pizza’s rich history and its journey from a Detroit bar to a worldwide phenomenon.
Fun Facts About National Detroit-Style Pizza Day
- The original Detroit-style pizzas were baked in blue steel pans borrowed from the automotive industry, which is why the style is sometimes linked to the city’s car-making heritage.
- Detroit-style pizza is assembled in reverse compared with most pizzas: cheese and toppings go down first, and the sauce is added on top, often after baking.
- The crispy, lacy cheese that browns against the edges of the pan is called frico, and it is widely considered the best part of the slice.
- Brick cheese, a mild Wisconsin variety, is the traditional cheese used, though many modern pizzerias blend it with mozzarella.
- Buddy’s Pizza, the birthplace of the style, has been serving its square pies since 1946 and is still operating today.
- Little Caesars, which helped take Detroit-style nationwide, was one of the fastest-growing pizza chains in the United States and reported sales of around 4.93 billion dollars in 2024.
Why National Detroit-Style Pizza Day Matters
Food days like this one do more than give people an excuse to indulge. They celebrate regional identity, keep culinary traditions alive, and support the independent pizzerias and family businesses that have carried the recipe for generations. Detroit-style pizza is a reminder that some of the best food comes from making do with what is at hand, in this case a humble automotive pan, and turning it into something people travel for. Marking the day helps a city’s culinary heritage reach new audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Detroit-Style Pizza Day?
It is an annual celebration of Detroit-style pizza, a rectangular pan pizza with a thick, crisp crust, cheese caramelised to the edges, and sauce on top. It honours the dish that originated in Detroit in 1946.
When is National Detroit-Style Pizza Day in 2026?
It takes place on Tuesday, 23 June 2026. The date is fixed at 23 June every year.
What makes Detroit-style pizza different from other pizzas?
Three things set it apart: the rectangular shape baked in a deep steel pan, the cheese spread to the very edges so it caramelises into a crispy frico crust, and the sauce ladled on top of the cheese rather than underneath it.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best square-slice photos on social media with #NationalDetroitStylePizzaDay and #DetroitStylePizzaDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to try a slice with the crispy cheese edge!
Related Awareness Days
- National Cheese Day – Celebrates the cheese that, spread to the edges, gives Detroit-style pizza its signature caramelised crust.
- National Cheesesteak Day – Another beloved American regional dish with deep roots in a single city’s food culture.
- National Corn Dog Day – A fun, casual food day that celebrates a much-loved American comfort classic.
Links
2026 Awareness Days Wall Planner
Every key awareness day at a glance. Perfect for offices, staff rooms, and team planning.
View Calendar →
