This weekend, downtown Los Angeles will transform into a pizza lover’s paradise as Pizza City Fest makes its much-anticipated return for its fourth year. The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, with festivities running from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The festival is the brainchild of Steve Dolinsky, a distinguished food journalist boasting three Emmy Awards and 13 James Beard Awards. Pizza City Fest has grown into a multi-city celebration, now delighting pizza enthusiasts in Chicago, Nashville, and Los Angeles.

This year’s Los Angeles edition promises an exciting gathering of 40 pizzerias, all offering unlimited tastings to attendees.

General admission tickets are priced at $99, while VIP access is available for $199. The event will be held at the LA LIVE Event Deck, providing a vibrant setting for pizza aficionados.

The culinary lineup spans the breadth of Southern California, featuring pizzerias from Orange County, the Inland Empire, the San Fernando Valley, the Westside, and even Santa Barbara.

Notably, 11 of the participating pizzerias will be making their first appearance at the festival this year, adding fresh excitement to the event.

Saturday’s menu of heavy hitters includes Angel City Pizza (Venice), Emmy Squared (DTLA), Joe’s Pizza (Southern California), Riip Beer & Pizzeria (Huntington Beach), and Tribute Pizza (San Diego). Newcomers include Bub & Grandma’s Pizza (Highland Park), Colossus (Long Beach, San Pedro), Bianca Sicilian Trattoria (mobile truck, Arts District), and Thunderbolt Pizza (Long Beach).

Dessert options include Lei’d Cookies (Culver City) and Uli’s Gelato (Los Angeles).

Sunday keeps the ovens hot with Bettina (Santa Barbara), Pizzana (Southern California), Prime Pizza, Prince St. Pizza, and LaSorted’s (Silver Lake and Chinatown).

Newer names include PiiZaa (mobile truck, Torrance), Due Fiori (Long Beach), and Detroit Pizza Depot (Hollywood).

Dessert comes from Wanderlust Creamery and Levain Bakery across Los Angeles locations.

What sets Pizza City Fest apart is the sheer variety of styles on display.

Detroit, New York, Neapolitan, tavern-style, grandma slices and experimental artisan pies all share the same space.

Unlike cities where one style dominates, Southern California’s pizza identity is built on variety.

The lineup reflects that mix.

There are New York-style contenders like Esco’s, Detroit Pizza Depot representing its namesake style, and experimental spots like Bub & Grandma’s that do not fit neatly into one category.

One standout is Colossus, based in Long Beach and San Pedro, which earned praise from the Los Angeles Times for its 100 percent sourdough crust.

It is part of a broader artisan movement shaping the region’s pizza scene.

Another attention-grabber is PiiZaa, a mobile concept from the Torrance Farmers Market. 

The name reflects Vietnamese pronunciation, and the team is serving a bánh xèo-inspired pizza with turmeric, shrimp and pork.

Beyond the food, the festival also features live programming.

Saturday begins at 2 p.m. with “The Dough Whisperers,” featuring Nancy Silverton and Aaron Lindell of Quarter Sheets discussing dough craftsmanship.

At 3 p.m., Thomas McNaughton and Ryan Pollnow of Flour + Water lead a home baker masterclass, followed by a Silverton book signing.

Sunday programming includes a backyard pizza oven demonstration from Daniele Uditi of Pizzana at 2 p.m. At 3 p.m., Esteban Gutierrez, Sean Lango, and Vito DeCandia take part in a discussion on New York-style pizza outside New York, moderated by KTLA Morning anchor Chris Schauble.

Pizza City Fest runs Saturday and Sunday at the Event Deck at LA LIVE in downtown Los Angeles.

Tickets are available at the event’s website.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters