There are pizza events, and then there are “how the hell did they get all these people in one backyard at the same time?” pizza events. The F&F Pizza Sessions belong firmly in the second category, and the 2026 edition officially got underway on June 15 with an opening-night collaboration featuring Chris Bianco and the team from Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana.
But as impressive as that kickoff may have been, the bigger story is the series itself, a summer-long celebration of pizza culture that gathers some of the industry’s most influential figures while maintaining the feel of a neighborhood cookout.
The F&F Pizza Sessions, described as a “summit for the most obsessed pizzaiolos in the world,” take place in the garden behind host venues F&F Pizzeria and Frankies 457 Spuntino in Brooklyn’s Carroll Gardens neighborhood. Two sessions are held each night—at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.—and admission is $125 for “bottomless pizza [and] bottomless drinks.”
The remainder of this year’s lineup will feature Mark Iacono of Lucali alongside Modern Apizza (July 7); Sally’s Apizza paired with Wylie Dufresne (July 21); and Daniel Pearson of Paris sensation Oobatz joining New Haven institution Zuppardi’s and Argentine culinary star Fernando Trocca (September 1).
It’s an ambitious collection of names, but also a reflection of the relationships that continue to drive the pizza community.
For 2026, New Haven serves as the common thread running through much of the series, a decision rooted in decades of admiration shared by event founders Frank Castronovo and Frank Falcinelli, the chefs, restaurateurs and longtime partners whose initials give F&F its name.
In a joint email interview with PMQ, Castronovo and Falcinelli said, “We’ve been going to New Haven since the ’70s. We’ve always admired and respected the tradition that the New Haven area pizzerias have established for over a century. We thought that if we could get our favorites on board, we might be able to come up with a really special lineup.”
The goal, they said, isn’t simply to place famous names on the same flyer. “We are looking to balance out what they both do and what we do,” they explained. “The common thread is that we all do pizza, but we want to play off of everyone’s strengths and highlights to create a killer lineup for the whole series, but also a guaranteed incredible menu each session. There are no sleepers!”
That approach requires far more planning than most guests ever see. According to Castronovo and Falcinelli, preparation for the 2026 series began almost immediately after last year’s events concluded. “We’ve been working on this for months, but we really started thinking about it since last year’s event,” they said. “We asked ourselves how we could make it even better this time around.”
“Like with any event, our main goal is to make sure guests have an incredible time,” Castronovo and Falcinelli added. “It’s all about creating the best experience for them, but also for us. Who do we want hanging out in our backyard? Chefs, pizzaiolos, and pizzerias that we love and admire!”
Guests attending the Pizza Sessions can expect a mix of signature pizzas and collaborative creations developed specifically for the series. “It will be a combination of both,” Castronovo and Falcinelli said. “You’ll see some familiar favorites, all the classics and a few surprises from them and from us.” The result is a menu that balances comfort and discovery, allowing attendees to experience beloved pizzas alongside dishes that may only exist for a single evening.
What continues to resonate most about the Pizza Sessions is the atmosphere. In an industry filled with competitions, rankings and championship belts, F&F has intentionally built something closer to a celebration. “It’s really a special feeling to step outside of your regular routine and do something new and different than your day-to-day,” the organizers said. “So many of these events are more contest-focused, which adds a layer of competitiveness, but the way we’ve set up the Pizza Sessions is more of a celebration.”
That community-minded approach also shapes what Castronovo and Falcinelli hope attendees take away from the experience. “We hope they have an incredible experience that they wouldn’t be able to have otherwise,” they said. “To have the diversity of pizza talent from around the country and the world, it’s an unmatched experience and a real treat we are excited to share with our guests and neighbors on Court Street. We know that we’ll still be buzzing about it over the next few months, and we hope they do too.”
