National Sausage Pizza Day
Order a sausage pie on National Sausage Pizza Day. This informal October 11 food date sits inside National Pizza Month and is for pizza topped with sausage — fennel-scented Italian pork on a New York slice, crumbled sausage on a Chicago tavern pie, or whatever your shop actually puts on the dough.
About National Sausage Pizza Day
History & origins
National Sausage Pizza Day falls on October 11. It is an informal U.S. food observance rather than an official government holiday, and the exact founder is unclear. Day-tracking calendars list the date without a documented founding event. Treat any viral “who invented the day” story as unverified unless a primary source appears.
The topping is older than the calendar square. Italian-American pork sausage, often seasoned with fennel or anise, became a standard pizza topping in the United States as pizzerias spread in the twentieth century. Lombardi’s in New York City, licensed in 1905, is the shop most often cited as the first licensed U.S. pizzeria; sausage was among the toppings American shops later made ordinary. October has been promoted as National Pizza Month since 1984, when Gerry Durnell of Pizza Today created the month to mark the magazine’s first issue; Congress recognized October as National Pizza Month in 1987.
This page is not National Pizza Day, not National Pepperoni Pizza Day, and not National Tavern-Style Pizza Day (October 22). Sausage is the topping; tavern-style is a crust and a cut.
Why it matters
Pizza month is crowded. A sausage-specific date is useful only if it stays specific: one topping, regional sausage styles, and a reminder that “pizza” is not a single American object. It is also a reason to support a local shop instead of a generic chain promo.
How to celebrate
Order a sausage pizza from a pizzeria that makes its own sausage if you can find one. Try Italian fennel sausage on a thin crust, or a Midwest tavern pie with sausage crumbled to the edge. Make one at home with a simple dough, crushed tomatoes, mozzarella, and browned sausage. Compare pork sausage with chicken or plant-based sausage if that is what you eat. Keep pepperoni for another night. Share the pie, not a ranking of cities.
Facts
- The food-day founder is unclear; treat the October 11 date as an informal calendar custom
- October is National Pizza Month, created in 1984 by Gerry Durnell of Pizza Today
- Italian-American pork sausage with fennel is a classic U.S. pizza topping
- Lombardi’s in New York City (1905) is the shop most often cited as the first licensed U.S. pizzeria
- This day is not the same as National Tavern-Style Pizza Day on October 22
Upcoming dates
- Sunday, October 11, 2026
- Monday, October 11, 2027
- Wednesday, October 11, 2028
- Thursday, October 11, 2029
- Friday, October 11, 2030
Frequently asked questions
When is National Sausage Pizza Day in 2026?
National Sausage Pizza Day in 2026 falls on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
What is National Sausage Pizza Day?
It is an informal food observance for pizza topped with sausage. It falls during National Pizza Month in the United States. It is not a government holiday.
Who started National Sausage Pizza Day?
The exact founder is unclear. The October 11 food day is an informal observance, and major calendars list the date without a documented founder.
How do you celebrate National Sausage Pizza Day?
A simple way to celebrate is to order or bake a sausage pizza. Look for a shop that seasons its own sausage, and try a regional style you do not usually buy.
Is National Sausage Pizza Day an official holiday?
No. It is not a U.S. federal holiday. It is a food calendar date inside Pizza Month, not a day off.
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