Virtual Pizza Academy Co-Founder Jim Henry Certified as a 2026 IPC Judge at International Pizza Expo

A Major Milestone for Virtual Pizza Academy

We’re proud to officially announce that Virtual Pizza Academy Co-Founder and Instructor, Jim Henry, has been certified as a 2026 IPC Judge for the prestigious International Pizza Challenge (IPC) at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas coming up March 23-26.

This isn’t just a personal achievement. It’s a milestone for the entire VPA community.

Being selected and certified as a judge for the International Pizza Challenge means Jim will be entrusted with evaluating some of the best pizza makers in the world — from master pizzaioli and seasoned professionals to rising talents competing on one of the industry’s biggest stages.

What Is the International Pizza Challenge (IPC)?

The International Pizza Challenge is the official competition held during the annual International Pizza Expo — the largest pizza industry event in the world.

Each year, thousands of pizza professionals gather in Las Vegas to compete across multiple divisions, including:

Traditional Neapolitan
Non-Traditional
Pan / Sicilian
Detroit Style
Roman
World’s Best Cheese Slice
And more

Judges are carefully selected based on experience, technical knowledge, industry credibility, and demonstrated understanding of pizza craft across styles.

Becoming an IPC Judge isn’t automatic — it requires training, certification, and a deep knowledge of:

Dough fermentation and structure
Bake quality and caramelization
Sauce balance
Cheese application and melt
Structural integrity
Overall harmony and execution

What This Means for Virtual Pizza Academy Students

At VPA, we’ve always believed in teaching pizza at a professional level — whether you’re a home baker or a full-scale pizzeria operator.

Jim’s IPC Judge certification reinforces that commitment.

When you attend a Virtual Pizza Academy class, you’re learning from someone who:

Evaluates pizza at world-championship standards
Understands scoring criteria used at the highest levels
Knows what separates “good” from “award-winning”
Teaches technique based on measurable execution — not guesswork

This elevates everything we do inside VPA’s live and on-demand classes.

Whether it’s:

executing a perfect Detroit-style bake
Neo-Neapolitan fermentation control
Sicilian pan structure
NEPA Pan Fried Sicilian excellence
Or gluten-free texture integrity

You’re learning from an instructor who now sits on the official judging side of the world’s most recognized pizza competition.

The Responsibility of Judging

Judging at the IPC is about more than preference — it’s about precision.

A certified judge must assess:

Technical execution
Proper fermentation
Dough handling
Bake accuracy
Flavor balance
Creativity within category rules
Presentation and structure

Consistency and objectivity are critical. Judges are trained to evaluate with discipline, not bias.

That same structured, criteria-based approach is exactly how we build our curriculum at Virtual Pizza Academy.

From Instructor to Competetor to Judge — The Full Circle Moment

Virtual Pizza Academy was founded on one simple principle:

Elevate pizza education.

From live interactive classes to professional-grade calculators and structured fermentation planning, VPA was built to bridge the gap between:

Free, edited YouTube content
Social media forms “tips”
And true, technical pizza instruction

Jim’s certification as a 2026 IPC Judge represents that bridge becoming even stronger.

It validates the standards we hold inside our classes and reinforces our commitment to teaching at a championship level — not just a hobby level.

Join Us on the Journey to Pizza Expo 2026

The International Pizza Expo takes place annually in Las Vegas and brings together the best in the industry — competitors, educators, suppliers, and innovators.

As we head toward Expo 26, we’ll be sharing: