National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day

National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day is celebrated every year on November 12. It is a day for pizza lovers who want it all — pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, onions, olives, sausage, and every other topping in the book — with one famous exception: anchovies. On National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day, the order is a fully loaded pizza, piled high with everything, minus the little fish that divide pizza lovers like no other topping.

What is National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day?

At its heart, National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day celebrates the “everything” pizza — the supreme, the deluxe, the works. It is the pizza for people who cannot choose just one topping, so they choose them all. Every pizzeria has its own version of the fully loaded pie, but the idea is the same: a generous combination of meats, vegetables, and cheeses, baked together into one glorious, over-the-top creation.

The parenthetical is the whole joke — and the whole point. Anchovies, the small, salty preserved fish, are perhaps the most divisive topping in the pizza world. People tend to love them or loathe them, with very little middle ground. National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day takes a playful stance in that great debate: load the pizza with absolutely everything, and leave the anchovies off.

Why National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day matters

On the surface, National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day is pure fun — and that is exactly why it matters. Food holidays give us a reason to gather, to share a meal, and to turn an ordinary weeknight into a small occasion. Pizza is one of the world’s great communal foods, made for sharing, and a day dedicated to the most extravagant version of it is an invitation to enjoy dinner together.

The day also celebrates one of the friendliest debates in food culture. Ask a group of friends about anchovies on pizza and you will get instant, passionate opinions — which is precisely the fun of it. National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day gives everyone a chance to argue their side, defend their favourite toppings, and bond over the eternal question of what truly belongs on a pizza.

How to celebrate National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day

Here are some delicious ways to mark the day:

• Order a fully loaded pizza — hold the anchovies — call your favourite pizzeria and order their supreme, deluxe, or “everything” pizza. On National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day, the only rule is: everything on it, except anchovies.
• Make your own everything pizza — buy a base or make dough from scratch, then raid the fridge. Pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, onions, olives, sausage, extra cheese — if you have it, put it on.
• Host a pizza night — invite friends over, order several loaded pizzas, and let the topping debate begin. It is the perfect low-effort, high-fun way to celebrate.
• Try a topping you have never had — the spirit of National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day is maximalism. Use it as an excuse to try that topping you always skip.
• Take the anchovy poll — ask your friends, family, or followers where they stand on anchovies. Love them or loathe them, everyone has an opinion worth hearing.

National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day: frequently asked questions

When is National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day?
National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day is celebrated every year on November 12.

What counts as “everything” on a pizza?
There is no official list — “everything” means a generous combination of the pizzeria’s toppings, typically including several meats, vegetables, and plenty of cheese. On National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day, the more toppings the better.

Why are anchovies excluded?
Anchovies are one of the most divisive pizza toppings, loved by some and disliked by many. The day playfully sides with the majority: everything on the pizza, except anchovies.

Can anchovy lovers still celebrate?
Absolutely — the day is all in good fun. Anchovy fans can enjoy the everything pizza with everyone else, and add their beloved topping to a slice on the side if they wish.

Related observances

National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day is one of twelve observances on this date. Read more about November 12 on November 12 Holidays, Observances and History.