Italian Pizzaiolo Giorgio Nazir Wins Double World Gold in Pizza Acrobatics & Large Pizza
Giorgio Nazir, a pizzaiolo from Desio, Italy, has been crowned world champion in both acrobatic pizza and large pizza categories at the “Pizza Senza Frontiere” World Championship held in Rimini, Italy, on February 11, 2026.
Nazir’s victory marks a continued ascent for the chef, who has been steadily gaining recognition in international pizza competitions. He secured the two titles at the event, which concluded on January 20, 2026, according to organizers. The awards will be added to the collection at his family’s restaurant, “Il Tramonto,” located on Via XXV Aprile in Desio, where he works alongside his siblings, Marco and Mirna.
The win in the large pizza category held particular significance for Nazir, as it’s a specialty inherited from his father, Antonio. He successfully stretched a 500-gram dough to a diameter of 1.36 meters during the competition. “The large pizza was my father’s specialty, it’s the one I focus on the most,” Nazir stated. The challenge involved skillfully maneuvering the dough for five minutes, continuously expanding its size. Nazir admitted to taking a risk by briefly tossing the dough into the air, a technique he discourages others from attempting, but which ultimately proved successful. A video of his performance quickly went viral on social media.
Nazir also excelled in the pizza acrobatics category, performing a three-minute routine of pizza-based acrobatics. He faced an unexpected challenge when the music for his performance failed to play, forcing him to improvise. “In this case, I had many hitches – he said smiling – The song I had chosen didn’t start and I improvised the performance. It went well,” Nazir recounted.
This latest achievement adds to Nazir’s growing list of accolades, including a recent collective record of 2,147 fried pizzas made in 12 hours, achieved in Locarno, Switzerland, in October. While Nazir admitted he has lost count of the total number of awards he’s received throughout his career, he began competing at a young age, inspired by his father.
Nazir is already preparing for upcoming competitions in Las Vegas in March and Parma, Italy, following the Rimini event. He emphasized the importance of the friendships forged during these competitions, recalling that fellow pizzaioli from around the world attended his wedding just months ago. “Thanks to these competitions, I can travel the world and meet so many people. It’s a wonderful experience,” he said.
The 2026 “Pizza Senza Frontiere” championship, held within the SIGEP World trade fair, drew over 600 pizzaioli from more than 45 countries, with a judging panel of over 100 experts. The competition featured 14 categories, ranging from classic and Neapolitan pizzas to freestyle and pairings with wine, beer, and cocktails.