Acrobatics’ Biggest Stars Head To Pesaro

The world’s leading acrobatic gymnasts are preparing to meet in Italy as the 30th Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships take place in Pesaro from 24–27 September 2026.

The Vitrifrigo Arena will welcome 252 athletes from 30 countries, with competitors entered across five categories: 19 men’s pairs, 18 women’s pairs, 20 mixed pairs, 30 women’s groups and 12 men’s groups.

With 16 world titles available, the championships promise four days of spectacular balances, dynamic routines and closely fought battles.

Ossolodkov Brothers Chase Perfection

The men’s pairs competition could feature the biggest stars of the entire championships.

USA’s Vsevelod and Yaroslav Ossolodkov arrive in Pesaro unbeaten throughout the year. Their perfect record will face serious challenges from Belarusian pair Ilya Famenkou and Raman Khalimonchyk and Ukraine’s Maksym Markovskyi and Vladyslav Repetii.

Also in the field are Azerbaijan’s Daniel Abbasov and Murad Rafiyev, the only defending world champions competing in Pesaro. They captured the Combined and Balance titles at the 2024 World Championships and will be looking to add another chapter to their international success.

Women’s Pairs Bring New Rivalries

The women’s pairs competition is equally intriguing.

Israel’s Rony Cohen and Shiraz Sokolovsky, winners of this year’s World Cup series, enter the championships as one of the teams to watch.

USA’s Willow Noble and Sydney Padios are among their strongest challengers, while Russia’s Svetlana Filipeva and Vasilisa Gavrilina represent an emerging partnership capable of making an impact on the world stage.

World Games Champions Return

Ukraine’s Yevfrosyniia Kryvytska and Ivan Labunets will carry major expectations in the mixed pairs category.

The pair are the only 2025 World Games champions in this category competing in Pesaro. Their height difference can sometimes result in penalties, but they will arrive with proven championship credentials.

Belarusian pair Adryian Trafimovich and Darya Miniuk are among the leading challengers, while Russia’s newcomers Dinara Aisina and Artemii Petrovskii will also be ones to watch.

Women’s Groups Promise Drama

The women’s groups competition is expected to be one of the most competitive events of the championships.

Azerbaijan’s Nazrin Zeyniyeva, Anahita Bashiri and Zahra Rashidova have dominated the World Cup season, winning every World Cup competition they entered this year.

However, their path to gold will not be easy. Groups from Belarus, Great Britain and Russia are all expected to challenge for the medals, setting up a potentially thrilling contest.

Men’s Groups Could Be Closest

Although the men’s groups category is the smallest, with only 12 groups from nine nations, it could produce one of the most exciting battles in Pesaro.

Great Britain, the Russian Federation and Ukraine are each sending two groups, creating plenty of potential for a dramatic showdown.

Russia’s Sergei Kondrachuk, Nikolai Krestnikov, Artem Kuznetsov and Stepan Kulbakin won all three World Cup events they entered this year.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Repetii, Mykola Soroka, Dmytro Borshchevskyi and Mykolai Khasanov also arrive with strong credentials after winning the World Cup series title.

Israel will be another team to watch after winning its only World Cup competition of the year in Rzeszow, Poland.

Four Days, 16 World Titles

The championships will offer 16 titles in total, including a team title awarded after the qualification stage.

The finals will take place during the final two days of competition, when athletes will battle for the Balance, Dynamic and Combined titles across all five categories.

With unbeaten teams, defending champions, World Games winners and rising partnerships all heading to Pesaro, the 2026 Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships are set to showcase both established champions and the next generation of international stars.

Source: article on gymnastics.sport, published August 24, 2026.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer