Nailympia announces Sicily as a new competition location for 2026

Nail competition brand, Nailympia, has continued its dynamic expansion with the announcement of its 14th international location – this time landing in the breathtaking surroundings of Catania, proudly representing Italy on the Nailympia world stage.

Taking place 28–30 November, Nailympia Sicily will be hosted at the elegant Grand Villa Itria, offering competitors a luxurious setting paired with iconic Mediterranean views.

A competition designed to inspire

The event will showcase 17 competitions: 11 in the arena alongside six hand-in categories, ensuring opportunities for every level and style of nail professional. Nailympia global director, Alex Fox, shares: “It’s a very happy day when we get to announce a new location for Nailympia – and even more exciting when it is born in such a stunning destination with Mediterranean views. This will be a three-day event packed full of competitions with something for everyone.

“There will be 12 trophies awarded, including the 5th Euro Cup, which takes its first round of scores from Nailympia London just six weeks prior. What a great way to end the Nailympia 2026 circuit – inside a stunning European hotel event space. See you… and ciao for now.”

Erika Nortier

From competitor to host: Erika Nortier’s vision

At the heart of Nailympia Sicily is its passionate new host, Erika Nortier, whose journey with the competition began in 2019 as a competitor. Reflecting on her new role, Erika cites: “I’m deeply honoured to be appointed as the official organiser of Nailympia Sicily – a milestone that represents not only a personal achievement, but a significant moment for the nail industry in Italy.” Having experienced the competition firsthand, Erika brings a unique perspective, noting: “My journey in this industry began many years ago as a competitor, where I had the privilege of experiencing the intensity, discipline and passion that define the Nailympia arena.”

With a vision firmly rooted in elevating the competitor experience, she adds: “Those years shaped my understanding of what competitors truly need – not only in terms of technical excellence, but also support, fairness, inspiration and recognition.”

Elevating Italy on the global stage

With a clear mission, Erika is focused on delivering an exceptional platform. “Today, I bring my experience forward with a clear vision: to create an exceptional competition platform that elevates artists, celebrates creativity and upholds the highest international standards. This goal is met with Nailympia Sicily,” she claims, “It’s an opportunity to showcase the extraordinary talent within our country, while connecting Italy to a global community of world-class professionals.”

She concludes with a powerful statement of intent: “With the same passion, dedication and commitment that once drove me as a competitor, I now step into this role as organiser with purpose, vision and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”

Zrinka Vuksan Bolancha – Canada/Croatia makes her debut as head judge in Sicliy.

Highly respected international competitor and long-standing judge, Zrinka Vuksan Bolanča, will step into her debut role as head judge for the Sicilian edition. Representing Canada and proudly honouring her Croatian roots, Zrinka brings years of Nailympia experience to this prestigious position. She will be joined by a panel of familiar global judges, soon to be announced.

A spectacular finale to the Nailympia season

As the Nailympia calendar builds towards its European finale, Sicily promises to deliver not only a world-class competition, but an unforgettable cultural and visual experience. From rising stars to seasoned champions, all nail eyes will turn to Catania this November – where creativity, craftsmanship and community all meet under the Mediterranean sun.

Registration opens soon. Register your interest in competing, here. 

www.nailympiasicily.com

Competitor Spotlight…Francesca Paliotto Wins the 3rd Nailympia European Cup 2024

In 2024, Francesca Paliotto claimed the prestigious title of the 3rd Nailympia European Cup winner, receiving her award on the esteemed Nailympia London stage. This competition, renowned for its rigorous evaluation and judging criteria, determines its European champion based on scores from four key categories: Stiletto, Joy of Nails, Salon Nails and Reality Nails.

The Nailympia European Cup rotates across major beauty industry events, with active locations currently at Nailympia Germany hosted by Beauty Düsseldorf and the UK’s Nailympia London hosted at Pro Beauty Autumn 2025). The cup is presented at the London event, solidifying the competition’s status as a pinnacle of excellence in the nail industry.

Hailing from Ferrara, a city in northern Italy, Francesca’s journey into the world of nails began at just 12 years old, driven by pure passion. Six years ago, she took a significant step by opening her own nail studio, marking the start of her professional career. Her dedication to the craft led her to train with various educators, but she credits her mentor, Italy’s award-winning Deborah Cocco, as a fundamental influence in her journey through nail competitions.

“I love everything about nails, from the simplest salon manicures to the most technical and complex works,” Francesca shares. Her success in competitions is rooted in her relentless training, keen attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement. She believes that every small mistake presents an opportunity to refine her skills further.

Francesca finds immense motivation in competing against the best nail artists worldwide. “Meeting and comparing myself with top competitors is invaluable – you always learn something new,” she says. Her advice to aspiring competitors is clear, “Train hard and always believe in your abilities.”

Winning the Nailympia European Cup is a milestone that Francesca holds dear, as it symbolises the rewards of her hard work and sacrifices. This achievement has significantly contributed to her personal and professional growth, reinforcing her belief in perseverance and dedication.

Francesca has a particular preference for UV hard gel and acrygel systems, as they were the first techniques she mastered and feels most comfortable working with. Looking ahead, she plans to expand her academy’s training courses and participate in more competitions, though she prefers to embrace opportunities as they come rather than plan too rigidly.

Francesca remains optimistic about the future of the nail industry, believing that it will continue to evolve with innovative techniques. One thing is certain – she will keep competing, as the experience not only enhances her skills but also brings an unmatched sense of accomplishment and excitement.

 

After dedicating the past two years to competitions, Francesca acknowledges the challenges but affirms, “Even though it was hard, I did it.” With her unwavering determination and love for the craft, there is no doubt that she will continue to leave her mark on the global nail competition scene. We look forward to seeing more stunning nail work from Francesca in 2025.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558412801294

IG: francesca.paliotto

 

Meet – Aliz Dora Toth – Italy / Hungary

Get to Know a Nailympia Expert…

Name: Alìz Dòra Tòth

Business name: Aliz_D

Location: Lake Garda, Italy

Nationality: Hungarian

Who Trained You: Gabriella Kovacs, Zsuzsanna Fekete, Natalya Larina.

Years in Nails: 26 years

Years Judging: 10 years

Nail Brand You Represent/Use: Truscada

Role in Industry: Educator, ambassador and distributor

Favourite Trade Exhibition: Cosmoprof

Favourite Nail Tool: My recent invention – aluminium support to put under the nail form

Favourite Book: Anna Karenina by Tolstoy

Favourite Movie: Lord of the Rings

Favourite Food: Many varieties, but I love làngos, a typical Hungarian fried bread eaten for breakfast with garlic.

Favourite Vacation Destination: Mountains forever!

Your Hobbies: Wakeboarding, snowboarding, studying & my job as a stylist & creative director

What Inspires Your Work: Perfection.

Who You Admire In Industry: Marian Newman.

Top Technique You’ve Mastered: Everything to do with structure.

 Advice to Competitors: Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the rules, if something is not clear.

Hot Tip or Trick for Competitors: Choose the right model, not only for the hands, but importantly for her personality too.

What Lockdown Has Taught You: Happiness.

A Funny Memory From Your Nail Desk: I have many, but the strangest happened during a training session, my student put the nail form on top of the nail up to the cuticle area, then asked me where to put the gel. This was funniest and scariest experience of my career.

 An Affirmation You Love: Elegance is not about being noticed, it’s about being remembered.

Why Nailympia: I feel it’s the maximum level you can participate in on the global competition circuit.

 

 

Instagram: @aliz_d   @truscadaitalia

Facebook: Aliz Dora Toth

TikTok: @alizdora

 

Meet – Milena Mingozzi – Italy

Get to Know a Nailympia Expert in 23 Steps… 

NAME: Milena Mingozzi

Business name: I’m ROXY

Location: Italy

Nationality: Italian

Who Trained You: I attended my basic preparation and nail art courses with the greatest nail artists in the world: Malsaeva, Shanskaya, Sacripante, Bonvicini, Trang Nguyen, Khabelkaeva … and many others.

Years in Nails: 31 years

Years Judging: 5 years

Nail Brand You Represent/Use: I’m Roxy

Role in Industry: Master nail art educator, competition coach & mentor

 

Favourite Trade Exhibition: Cosmoprof Bologna

Favourite Nail Tool: Sculpting brush and my L&P acrylic powder system

Favourite Book: Divine Comedy

Favourite Movie: Pride & Prejudice

Favourite Food: Fish & chips

Favourite Vacation Destination: When with family – everywhere

Your Hobbies: Model making, doing puzzles, embroidery & gardening

 

What Inspires Your Work: The world around me, nature, colours & the wind.

Who You Admire In Industry: Alex Fox, Malsaeva, Khabelkaeva, Bonvicini.

Top Technique You’ve Mastered: Nail & 3D sculpture

Hot Tip or Trick for Competitors: Always believe in it and never give up. Participate in competitions, always observe other’s at work, because with your eyes you can steal the secrets of the trade.

A memory from the nail desk: A client, a long time ago, asked if she could move the nail extensions back and forth every day!

An Affirmation You Love: Always love never hate.

Why Nailympia: It has always been the most important nail competition circuit in Europe. It’s the one which the whole nail world watches, and which many have used as an example and benchmark when organising their own national events.

Instagram: Milena.Mingozzi

Facebook: Milena Mingozzi