Italian BJJ Open 2026 Jesolo: TopKimono was there

Italian BJJ Open 2026 in Jesolo: TopKimono was there among the nearly 2000 athletes on the mat

Italian BJJ Open 2026: the biggest Italian BJJ event of the year

From May 15 to 17, 2026, the Palazzo del Turismo in Jesolo (VE) hosted the Italian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships — BJJ Italian Open 2026, the most anticipated event on the UIJJ/FIJLKAM calendar. Three days of mats, nearly 2,000 athletes from all over Italy, competitions in Gi and NoGi disciplines for all classes — Junior, Juvenile, Adult, and Master — from white to black belt.

TopKimono was there. And in this article, we tell you how it went, what we saw on the mat, and what we're taking away from one of Italy's most important BJJ events.

The atmosphere of Jesolo: three days that smell of grappling

Anyone who has been to a BJJ tournament of this size at least once knows that the air has a distinct smell: rubber mats, neoprene, and that collective adrenaline rush that can be felt from the parking lot. The Palazzo del Turismo in Jesolo perfectly contained all of this — spacious, well-organized, with mats on multiple levels and an expo area that hosted brands, academies, and enthusiasts.

Friday, May 15, opened with Junior and Juvenile categories, Saturday, May 16, with Adults in Gi, Sunday, May 17, with Adult and Master NoGi and the finals. The pace was intense, the technical level extremely high.

2,000 athletes, one mental mat: the technical level of Italian BJJ is growing

What is striking when watching an event like the Italian BJJ Open is the qualitative progression of Italian Jiu-Jitsu. Modern guards — spider, lapel, de la riva — are already visible in junior categories. Guard passes have become more systematic. Submissions are increasingly technical and less fortunate.

This is not a minor detail for those of us who work every day to bring quality BJJ equipment to Italian athletes: the higher the level, the greater the demand for technical gis, high-performance rashguards, and specific accessories. People no longer buy the first gi they come across. They look for the right gi.

TopKimono at the Italian BJJ Open: our presence

For us, the Italian BJJ Open 2026 was not just an event to watch — it was a direct point of contact with the Italian BJJ community. We met athletes, instructors, and enthusiasts who know our products on the mat better than anyone else.

We spoke with practitioners who told us how a Tatami Gi performs after 18 months of daily training (spoiler: it holds up very well), with someone wearing HalfSumo shorts during the NoGi warm-up, and with academies looking for supplies for their teams.

Being physically present at events like this allows us to understand what really works on the mat — not just on paper.

What athletes wore: trends seen in Jesolo

Three days of competition allowed for an interesting observation of what athletes wear when the stakes are high:

• Dominant white gis in Adult finals: tradition holds. White remains the preferred color in the final stages, especially among higher belts.

• Long-sleeve rashguards predominant in NoGi: protection from mat abrasions, especially on the knees. The trend towards technical rashguards in 4-way stretch fabric is clear.

• Spats under the gi increasingly common: the trend of wearing spats under gi pants — for protection and muscle compression — continues to grow.

• Lightweight gis in weight categories: in categories where every gram counts, ultra-light pearl weave gis are king.

Upcoming BJJ events on the calendar: don't be caught unprepared

The Italian BJJ Open was the big event of May, but the Italian BJJ calendar is packed. Among the next events to mark:

For every competition, the gi must be in order: IBJJF approved, correct color, compliant measurements. If you need a new gi or a rashguard for NoGi for the next competition, don't wait until the last minute.

Conclusion: Jesolo 2026, a memorable event

The Italian BJJ Open 2026 in Jesolo was everything expected: great organization, high technical level, unique atmosphere. Nearly 2,000 athletes competed for three days with passion, respect, and quality Jiu-Jitsu.

For TopKimono, events like this are pure fuel. They remind us why we do what we do: to bring the right BJJ equipment to Italian athletes, so they can focus only on what matters — the mat.

See you at the next competition.