Mr. Olympia 2026 is heading back to Las Vegas, bringing the world’s best professional bodybuilders together for the ultimate championship in bodybuilding.
The 2026 Olympia Weekend runs from Thursday, September 24 through Sunday, September 27, 2026. The headline Mr. Olympia Finals are scheduled for Saturday, September 26 at 7:00 PM Pacific Time at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
The 2026 event continues the Olympia’s “The Top of the Mountain” positioning, with the competition bringing together elite men’s and women’s divisions, the Olympia World Fitness Expo, and a full weekend of fan events.
Mr. Olympia 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Mr. Olympia 2026 |
| Olympia Weekend | September 24–27, 2026 |
| City | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Mr. Olympia Finals | September 26, 2026 |
| Finals Start | 7:00 PM PT |
| Main Finals Venue | Orleans Arena |
| Expo | Las Vegas Convention Center – South Hall |
| Host Hotel | Palms Casino Resort |
| Sanctioning Body | IFBB Professional League |
| Reigning Mr. Olympia | Derek Lunsford |
The official Olympia schedule states that locations and times are subject to change, so fans should check the official schedule for final updates.
When Is Mr. Olympia 2026?
The 2026 Olympia Weekend begins with official events on September 24 and concludes with the Olympia Champions Seminar on September 27.
The most important date for Men’s Open bodybuilding is:
Saturday, September 26, 2026 — Mr. Olympia Finals
The Saturday Finals begin at 7:00 PM Pacific Time at Orleans Arena.
Mr. Olympia 2026 Time in the USA
Las Vegas is in the Pacific Time Zone.
For the main Saturday Finals:
| U.S. Time Zone | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Pacific Time | 7:00 PM |
| Mountain Time | 8:00 PM |
| Central Time | 9:00 PM |
| Eastern Time | 10:00 PM |
The official schedule gives 7:00 PM PT as the start of Saturday’s Finals. The precise moment that the Men’s Open champion is announced depends on the show’s running order.
Where Is Mr. Olympia 2026?
The 2026 Olympia uses several Las Vegas venues.
Orleans Arena
Orleans Arena is the location for the Friday and Saturday evening Finals.
Address:
4500 W Tropicana Ave
Las Vegas, NV
The Saturday Finals featuring Mr. Olympia begin at 7:00 PM PT.
Las Vegas Convention Center
The Olympia World Fitness Expo will be held in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The Expo is where fans can experience exhibitors, fitness brands and Olympia-related activities in addition to the professional competition.
Palms Casino Resort
The Palms Casino Resort is the official host hotel for Olympia Weekend 2026.
The venue will also host several official events, including the Thursday press conference and Sunday Champions Seminar.
Mr. Olympia 2026 Schedule
Thursday, September 24
Olympia Press Conference
- 12:00 PM PT
- Palms Casino Resort, Pearl Theater
Olympia Superstar Kickoff Party
- 7:00 PM VIP entry
- 8:00 PM general entry
- Palms Pool
Friday, September 25
Olympia World Fitness Expo
- 8:00 AM — VIP Entry
- 9:00 AM — General Entry
- 9:30 AM — Olympia Pre-Judging
Friday morning’s prejudging includes 212 Olympia, Classic Physique, Figure, Women’s Physique, Ms. Olympia and Wellness.
Friday Finals
- 6:00 PM PT
- Orleans Arena
Friday’s evening program includes the finals for several divisions plus Mr. Olympia Pre-Judging.
Saturday, September 26
Olympia World Fitness Expo
- 8:00 AM — VIP Entry
- 9:00 AM — General Entry
- 9:30 AM — Pre-Judging
Saturday morning features Men’s Physique, Fitness, Bikini, Wheelchair and Fit Model.
Saturday Finals
- 7:00 PM PT
- Orleans Arena
The Saturday night program includes Fitness, Men’s Physique, Bikini and Mr. Olympia.
Sunday, September 27
Olympia Champions Seminar
- 11:00 AM PT
- Palms Casino Resort
Who Is Competing in Mr. Olympia 2026?
The official IFBB Pro League competitor page currently lists 22 athletes in the Men’s Open field as of its September 4, 2026 update. The organization notes that the list can change when qualified athletes notify officials that they will not compete.
Current Men’s Open Field
| # | Competitor | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chinedu Obiekea | UAE |
| 2 | Leandro Sencini Peres | Brazil |
| 3 | Tonio Burton | USA |
| 4 | Mohamed Foda | UAE |
| 5 | Jordan Hutchinson | USA |
| 6 | Quinton Eriya | Canada |
| 7 | Martin Fitzwater | USA |
| 8 | Michal Krizanek | Slovakia |
| 9 | Regan Grimes | Canada |
| 10 | Sasan Heirati | UK |
| 11 | James Hollingshead | UK |
| 12 | Damian Kuffel | Poland |
| 13 | Brandon Curry | USA |
| 14 | Sergey Danilov | Russia |
| 15 | Samson Dauda | UK |
| 16 | Patrick Moore | USA |
| 17 | William Bonac | Netherlands |
| 18 | Behrooz Tabani Abarghani | Iran |
| 19 | Edward Kargbo | UAE |
| 20 | Nick Walker | USA |
| 21 | Andrea Presti | Italy |
| 22 | Derek Lunsford | USA |
This list should be updated whenever the official IFBB Pro League competitor page changes.
Derek Lunsford Returns as the Reigning Champion
Derek Lunsford enters the 2026 Olympia as the reigning Mr. Olympia after winning the 2025 Men’s Open title.
The official 2025 IFBB results show Lunsford in first place, ahead of Hadi Choopan, Chinedu Obiekea, Samson Dauda and Martin Fitzwater.
That makes the 2026 contest particularly interesting: Lunsford is attempting to remain at the top while a new generation of challengers pushes for the Sandow Trophy.
Who Are the Biggest Names to Watch?
Several athletes already established in the modern Men’s Open scene are part of the current 2026 lineup.
Derek Lunsford
As the reigning champion, Lunsford is automatically one of the central names in the 2026 conversation.
His biggest advantage is experience at the highest level combined with an established championship pedigree.
Samson Dauda
Dauda has already demonstrated that he can contend for the Olympia title and remains one of the biggest physiques in the lineup.
Nick Walker
Walker brings one of the most distinctive mass-focused physiques in professional bodybuilding and remains one of the division’s biggest attractions.
Brandon Curry
The former Mr. Olympia champion brings championship experience and remains a veteran presence on the Olympia stage.
Martin Fitzwater
Fitzwater has established himself as a serious Men’s Open competitor and is part of an increasingly competitive middle group capable of influencing the final standings.
Chinedu Obiekea
Obiekea finished third at the 2025 Mr. Olympia, placing him among the most important returning athletes in the 2026 field.
What Happened at Mr. Olympia 2025?
The 2025 Men’s Open final standings were:
| Place | Athlete |
|---|---|
| 1 | Derek Lunsford |
| 2 | Hadi Choopan |
| 3 | Chinedu Obiekea |
| 4 | Samson Dauda |
| 5 | Martin Fitzwater |
| 6 | Nick Walker |
| 7 | Brandon Curry |
| 8 | Tonio Burton |
| 9 | William Bonac |
| 10 | Vitalii Ugolnikov |
That previous result provides the immediate competitive backdrop for the 2026 event.
How Do Athletes Qualify for Mr. Olympia 2026?
The 2026 Olympia Qualification System, or OQS, was established by the IFBB Professional League.
The qualification period ran from September 15, 2025 through August 30, 2026.
For Men’s Open bodybuilding, the 2026 system provides qualification to:
- The top three finishers from the 2025 Olympia
- Winners of open qualifying contests during the qualification period
The official rules also provide specific qualification methods for other Olympia divisions, including point-based systems for selected categories.
What Are the Mr. Olympia Rules?
Professional Men’s Open judging follows a structured process.
During prejudging, competitors perform eight mandatory poses:
- Front Double Biceps
- Front Lat Spread
- Side Chest
- Back Double Biceps
- Back Lat Spread
- Side Triceps
- Abdominals and Thighs
- Most Muscular
Each athlete has up to 60 seconds for the individual mandatory-posing presentation. Judges then use comparisons and callouts to evaluate the competitors.
For the Finals, athletes can perform a posing routine of up to three minutes. A 60-second posedown is also part of the final-stage format.
The judging and finals are each worth 50% of the final score.
What Do Judges Look For?
The judging process is designed to compare the athletes’ overall physiques rather than simply rewarding maximum bodyweight.
The presentation emphasizes the overall development shown through mandatory poses, comparisons and stage presentation.
That means the ultimate winner must bring a complete package rather than simply being the biggest athlete onstage.
Mr. Olympia 2026 Prize Money
The Olympia organization says its owner commits nearly $1.7 million in prize money each year across the Olympia structure.
However, the precise 2026 Men’s Open payout should be updated from an official purse announcement rather than relying on unofficial projections.
How to Watch Mr. Olympia 2026
Fans attending Las Vegas can purchase tickets for the Expo and evening Finals through the official Olympia ticketing channels. The official Olympia ticket information confirms Friday and Saturday Finals access as well as Expo passes.
For viewers watching remotely, the official Olympia platform and its event distribution information should be used for the final 2026 viewing details.
Why Mr. Olympia 2026 Matters
Mr. Olympia is more than a bodybuilding contest.
For the athletes, it is the culmination of an entire qualification season. For fans, it is the weekend when months or years of preparation become visible under the brightest possible stage lighting.
The 2026 contest is especially compelling because the current field combines a defending champion with former champions, established veterans and newer contenders.
The central question is simple:
Can Derek Lunsford stay at the top of the mountain, or will a new champion emerge in Las Vegas?
Final Word
Mr. Olympia 2026 will take place in Las Vegas from September 24–27, with the Men’s Open championship scheduled for Saturday, September 26 at 7:00 PM PT.
The competition will unfold at Orleans Arena, while the Olympia World Fitness Expo will operate from the Las Vegas Convention Center and additional official events will take place at the Palms Casino Resort.
The official competitor list remains updateable, but the current lineup already promises another major battle for the Sandow Trophy.
Mr. Olympia 2026: The Top of the Mountain.