Mr. Olympia weekend is here! Bodybuilding fans everywhere wait all year for the biggest weekend in the sport, and now the 62nd annual competition is finally underway. The main competition action kicks off Friday morning, with champions being crowned throughout the day on both Friday and Saturday. The weekend brings together the sport’s biggest names, rising stars, and former champions, all competing for the highly coveted Olympia title.
Last year, Derek Lunsford of the U.S. reclaimed the title for the second time in his career, earning the iconic title and $600,000 prize. The total prize purse for this year remains to be seen, but it’s expected to land somewhere in the ballpark of $1.5 to $2 million. Lunsford is back to reclaim the title this week, facing a competitive lineup with previous champions including Samson Dauda and Brandon Curry.
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What Is Mr. Olympia?
Olympia weekend is an annual multi-sport event of professional bodybuilding and fitness and figure competition, including the Mr. Olympia competition. Basically the Super Bowl of bodybuilding, the weekend brings together the world’s top professional male bodybuilders to compete for the title of Mr. Olympia. Past winners include legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, and Dorian Yates.
The event was created in 1965 by Joe Weider and is judged primarily on muscularity, symmetry, proportions, conditioning, and overall presentation. Competitors qualify through the IFBB Professional League.
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When Is Mr. Olympia?
Olympia weekend is taking place at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Events are already ongoing, but Mr. Olympia events will take place on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26.
Mr. Olympia 2026 Competitors
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Leandro Sencini Peres, Brazil
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Michal Krizanek, Slovakia
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William Bonac, Netherlands
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Behrooz Tabani Abarghani, Iran
Where Can I Watch Mr. Olympia 2026?
Ready to tune in? You can watch for free on OlympiaTV.
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Sep 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Fitness section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
