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Mr. Olympia 2026 Classic Physique Preview: Can Ramon Dino Hold Off Mike Sommerfeld Again?

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One point. That’s what separated Ramon Queiroz from Mike Sommerfeld in Las Vegas last October — the closest finish in any division on the card.

They meet again on September 25, and this time Sommerfeld comes in with a victory over the man who defeated them both at the Arnold Classic. Ramón “Dino” Queiroz enters as champion, and has spent the entire year in top form.

Classic Physique is decided during Friday evening’s show at the Orleans Arena. Here’s where it stands.

Ramon Dino: The Champion Who Waited

Queiroz was the division’s perennial runner-up for years. Two silver medals behind Chris Bumstead, a fourth place in 2024, four top-five Olympia finishes without the win.

When Bumstead retired and the title went vacant, he took it — beating Sommerfeld and Terrence Ruffin to become only the fourth Classic Physique Olympia champion in history. The crowd came off their feet when his name was called. The prize was $100,000, double what the division paid the year before.

What set him apart in the final wasn’t his size, but his physique and presentation. He appeared more defined and muscular than in the earlier morning’s evaluation, and the judges rewarded him for it.

His approach to 2026 has been different from most defending champions. Instead of building muscle mass and then cutting it, he has maintained a lean physique throughout the season. During preparation, he measured his forearms at 43 centimeters (17 inches), and on August 19, he posted an update showing minimal body fat with approximately five and a half weeks to go before the competition.

Furthermore, head judge Steve Weinberger formally evaluated his physique and posing, a wise decision that demonstrates he is serious about his rematch against Sommerfeld.

Case for: Reigning champion, world-class arms, and a poser whose front double biceps and lat spread hold up against shorter, thicker rivals. Case against: Weinberger has indicated back improvements will decide this defense, and Wesley Vissers claims Ramon is carrying more weight right now than he should be this close in.

Mike Sommerfeld: Twice Second, and the Weight Cap Problem

Nobody in the division has been closer to a title without winning one. Runner-up in 2024, runner-up in 2025, and that second one by a single point.

He earned it in brutal circumstances. Sommerfeld had to drop 14 pounds in two days before the 2025 show to make the Classic Physique weight cap — and still brought what commentators called his best-ever package. Veins visible, hamstrings sharp, a front lat spread that was the single best shot of the round.

That weight cap is the recurring theme of his career, and in 2026 it cost him outright. He missed the limit at the Arnold Classic in Columbus and had to withdraw before stepping onstage.

For those who don’t closely follow this division: Classic Physique establishes a maximum competition weight based on each athlete’s height. This rule prevents the division from becoming an open competition. Tall, powerfully built athletes like Sommerfeld are always at a disadvantage.

He bounced back in Birmingham, defeating Wesley Vissers at the Arnold Classic UK. And, interestingly, Vissers later stated that Sommerfeld’s physique there was the best he had ever shown, more defined than when he faced Bumstead, and a step above Ramon’s.

Arguments for: Two years of missed opportunities, the best physique of his career, and the psychological advantage of the Birmingham victory. Arguments against: The weight cut. He has to make weight before he can prove his worth.

Wesley Vissers: The Wildcard

The Dutchman rebuilt his year and inserted himself straight back into the conversation.

After a poor 2025, he added leg thickness and definition in the off-season and cashed it in immediately — winning the 2026 Arnold Classic in Columbus, then the Detroit Pro decisively. He lost narrowly to Sommerfeld at the Arnold UK, but the momentum is real.

He’s also beaten Ramon before, at the 2024 Arnold Classic, which nobody saw coming at the time.

Dennis James rates his chances but set a hard condition: Vissers needs to be 100%, because 99% isn’t enough. The reasoning is structural — Vissers is one of the tallest men in the division, and while his waist isn’t the smallest, the way he displays his physique is about as classic as the division gets. Height and width only work if the conditioning is flawless.

Vissers himself has been more measured than his rivals, saying he’s confident of winning an Olympia within the next three years rather than claiming this one.

The Rest of the Field

Terrence Ruffin finished third in 2025 after a year away from the stage, looking polished and arguably at his peak. He is widely considered the best poser in the IFBB Pro League, a division where presentation is a crucial factor, especially compared to other categories.

Josema Munoz was fourth, and brought the hardest condition outside the top three. Niall Darwen was fifth with the fine, tapered line a lot of purists prefer.

Beyond them, Andrea Mammoli, Terrence Ruffin, Piotr Wojtowicz and Wesley Vissers are all through, along with around twenty others — and because Classic Physique is a points division, the field grows again when standings lock on 30 August.

The Verdict

This is the most closely contested fight for the top two spots in the sport right now, and the subplot is minimal.

If Sommerfeld makes weight without issue, he’ll be fresher than he was in 2025 and with a victory over the Arnold Classic champion under his belt. This is a completely different Sommerfeld than the one who lost by a point after a two-day water restriction.

If he struggles again, Ramon has already proven he can win from the middle of a three-way contest, and he’s had a full year to recover from the back injury Weinberger pointed out.

Keep an eye on the pre-judgment comparisons for Friday. In 2025, the judges rotated Ramon, Sommerfeld, and Ruffin around the center repeatedly without revealing their intentions, and the title wasn’t decided until late in the evening. Expect the same thing to happen again.

Read More: Mr. Olympia 2026 Men’s Physique Preview

Quick Answers

Who is the reigning Classic Physique Olympia champion? Ramon Rocha “Dino” Queiroz of Brazil, who won his first title in 2025.

How close was the 2025 Classic Physique Olympia? Ramon Queiroz beat Mike Sommerfeld by one point — the narrowest result on the card.

Why did Mike Sommerfeld miss the 2026 Arnold Classic? He failed to make the Classic Physique weight cap and withdrew before competing. He won the Arnold Classic UK later in the season.

Who won the 2026 Arnold Classic in Classic Physique? Wesley Vissers, who followed it with a win at the Detroit Pro.

When is the Classic Physique final? Friday 25 September at the Orleans Arena, as part of the evening show.

Contest results and athlete updates verified across multiple reports on 22 August 2026. The Classic Physique field is not final until qualification closes on 30 August — we’ll update this preview then.

Mr. Olympia 2026 Men’s Physique Preview: Can Ryan Terry Tie Jeremy Buendia’s Record?

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Ryan Terry has won the last three Men’s Physique Olympia titles. If he wins one more, he will tie Jeremy Buendia’s record of four titles, the number that has defined this division since its inception.

Here’s what makes it interesting. Buendia isn’t competing this September. He’s sitting it out and publicly handicapping the race, including whether his own record survives it.

Finals are Saturday 26 September at the Orleans Arena. Here’s where the division stands.

Ryan Terry: Chasing Number Four

Terry has been the most reliable man in Men’s Physique for three years. Tight waist, balanced proportions, and the Superman pose that’s become his signature.

He earned his third title through sheer hard work. The 2025 final pitted him against four former champions: Erin Banks, Brandon Hendrickson, and Buendia, who had returned to the competition. Ali Bilal, meanwhile, had noticeably improved his physique, the same physique that had earned him the silver medal. The fight became a four-way battle. Terry responded with a visibly broader back and the excellent physical condition that has characterized him for a decade. Bilal took second place for the second year in a row, while Hendrickson finished third.

His 2026 prep has been public and detailed, right down to a 4,852-calorie day of eating he shared during the build.

Buendia’s read on him is generous and blunt at the same time. He says Terry is bringing his all-time best, that Terry wants number four, that he wants to tie him — and that it’s been a goal of his for a long time. If it happens, Buendia says he’ll be the first to congratulate him.

Case for: Three straight titles, a judging panel that clearly rewards his package, and no obvious weakness. Case against: He’s now the target for a lineup that’s deeper than any he’s faced.

Kyron Holden: The Pick Everyone’s Making

If there’s an upset in this division, the money is on Holden.

He won the 2016 Pittsburgh Pro, and since then, the reaction to his physique has only grown. Fouad Abiad directly compared the two and favored Holden, stating that he prefers his waist, considering it smaller and better structured, and describing his chest, shoulder, and back muscles as more voluminous. His verdict was emphatic: Terry has a problem, and if Holden maintains that same physique at the Olympia, he will beat him.

Three days ago, Nick Walker went even further on the Men’s Physique Radio podcast, stating that if Holden shows up with the same physique he had in Pittsburgh, he will win the competition, and that he doesn’t even need to change anything, just replicate it.

Buendia agrees Holden can win, though he framed it as conditional: bring the Pittsburgh package, or the look from Legion in 2022, and there’s a real chance at a first Olympia title.

When the man whose record is at stake, a former Arnold champion, and a current Open contender all independently name the same challenger, that’s worth paying attention to.

Case for: The best structure in the division right now, and momentum from a major win. Case against: He has never done it on the Olympia stage. Peaking in May is not peaking in September.

Ali Bilal: Twice the Bridesmaid

Bilal has finished runner-up to Terry in each of the last two years. Nobody in the division has been closer without winning.

The Afghan-born athlete keeps improving year on year, and he arrives with the clearest possible motivation. Buendia has him in his top four. Two second places usually means one of two things — a ceiling, or a breakthrough coming. This is the year that question gets answered.

The Former Champions

Brandon Hendrickson is a three-time champion who took third in 2025. He’s still in the top-four conversation and has beaten most of this field at some point.

Erin Banks won the 2022 title and finished third in 2024. Across 19 recorded pro contests he has nine wins — a 47% win rate — plus two Arnold Classic titles. He’s shut down retirement talk more than once.

Jeremy Buendia is the one who isn’t here. The four-time champion sits on 10 points in the season standings, well outside qualifying range. The record-holder is watching from the sidelines while the man chasing his record gets his shot.

The Field Is Still Growing

Men’s Physique is a points division under the 2026 rules, which means the lineup isn’t final.

Athletes need two pro wins or a top-25 points finish to qualify. Roughly two dozen have secured places outright, and more will be added when the standings lock on 30 August. Emanuel Hunter and Emerson Costa have been leading the points chase, with Isai Kesek and Heng Zhao close behind.

That’s why the division keeps getting called one of the most stacked in its history — the qualified list is deep before the points additions even land.

The Verdict

Terry is the reigning champion and the favorite, having overcome every challenge for three consecutive years. But the buzz surrounding Holden isn’t just amateur hype; it comes from professional physique judges, and they all agree.

Don’t miss Saturday morning’s preliminary round. The Men’s Physique title is decided in the comparisons, where waist and shoulder-to-waist ratios are meticulously analyzed. If Holden is next to Terry in the first round and holds his own, the record will truly be on the line.

If not, Terry ties Buendia and the division has a new benchmark.

Check Out: Men’s Open Preview and Qualified Athletes

Quick Answers

Who is the reigning Men’s Physique Olympia champion? Ryan Terry, who has won three consecutive titles.

What is the Men’s Physique Olympia record? Four titles, held by Jeremy Buendia. Terry can tie it in September.

Is Jeremy Buendia competing in 2026? No. He didn’t qualify and has been sharing predictions instead.

Who is the biggest threat to Ryan Terry? Kyron Holden, the 2026 Pittsburgh Pro champion, named as the main challenger by Buendia, Nick Walker and Fouad Abiad.

When is the Men’s Physique final? Saturday 26 September at the Orleans Arena, with pre-judging that morning at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Contender information verified across contest reporting and athlete statements on 21 August 2026. The Men’s Physique field is not final until qualification closes on 30 August — we’ll update this preview then.

Mr. Olympia 2026 Tickets: VIP Packages Sold Out — Here’s What’s Still Available

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If you were planning to attend the Olympia as a VIP this year, unfortunately, that’s no longer possible. All three packages are sold out: Silver ($995), Silver Plus ($1095), and Gold ($1199). All are listed as sold out on the official website.

The Gold package is the most problematic. It will be allocated first to last year’s Gold VIPs, and the organizers have confirmed that no new participants will be added to the Gold waiting list in 2026. The list is already too long.

The good news is that the most sought-after tickets are still available, and they’re cheaper than you might think.

What’s Still Available

Friday and Saturday finals — both on sale now through the Orleans Arena, starting at $79 plus tax and fees.

Friday at 6:00 pm crowns Figure, Women’s Physique, Wellness, 212, Ms. Olympia and Classic Physique — plus Mr. Olympia pre-judging. Saturday at 7:00 pm is Fitness, Men’s Physique, Bikini and Mr. Olympia.

Expo passes — Friday, Saturday or full weekend, for the Olympia World Fitness Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center. There’s also a limited Expo Elite tier that gets you seating at the expo stage, which is where the morning pre-judging happens.

Amateur Olympia — 22–23 September at the Palms, on sale through AXS.

Active Duty Military Go Free

It’s worth knowing about, even though it’s not widely known.

The Olympia offers free tickets to the finals on Friday and Saturday, as well as free passes to the weekend exhibition, to active-duty military personnel and one guest. This program, started by the late Ben Weider, has been running for about 25 years.

There are two conditions: tickets are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and can only be collected in person at the Olympia’s VIP and Military Box Office in the Palms. Tickets are not reserved or mailed in advance. Once the tickets for the finals are sold out, an announcement is made, although passes for the exhibition continue to be distributed afterward.

Don’t Buy From Resellers

Here’s the part that will save you real money.

Face value on the finals starts at $79. On resale sites right now, Friday is listed from around $134 and Saturday from around $188. That’s roughly double face value for Saturday, for a show that hasn’t come close to selling out.

Buy through the Orleans Arena or the links on the official Olympia site. Every year brings a wave of fake ticket pages and social-media sellers around this event, and every year people get burned.

If you already hold a VIP package and can’t go, transfers are allowed — but no transfers after 28 August, no exceptions. VIP packages are non-refundable otherwise.

Practical Things People Miss

Bags. One personal bag per person, no bigger than 12″ × 12″ × 6″. No backpacks.

Screenshots don’t work. Digital ticket screenshots will not be accepted at the door. Have the live ticket in your wallet app.

Cameras yes, video no. Personal cameras are fine, but no tripods or monopods, and filming is prohibited.

Getting around. Three venues are in play — Palms, Convention Center and Orleans Arena — and they’re spread across the city. A free shuttle runs between them, first-come first-served.

Hotel. The Palms is the official host hotel with a discounted room block, but it’s a limited number of rooms.

Quick Answers

Are Mr. Olympia 2026 tickets still available? Yes. Finals and expo tickets are on sale. Only the VIP packages have sold out.

How much are Mr. Olympia 2026 tickets? Finals start at $79 plus tax and fees. Expo passes are sold separately by day or weekend.

Are VIP packages coming back? Not for 2026. All three tiers are sold out and the Gold waiting list is closed to new names.

Where do I buy official tickets? Through the official Olympia tickets page, which links to the Orleans Arena for finals and the expo passes portal.

Does an expo pass get me into the finals? No. They’re separate tickets. The expo pass covers the convention centre, including morning pre-judging.

Prices and availability confirmed on the official Olympia site on 15 August 2026. Ticket prices and event times are subject to change — check the official checkout before paying.

Mr. Olympia 2026 Qualified Athletes: Full List for All 12 Divisions

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The 2026 Olympia qualifying season closes on 30 August, and as of today 219 athletes have booked their place across the twelve divisions.

That number is going to change. Several divisions are still holding qualifiers, and four of them—Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Bikini, and Wellness—will have a large number of athletes qualifying on the final day, when the season points are awarded.

Below is the list of all athletes who have qualified by division, as published by the IFBB Pro League, along with an explanation of how the qualification process works in each division. The system isn’t the same for all twelve divisions, and that often causes confusion each year.

Last verified: 11 August 2026. We refresh this page as new names are added.

How Qualification Works in 2026

The IFBB Pro League brought back a points system for this season, and it split the divisions into three different tracks.

Track 1 — Win and you’re in

Applies to: Men’s Open, 212, Ms. Olympia (Women’s Bodybuilding), Fitness, Figure, Women’s Physique and Fit Model.

It’s simple. You qualify by placing in the top three at the 2025 Olympia or by winning any open professional competition during the qualifying period. Women’s bodybuilding also includes the top three finishers from the Rising Phoenix.

No points, no maths. Win a show, you’re going to Vegas.

Track 2 — Two wins or top 25 points

Applies to: Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Bikini and Wellness.

This is the big change, and it exists for a reason. Some divisions had reached as many as 60 athletes qualified for the 2025 edition. Olympia President Dan Solomon presented the reform as a way to protect Olympia’s prestige while maintaining its status as a true world championship in all divisions of the league.

Under the new system, a single win no longer guarantees anything in these four divisions. Athletes need two pro wins, or a top-25 finish in the season points standings.

There is one exception. Winning the Arnold Classic (USA), Pittsburgh Pro, New York Pro, Romania Muscle Fest Pro or Dubai Pro still qualifies you outright. Those five are treated as majors.

The points scale reflects that tiering:

Placing Olympia The five majors All other pro shows
1st Auto Auto 10
2nd Auto 14 4
3rd Auto 11 3
4th 12 9 2
5th 10 7 1

Practically, that means a Bikini or Classic Physique athlete has spent this season competing far more often than an Open bodybuilder — chasing either a second win or enough points to survive the top-25 cut.

Track 3 — Wheelchair

Men’s Wheelchair keeps its own structure: top three from the 2025 Olympia, every pro contest winner during the season, and the top five in the points standings. Non-winners score 10 points for second, down to 7 for fifth.

The lifetime rule

Former Olympia champions have lifetime eligibility, but it’s not automatic. If more than five years have passed since their last Olympia victory, they need approval to compete.

Qualification window: 15 September 2025 to 30 August 2026.

Men’s Open — 22 Qualified

The headline division, and the one with the least complicated path in.

Athlete Country
Behrooz Tabani Abarghani Iran
William Bonac Netherlands
Tonio Burton USA
Hadi Choopan* Iran
Shaun Clarida USA
Michael Condell USA
Brandon Curry* USA
Sergey Danilov Russia
Samson Dauda* UK
Quinton Eriya Canada
Martin Fitzwater USA
Mohamed Foda UAE
Sasan Heirati UK
James Hollingshead UK
Jordan Hutchinson USA
Edward Kargbo UAE
Michal Krizanek Slovakia
Damian Kuffel Poland
Derek Lunsford* USA
Chinedu Obiekea UAE
Leandro Sencini Peres Brazil
Andrea Presti Italy

* Former Mr. Olympia champion

Two notes on names. Chinedu Obiekea is the athlete you know as Andrew Jacked, and Michal Krizanek competes as Michal Krizo. Both appear under their legal names on the official list, which confuses fans every single year.

Recent additions: Nick Walker sealed his spot by winning the Men’s Open at the Tampa Pro on 1 August, with James Hollingshead second — earning Hollingshead a place through a separate route. Walker had been one of the notable absences until then.

Four former Mr. Olympia champions are in the field: Lunsford, Dauda, Choopan and Curry.

212 Olympia — 22 Qualified

Athlete Country
Juan Aleman Mexico
Radoslav Angelov Bulgaria
Francisco Barrios Vlk Argentina
Angel Caleron Frias Spain
Shaun Clarida* USA
Michael Condell USA
Esteban Fuquene Colombia
Lucas Garcia Brazil
Cameron George Australia
Zhaofeng He China
Nihat Kaya Turkey
Xiaoshuang Lan China
Wei Li China
Ching Chieh Lin Taiwan, China
Felipe Isaac Fierro Lobos Chile
Yinka Majolagbe UK
Nasser Mohammad Kuwait
Felipe Moraes Brazil
Victor Alves Porto De Oliveira Brazil
Courage Opara USA
Keone Pearson* USA
Naotaka Yokokawa Japan

* Former 212 Olympia champion

Reigning champion Keone Pearson tops the list. Shaun Clarida is ranked in both the 212-meter event and the men’s Open category; he’s one of the few athletes on this year’s list who actually has a decision to make, and he’s worth keeping a close eye on as the deadline approaches.

Classic Physique — 22 Qualified So Far

This is a Track 2 division, so the list below is incomplete. These 22 have qualified outright; the top 25 in points will be added when standings close on 30 August.

Athlete Country
Mohammad Ali Austria
Niall Darwen UK
Ethan Gohari Australia
Rodni Nelson Hebbert Nicaragua
Fabio Junio Brazil
Chen Kang China
Kyrylo Khudaiev Ukraine
Livingstone Livinho Brazil
Andrea Mammoli Italy
Jose Manuel Munoz Spain
Prosper Nwafor UK
Vitaliy Omelycenko Russia
Ramon Rocha Queiroz* Brazil
Anton Ratushnyi USA
Luca Reger Germany
Terrence Ruffin USA
Mike Sommerfeld Germany
Tom Stanley Australia
Paulin Tsamezeu USA
Wesley Vissers Netherlands
Kellen Wilson Canada
Piotr Wojtowicz Poland

* Former Classic Physique Olympia champion

On the bubble: Diego Alejandro Galinda Garavito leads the points chase on 38, ahead of Richard Nagy on 28 and Ferran Minana Ibanez on 26. Below them the standings tighten fast, with clusters of athletes tied on 20 and 17 points — meaning the final few qualifying spots could come down to a single placing at a late-season show.

Wesley Vissers arrives as the 2026 Arnold Classic champion and one of the favourites.

Men’s Physique — 24 Qualified So Far

Also Track 2, so expect this field to grow substantially.

Athlete Country
Kamal Aitirhmour Morocco
Erin Banks* USA
Ali Bilal Afghanistan
Dallas Botchway Ghana
Vitor Chaves Brazil
Andrei Deiu Romania
Juxian He China
Brandon Hendrickson* USA
Kyron Holden USA
Dan Ibrahim USA
Mehdi Kabbadj Morocco
Talha Kilic Turkey
Yoon Sung Lee South Korea
Jinbo Li China
Francisco Martinez Paraguay
Corey Morris USA
Carlos Asiedu Ocran Ghana
Edvan Palmeira Brazil
Sidy Pouye Spain
Victor Ramirez Venezuela
Ryan Terry* UK
Emile Walker UK
Torre Washington USA
Li Xiaolong China

* Former Men’s Physique Olympia champion

On the bubble: Emanuel Hunter and Emerson Costa share the points lead on 28, with Isai Kesek on 24 and Heng Zhao on 23. Former champion Jeremy Buendia sits further down on 10 — a reminder that past titles carry no weight in the points race.

Three former champions are already through: Terry, Hendrickson and Banks.

Men’s Wheelchair — 9 Qualified So Far

Athlete Country
Gabriele Andriulli Italy
James Berger* USA
Mostafa Darvish Khezri Iran
Josue Fabiano Brazil
Rajesh John India
Harold Kelley* USA
Karol Milewski Poland
Kevin Secundino France
Mohammad Reza Tabrizi Nouri Canada

* Former Wheelchair Olympia champion

The points race: Only the top five qualify, and it’s tight. Will Anthony leads on 25, Blake Colleton has 20, then three athletes are level on 10 — Ravinder Singh, Tory Jones and Antonio Matkovic. Another three sit on 9. With two clear spots and a three-way tie for the rest, this is the most genuinely undecided qualification battle of the season.

Reigning champion James Berger also took the Wheelchair title at the 2026 Arnold Classic.

Ms. Olympia — 11 Qualified

Athlete Country
Alcione Santos Barreto Brazil
Leyvina Barros Brazil
Nadia Capotosto Italy
Desunka Dawson USA
Ashley Lynnette Jones USA
Anastasia Korableva Romania
Martina Lopez Spain
Barbara De Freitas Moojen Brazil
Alide Opre Hungary
Paula Ranta Finland
Andrea Shaw* USA

* Former Ms. Olympia champion

It’s the smallest male and female bodybuilding category at the event, and Andrea Shaw’s presence sets the tone. Paula Ranta is also ranked in the Female Physique category.

Fitness Olympia — 10 Qualified

Athlete Country
Jaclyn Baker USA
Abby Bolton Canada
Allison Dominguez-Kramer USA
Anna Fomina USA
Michelle Fredua-Mensah UK
Andrea Glass USA
Sophie Gregory UK
Taylor Learmont Canada
Samantha Radzai USA
Amber Steffen USA

The most competitive of the twelve divisions. The fitness test combines a physical round with a routine, keeping the pool of qualifiers small and the level extremely high.

Figure Olympia — 31 Qualified

Athlete Country
Dorethane Agathina Germany
Beatriz Almeida Brazil
Eileen Aviles USA
Tamera Barrett USA
Kristina Bodnariuk Russia
Anna Borin Ukraine
Xinyu Chen China
Rhea Gayle* UK
Nicole Zenobia Graham USA
Vanessa Happle Germany
Ashley Howells USA
Nadine Claudia Huber Germany
Sachiko Ito Japan
Jeanne Kassel Germany
Jaslynn Kyander USA
Tereza Linhartova Czech Republic
Tessa Meetze USA
Sarah Molina USA
Lola Montez Canada
Katja Nowack Germany
Brittne Pence USA
Sara Pozzer Italy
Dekel Quant Bahamas
Lena Ramsteiner Germany
Saionara Rebelo Brazil
Jessica Reyes Padilla Puerto Rico
Natalia Soltero Mexico
Missy Truscott USA
Kristina Zafirova Slovenia
Jennifer Zienert Germany
Denise Zwinger-Tynek Germany

* Former Figure Olympia champion

The draw has the largest number of fully qualified participants of the day, and is notable for the large number of Germans: eight of the 31 are competing for Germany, more than for any other nation outside the United States.

Bikini Olympia — 23 Qualified So Far

Track 2 division, so more names are coming.

Athlete Country
Maria Acosta USA
Wu Bi China
Maureen Blanquisco* Philippines
Jordan Brannon USA
Lauralie Chapados* USA
Cynthia Chen China
Sara Choi South Korea
Viktoria Csicsayova Hungary
Aimee Leann Delgado USA
Megan D’Ginto USA
Ivanna Escandar USA
Jasmine Gonzalez USA
Phoebe Hagan UK
Reijuana Harley USA
Adrianna Kaczmarek Poland
Ashley Kaltwasser* USA
Sally-Anne Kato Japan
Ashlyn Little USA
Zsofia Molnar Hungary
Elisa Pecini* Brazil
Reyna Perez Mexico
Bruna Toigo Brazil
Jiaqi Wei China

* Former Bikini Olympia champion

On the ropes: Rania Stamatiadou leads the ranking with 34 points, followed by Kate Carroll and Mahsa Akbarimehr with 28, and then Iulia Baba, Kerigan Pike and Savannah Watchman tied with 26.

Four former champions are already qualified — the deepest concentration of past winners in any division this year.

Women’s Physique — 16 Qualified

Athlete Country
Zama Benta Brazil
Sara Bradley UK
Julia Cabarcos Spain
Natalia Abraham Coelho* USA
Lenka Ferencukova Czech Republic
Marika Jones USA
Jessica Macedo Brazil
Amanda De Carvalho Machado USA
Silvia Cuartero Martinez Spain
Naiana Nana Brazil
Trisha Pollydore Canada
Paula Ranta Finland
Autumn Swansen USA
Sarah Villegas* USA
Brooke Walker USA
Hong Yan China

* Former Women’s Physique Olympia champion

Two former champions in a field of sixteen. Brazil is the strongest single presence outside the USA.

Wellness Olympia — 16 Qualified So Far

Track 2 division. More names to come on 30 August.

Athlete Country
Elisa Alcantara Dominican Republic
Eduarda Bezerra* Brazil
Valeria Bodanese Brazil
Leonida Ciobu Moldova
Rayane Fogal Brazil
Camile Luz Brazil
Josy Alves Macedo Brazil
Daniele Mendonca Brazil
Juliana Moto Brazil
Isabelle Nunes* Brazil
Maria Rita Penteado USA
Camila Rodrigues Brazil
Rosemary Rodriguez Paraguay
Bruna Seredich USA
Narla Vilar Brazil
Wenqian Yang China

* Former Wellness Olympia champion

Brazilian dominance is the story here. Eleven of the sixteen qualified athletes are Brazilian — by far the most lopsided national representation on the entire card. Wellness was designed around a physique standard that Brazilian athletes have owned since the division launched.

On the bubble: Giselle Machado leads the points on 50, a clear margin ahead of Valquiria Lopes on 23.

Rayane Fogal took the Wellness title at the 2026 Arnold Classic.

Fit Model Olympia — 13 Qualified

Athlete Country
Shealynn Burnett USA
Emily Chanel USA
Seojin Cheong South Korea
Svetland Fedkina USA
Julia Heinio Finland
Elizabeth Hunter USA
Jane Jones USA
Alizee Juras France
Aisha Mian Canada
Gabriela Queiroz USA
Carla Andrea Reyes Vargas Bolivia
Victoria Schmidt Canada
Liz Trampas USA

The newest division on the Olympia card, and still the least-covered. Fit Model is decided entirely during Saturday morning’s session rather than on the evening finals stage.

Division Sizes at a Glance

Division Qualified Still growing?
Figure 31 No
Men’s Physique 24 Yes — points
Bikini 23 Yes — points
Men’s Open 22 Yes — wins
212 22 Yes — wins
Classic Physique 22 Yes — points
Women’s Physique 16 Yes — wins
Wellness 16 Yes — points
Fit Model 13 Yes — wins
Ms. Olympia 11 Yes — wins
Fitness 10 Yes — wins
Wheelchair 9 Yes — points
Total 219

What Happens Between Now and 30 August

Three things worth watching over the next few weeks.

Late qualifiers in Track 1 divisions. Every remaining pro show is a direct ticket for Men’s Open, 212, Ms. Olympia, Fitness, Figure, Women’s Physique and Fit Model. Any of those seven lists can grow overnight.

The points cliff. Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Bikini and Wellness will each add athletes when the standings lock. Anyone sitting around 15–20 points is in a genuinely precarious position, and the gaps at the bottom of the top 25 are small enough that one late show can flip several places.

The Wheelchair tie. Three athletes level on 10 points for what is effectively three remaining spots. This one may not resolve until the final weekend of the season.

Once the window closes, the fields are final. No wildcards, no late additions.

Every Defending Champion Is Back

This is the detail that makes 2026 unusual. All eleven titles decided in 2025 will be defended by their winners. Not one champion has retired, skipped the season or failed to qualify.

Division 2025 Champion Country Note
Men’s Open Derek Lunsford USA Reclaimed the title after losing it in 2024
212 Keone Pearson USA Successfully defended
Classic Physique Ramon Rocha Queiroz Brazil First title, and only the fourth champion the division has had
Men’s Physique Ryan Terry UK Third consecutive
Wheelchair James Berger USA Rose from eighth the previous year to first
Ms. Olympia Andrea Shaw USA Sixth straight title
Fitness Michelle Fredua-Mensah UK Britain’s first Fitness Olympia champion
Figure Rhea Gayle UK First title, following Cydney Gillon’s retirement
Bikini Maureen Blanquisco Philippines Second title, after a year out injured
Women’s Physique Natalia Abraham Coelho USA Reclaimed the crown she last held in 2022
Wellness Eduarda Bezerra Brazil First title, dethroning Isabelle Nunes

Two divisions carry extra weight into September. Andrea Shaw is chasing a seventh consecutive Ms. Olympia — territory very few athletes in any division have reached. Ryan Terry is going for a fourth straight Men’s Physique title.

The Classic Physique category is the one to watch closely for a different reason. Chris Bumstead retired after six consecutive titles, and Queiroz became the fourth champion in the division’s history. Now he has to prove that 2025 wasn’t a fluke in a year without Bumstead.

Fit Model has no defending champion — it’s the newest division on the Olympia card and the field is still forming.

Where the Athletes Come From

Forty-six nations are represented across the qualified field. Here’s how they break down.

Country Athletes
USA 64
Brazil 30
China 14
UK 13
Germany 10
Canada 9
Spain 6
Italy 5
Poland 4
Australia, Finland, Hungary, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, UAE 3 each
Czech Republic, France, Ghana, Morocco, Netherlands, Paraguay, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine 2 each
Afghanistan, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, India, Kuwait, Moldova, Nicaragua, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Slovakia, Slovenia, Taiwan, Venezuela 1 each

Three things stand out.

The USA supplies 64 athletes — 29% of the field, and more than the next three nations combined. No surprise, given the NPC pipeline feeds directly into the IFBB Pro League.

Brazil’s 30 is the real story. That’s second overall on a fraction of the American infrastructure, and it’s heavily concentrated: eleven of Brazil’s athletes are in Wellness alone, a division Brazilian competitors have effectively owned since it launched. Brazil also has the Classic Physique champion.

Germany punches above its weight in one specific place. Eight of Germany’s ten qualified athletes are in Figure — the single most lopsided division-to-nation concentration on the entire card outside Brazilian Wellness.

Nineteen countries have exactly one athlete qualified. For several of them, that athlete is their entire national presence at the biggest show in the sport.

What’s Left on the Calendar

Qualification closes 30 August 2026, leaving roughly three weeks of contests.

The season’s five majors — Arnold Classic USA, Arnold Classic UK, Pittsburgh Pro, New York Pro and Dubai Pro — have all been run. What remains is the tail end of the regional pro circuit, and those shows still matter enormously:

  • In Track 1 divisions, any pro show winner qualifies outright. Men’s Open, 212, Ms. Olympia, Fitness, Figure, Women’s Physique and Fit Model can all add names right up to the deadline.
  • In Track 2 divisions, remaining shows are worth 10 points for a win down to 1 point for fifth. For athletes clustered in the teens, a single strong placing can be the difference between qualifying and going home.

Two dates worth knowing, though neither is an Olympia qualifier itself:

  • Olympia Amateur Eastern Europe — 29–30 August 2026, an IFBB pro qualifier where athletes earn pro cards rather than Olympia spots.
  • Olympia Amateur Las Vegas — 22–23 September 2026, held immediately before Olympia weekend.

The IFBB Pro League publishes the definitive contest schedule, and late additions or date changes do happen. Check the official schedule rather than a fan-compiled calendar if you’re tracking a specific athlete’s last chance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many athletes have qualified for the 2026 Olympia? 219 across all twelve divisions as of 11 August 2026. The number will rise before qualification closes on 30 August.

When does 2026 Olympia qualification close? 30 August 2026. The window opened on 15 September 2025.

Is Andrew Jacked qualified? Yes. He appears on the official list under his legal name, Chinedu Obiekea.

Is Nick Walker qualified? Yes. He earned his place by winning the Men’s Open at the Tampa Pro on 1 August 2026.

Why do some divisions use points and others don’t? Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Bikini and Wellness had grown to around 60 qualified athletes for 2025. The points system and the two-win requirement were introduced to bring those fields back to a manageable size.

Do former champions automatically qualify? They have lifetime eligibility, but it isn’t automatic. If more than five years have passed since their last Olympia win, they need approval to compete.

Which division has the most qualified athletes? Figure, with 31 — though the points-based divisions will likely overtake it once standings close.

Are all the 2025 champions competing again? Yes. Every one of the eleven titles decided in 2025 will be defended by its winner.

Which country has the most qualified athletes? The USA with 64, ahead of Brazil on 30 and China on 14. Forty-six nations are represented in total.

Who has won the most consecutive Olympia titles going into 2026? Andrea Shaw, with six straight Ms. Olympia wins. She’s chasing a seventh in September.

Key Takeaways

  • 219 athletes qualified across twelve divisions as of 11 August, with the window closing 30 August.
  • Three different qualification tracks operate this season, and they aren’t interchangeable.
  • Four divisions still have points spots open — Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Bikini and Wellness.
  • Wheelchair has the tightest race, with three athletes tied on 10 points.
  • All eleven defending champions are back, which is rare in any Olympia year.
  • 46 nations represented, led by the USA on 64 and Brazil on 30.
  • Wellness is 11-of-16 Brazilian, and 8 of Germany’s 10 athletes are in Figure.
  • Names differ from what fans use — Andrew Jacked is listed as Chinedu Obiekea, Michal Krizo as Michal Krizanek.

Athlete lists verified against the IFBB Pro League’s official qualified athletes page on 11 August 2026. Spellings and nationalities follow the official listing. Nation totals were counted from that roster. 2025 division results cross-checked across multiple contest reports. We update this page as new athletes qualify.

Mr. Olympia 2026 Men’s Open Preview: Can Derek Lunsford Hold Off Andrew Jacked and Nick Walker?

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No one has won back-to-back Men’s Open titles since Big Ramy did it in 2020 and 2021. With six weeks to go until Las Vegas, that streak of instability is the biggest factor looming over this year’s competition, because Derek Lunsford needs to break it.

He’s the reigning Mr. Olympia. And he’s up against what might be the most competitive field of the modern Open era, with an Arnold Classic champion hot on his heels, a resurgent Nick Walker who just reminded everyone what he’s capable of, and a former champion like Hadi Choopan who has come close four years in a row.

The Open final takes place Saturday 26 September at the Orleans Arena. Here’s where the division stands right now.

Derek Lunsford: The Champion With Everything to Lose

Lunsford’s 2025 was nearly perfect. He won the Arnold Classic, then the Pittsburgh Pro, and then reclaimed the Sandow in Las Vegas—the “Triple Crown” he had set as his goal. By defeating Samson Dauda in Las Vegas, he became only the second man in history, after Jay Cutler, to regain the Mr. Olympia title after losing it.

What made it even more remarkable was everything he had to overcome to achieve it. During his 2025 campaign, he suffered a torn pectoral muscle early in the year and a panic attack during the Olympia final. Even so, he won.

Since then, he has taken a well-deserved rest, publicly focusing on his chest and biceps—the two areas that critics kept pointing out. In August, he stated that he weighed close to 250 pounds and that he wouldn’t mind losing a couple more before stepping on stage.

There is a counter-argument, and it comes from serious people. Former champion Samir Bannout has warned that chasing extra size can backfire on Lunsford, and Lee Priest was openly critical of his 2025 winning package. That’s the tension in his prep: the widest back in the division doesn’t help if the waist goes with it.

Case for: Reigning champion, best conditioning of his career last year, targeted improvements, and the judges clearly like his structure. Case against: Nobody has repeated in five years, and adding mass is the exact gamble that has undone champions before.

Andrew Jacked: The Man With the Momentum

If you’re picking an upset, this is your man.

Chinedu Andrew “Jacked” Obiekea finished third at the 2025 Olympia. Then in March he won the 2026 Arnold Classic in Columbus, beating Nick Walker and Hadi Choopan and collecting a $750,000 first-place purse — the largest single payday in the history of the sport — plus another $10,000 for the Ed Corney Best Poser Award. He followed it with a win at the Arnold Classic UK, chasing what he’s called the “Million Dollar March.”

The Nigerian-born athlete came to bodybuilding late, after a career that included kickboxing and military service, and only turned professional in 2022. Four years later, he is the most prominent figure in the Open division.

The rivalry with Lunsford has even become personal. During training for this year’s Olympia Battle, Lunsford bluntly told him that he would never win the Olympia and that the title wasn’t going anywhere. Jacked hasn’t backed down. This exchange has been the biggest boost to interest in the Open division this season.

Case for: The best 2026 season of anyone in the division, elite posing, and clear improvement year over year. Case against: Arnold form doesn’t always transfer to September, and holding a peak from March to Vegas is its own challenge.

Nick Walker: The Comeback Nobody Expected

Walker’s 2025 was a disaster by his standards: sixth at the Olympia and a wave of comments suggesting his prime was behind him.

He responded by revolutionizing his strategy. He parted ways with his coach, Kyle Wilkes, and trained alone for the Arnold Classic, where he finished second to Jacked, won the Franco Columbu Most Muscular Athlete award, and defeated Hadi Choopan for the first time in his career.

Then, on August 1 at the Tampa Pro, he decisively won the Men’s Open—James Hollingshead finished second and Joseph Palacios third—and qualified for the Olympia weeks in advance. Observers noted a more defined waist and better core control than he had in years, precisely the criticisms the judges had been leveling at him.

Samir Bannout, Iain Valliere, and Seth Feroce singled him out as the man to beat in Tampa, and he lived up to the hype. When Samson Dauda was asked about him afterward, he wasn’t interested in dismissing him: a man who has won an Arnold and made it to the Olympia is always a threat, that was the gist of his message.

Even Lunsford took notice, responding to the Tampa result by saying he’d need to remind Walker who the champ is.

Case for: Arguably his best package since 2022, with a full seven-week runway to refine it. Case against: Tampa is not the Olympia. He’ll be compared against three men who all finished above him last year.

The Rest of the Threat List

Hadi Choopan — the 2022 champion has now finished runner-up at three consecutive Olympias, and took the People’s Champion award by fan vote in 2025. He was third at the 2026 Arnold. Nobody in the division has been consistently closer to the title without winning it again, and he has never needed anything more than the right night.

Samson Dauda — the 2024 champion fell to fourth in 2025. He is qualified, he is talking like a man planning a return to the top, and he has already proved he can beat this field.

Martin Fitzwater — fifth at the 2025 Olympia, fourth at the 2026 Arnold. Steady, improving, and the kind of athlete who quietly moves up when someone above him misses.

Brandon Curry — the 2019 champion took fifth at this year’s Arnold. Lifetime eligibility, and enough experience to capitalise if the top four beat each other up.

Beyond them, the qualified list also includes William Bonac, Michal Krizo, Andrea Presti, Tonio Burton, Shaun Clarida and others. As of early August, 22 athletes had qualified for the Men’s Open, with the qualification window closing 30 August — so that number can still move.

What the New Qualification Rules Change

This is the first Olympia run under the reinstated IFBB Pro League points system, and it matters more than it sounds.

For the Men’s Open, 212, Women’s Bodybuilding, Fitness, Figure, Women’s Physique and Fit Model, the path is: top three from the 2025 Olympia, plus the winner of every open contest during the qualification period. Straightforward.

The divisions that changed hardest are Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Bikini and Wellness, where athletes now need two contest wins or a top-25 points finish. That’s the reform designed to shrink fields that had ballooned toward 70 competitors.

For fans, the practical effect is a tighter, faster-moving show. For athletes in those four divisions, it has meant competing far more often across the season.

The Verdict

Here’s the truth: this is the most open Open division in recent years, and anyone claiming to have a sure winner is guessing.

Lunsford is the defending champion and the deserved favorite, but the title has changed hands more often than not over the past five years. Jacked has momentum on his side and the best 2026 record of all the entrants. Walker has the steepest improvement curve and the least pressure. Choopan needs a good night. Dauda has done it before.

Keep a close eye on Friday’s preliminary draw. In 2025, Dauda appeared to be leading after Friday’s comparisons but lost the advantage on Saturday night—proof that the Open is decided in both sessions, not just the final. Whoever is in the middle of the first round on Friday, September 25, is the man everyone else must beat.

Six weeks. One stage. No clear favorite. That’s what a good Olympia should feel like.

Quick Answers

Who is the reigning Mr. Olympia? Derek Lunsford, who reclaimed the title in 2025 after losing it to Samson Dauda in 2024.

Who won the 2026 Arnold Classic? Andrew Jacked, taking a record $750,000 first-place prize ahead of Nick Walker and Hadi Choopan.

When is the 2026 Men’s Open final? Saturday 26 September at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Open pre-judging takes place during Friday evening’s show.

When does qualification close? 30 August 2026. The Men’s Open field can still grow before then.

Has anyone repeated as Mr. Olympia recently? Not since Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay in 2020 and 2021. Every year since has produced a different champion.

Published 11 August 2026. Results and qualification details verified against IFBB Pro League and contest reporting. We’ll update this preview as the field is finalised.