The 2026 Mr. Olympia returns to Las Vegas for the 62nd edition of the iconic competition, bringing together some of the world’s strongest and most accomplished bodybuilding athletes. The weekend will feature the highly anticipated Mr. Olympia and Ms. Olympia competitions, along with several other major divisions.
The 2026 event is expected to deliver another memorable showdown, with defending champion Derek Lunsford returning to defend his title against a stacked field that includes former champion Samson Dauda, Nick Walker and several other top contenders.
What Is Mr. Olympia?
When Is Mr. Olympia 2026?
Dates: Friday, September 25 – Saturday, September 26, 2026
Location: Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada
The 2026 Mr. Olympia weekend will take place in Las Vegas, with the Ms. Olympia finals scheduled for Friday and the Mr. Olympia finals taking place on Saturday.
Fans will also be able to follow several other Olympia divisions throughout the weekend.
Mr. Olympia 2026 Schedule
Here is the currently announced schedule for the main Mr. and Ms. Olympia events:
| Date | Time (ET) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| September 25 | 12:30 p.m. | Ms. Olympia Pre-Judging |
| September 25 | 9:00 p.m. | Ms. Olympia Finals / Mr. Olympia Pre-Judging |
| September 26 | 10:00 p.m. | Mr. Olympia Finals |
Schedule times can be subject to change, so viewers should check the official event information for the latest updates.
How to Watch Mr. Olympia 2026 Live
Live stream: OlympiaTV
Mr. Olympia 2026 will not be broadcast on a traditional national television network. Instead, fans can watch the competition online through OlympiaTV.
According to the event information provided for this year’s competition, the livestream will be available free to fans, giving bodybuilding followers an opportunity to watch the action online without a traditional TV subscription.
For viewers following the competition from outside the United States, checking the event’s official livestream schedule is recommended because start times will vary by time zone.
Who Is Competing in Mr. Olympia 2026?
The Mr. Olympia lineup features 22 qualified competitors representing countries from around the world.
Defending champion Derek Lunsford will be looking to add another Olympia title to his résumé. Samson Dauda, the 2024 champion, will also return after finishing fourth in 2025.
Other notable names include Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, William Bonac, Regan Grimes, James Hollingshead, Michal Krizanek and Chinedu Obiekea, better known to fans as Andrew Jacked.
Mr. Olympia 2026 Qualifiers
| Competitor | Country |
|---|---|
| Chinedu Obiekea | UAE |
| Leandro Sencini Peres | Brazil |
| Tonio Burton | USA |
| Mohamed Foda | UAE |
| Jordan Hutchinson | USA |
| Quinton Eriya | Canada |
| Martin Fitzwater | USA |
| Michal Krizanek | Slovakia |
| Regan Grimes | Canada |
| Sasan Heirati | UK |
| James Hollingshead | UK |
| Damian Kuffel | Poland |
| Brandon Curry | USA |
| Sergey Danilov | Russia |
| Samson Dauda | UK |
| Patrick Moore | USA |
| William Bonac | Netherlands |
| Behrooz Tabani Abarghani | Iran |
| Edward Kargbo | UAE |
| Nick Walker | USA |
| Andrea Presti | Italy |
| Derek Lunsford | USA |
Who Is Competing in Ms. Olympia 2026?
The Ms. Olympia competition will feature 10 qualified athletes.
Six-time defending champion Andrea Shaw is the headline name in the women’s lineup. Shaw has won the Ms. Olympia title every year since 2020 and will compete for her seventh consecutive championship in 2026.
Ms. Olympia 2026 Qualifiers
| Competitor | Country |
|---|---|
| Leyvina Rodrigues Barros | Brazil |
| Nadia Capotosto | Italy |
| Desunka Dawson | USA |
| Barbara De Freitas Moojen | Brazil |
| Ashley Lynnette Jones | USA |
| Martina Lopez | Spain |
| Meghan Morrison | USA |
| Alida Opre | Hungary |
| Paula Ranta | Finland |
| Andrea Shaw | USA |
What Happened at Mr. Olympia 2025?
The 2025 competition saw Derek Lunsford return to the top of the Olympia stage.
Lunsford claimed the championship and collected the reported $600,000 first-place prize. The result marked another major achievement for the American bodybuilding star.
Samson Dauda, who won the 2024 Mr. Olympia title, finished fourth in 2025.
This year’s competition therefore brings another chapter to the Lunsford-Dauda storyline, while athletes such as Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked will also be looking to challenge for the championship.
What Other Events Are Held During Olympia Weekend?
Mr. Olympia is only one part of the larger Olympia weekend.
Several other bodybuilding divisions will compete throughout the event.
Men’s Olympia Divisions
- 212 Olympia
- Men’s Physique Olympia
- Classic Physique Olympia
- Wheelchair Olympia
Women’s Olympia Divisions
- Figure Olympia
- Fitness Olympia
- Bikini Olympia
- Women’s Physique Olympia
- Wellness Olympia
- Wheelchair Olympia
These competitions bring athletes from multiple bodybuilding disciplines together during one of the sport’s biggest annual events.
Mr. Olympia 2026 Prize Money
The final 2026 Mr. Olympia prize purse has not yet been officially announced in the information provided.
Based on the available estimates, the overall purse could be between $1.5 million and $2 million.
For comparison, the 2025 Mr. Olympia results included:
- 1st place: Derek Lunsford — $600,000
- 2nd place: $200,000
- 3rd place: $100,000
The final 2026 prize distribution should be confirmed once the official purse is announced.
Mr. Olympia Winners Since 2000
The Mr. Olympia title has been dominated by some of the most recognizable names in bodybuilding history.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Derek Lunsford |
| 2024 | Samson Dauda |
| 2023 | Derek Lunsford |
| 2022 | Hadi Choopan |
| 2021 | Mamdouh Elssbiay |
| 2020 | Mamdouh Elssbiay |
| 2019 | Brandon Curry |
| 2018 | Shawn Rhoden |
| 2017 | Phil Heath |
| 2016 | Phil Heath |
| 2015 | Phil Heath |
| 2014 | Phil Heath |
| 2013 | Phil Heath |
| 2012 | Phil Heath |
| 2011 | Phil |
