The 2026 World’s Strongest Man will take place on April 23-26 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. So, with the competition approaching fast, the organizers have started sending out invites to the greatest Strongmen in the world. It did not take long for the athletes to confirm their participation, giving us a look at the stacked lineup for the 2026 WSM.
The 2026 World’s Strongest Man lineup holds 25 spots, bringing together over two dozen of incredible Strongman athletes all of which received the invite based on their results in the past year. Interestingly, the roster features four former championships, along with other prospects who will look to claim the title as well.
2026 World’s Strongest Man Lineup
- Rayno Nel
- Tom Stoltman
- Mitchell Hooper
- Martins Licis
- Luke Richardson
- Evan Singleton
- Bryce Johnson
- Andrew Flynn
- Paddy Haynes
- Jaco Schoonwinkel
- Mat Ragg
- Ondrej Fojtu
- Trey Mitchell
- Lucas Hatton
- Nick Guardione
- Evans Nana
- Josh Patacca
- Austin Andrade
- Adam Bishop
- Eddie Williams
- Levi Strong
- James Jeffers
- Pavlo Kordiyaka
- Ben Glasscock
- Matyáš Funiok
- Luke Stoltman (Withdrew)
Related: Tom Stoltman Withdraws From 2026 Arnold Strongman Classic
Lineup Overview
The 2026 World’s Strongest Man will feature a total of four returning champions, including Rayno Nel, Tom Stoltman, Mitchell Hooper, and Martins Licis. Rayno Nel will be trying to defend his title, since he was the first rookie since 1997 to win the WSM in 2025. On the other hand, he will face tremendous pressure from Tom Stoltman, who is chasing his fourth gold medal at the competition.
Mitchell Hooper will also try to reclaim the WSM title just a month before his Deadlift World Record attempt at the 2026 Enhanced Games. On the other hand, Martins Licis is returning to the competition for the first time since 2022, when he finished in second place. So, there is no doubt that he is capable of contending for the title once again.
Luke Richardson has cleared out his 2026 schedule to deal with the passing of his best friend, Pa O’Dwyer. So, he also has time to fully focus on the 2026 World’s Strongest Man, where he will certainly be one of the fan favorites. Another incredible Strongman who will aim to stand on top of the podium is Evan Singleton. He is capable of beating anyone in the world, and his 2025 Strongest Man on Earth title serves as proof of that.
Trey Mitchell is another athlete that has beaten all of the top athletes in certain competitions. Moreover, he finished in fourth place at the 2025 WSM, indicating that he will aim for a podium finish this year. There is no doubt that all other athletes have earned a spot at the 2026 World’s Strongest Man and that all of them have high goals.
Related: 2026 Europe’s Strongest Man Lineup Revealed
The 2026 World’s Strongest Man preparation is slowly wrapping up, as both the lineup and the events have been revealed. The athletes have shared some training lifts leading up to the competition, showing that some intense battles will take place in Myrtle Beach.
Follow the 2026 World’s Strongest Man – event breakdowns, athlete interviews, full results, and all the latest news at our WSM hub: FitnessVolt.com/wsm
