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. In turn, many have confirmed their participation, giving us a preliminary look at the lineup.
The 2026 World’s Strongest Man lineup is expected to hold 25 spots, but many athletes and fans are advocating for an addition of five more spots, which would bring the total to 30 athletes. Twenty athletes have already been confirmed, but a number of big names are still absent. So, an increase could definitely make the competition even more intense.
Note: We will update the article as soon as more 2026 World’s Strongest Man competitors are revealed. A total of 21 invites have been sent out so far, with Eddie Williams being the only one that has not confirmed his participation at this point.
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
- Luke Stoltman
- Evans Nana
- Josh Patacca
- Austin Andrade
- Adam Bishop
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.
As for the athletes that have not been invited yet, they include the likes of Thomas Evans, Pavlo Kordiyaka, Gavin Bilton, and others. This goes to show just how stacked the lineup will be this year, as certain world-class athletes might miss out.
Related: 2026 Europe’s Strongest Man Lineup Revealed
The 2026 World’s Strongest Man preparation is slowly wrapping up. With the majority of the lineup revealed, only a couple of spots remain open before the roster is completed. Apart from that, the events remain the only mystery as the world’s greatest Strongmen prepare for the biggest competition of the year.
You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and
YouTube for even more content.
