History will be on the line from September 24-27 at the 62nd annual Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend. The world’s best Men’s Open competitors are ready to wage war in the desert heat, aiming to be named the number one bodybuilder in the world.
Since 1965, the Mr. Olympia has been the crown jewel of the bodybuilding circuit. Through the years, countless icons have emerged from the contest, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, and Phil Heath. Winning the Sandow trophy remains just as challenging as it was during these eras.
212-turned-Open star Derek Lunsford reclaimed Olympia gold in 2025. If he earns another victory, he will become the first bodybuilder since Heath to reach three Olympia titles. However, to cement his legacy, he’ll have to get through frontrunners and dark horses keen on making statements.
2026 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open Lineup
- Chinedu Obiekea (United Arab Emirates)
- Leandro Sencini Peres (Brazil)
- Tonio Burton (USA)
- Mohamed Foda (United Arab Emirates)
- Jordan Hutchinson (USA)
- Quinton Eriya (Canada)
- Martin Fitzwater (USA)
- Michal Krizanek (Slovakia)
- Regan Grimes (Canada)
- Sasan Heirati (United Kingdom)
- James Hollingshead (United Kingdom)
- Damian Kuffel (Poland)
- Brandon Curry (USA)
- Sergey Danilov (Russia)
- Samson Dauda (United Kingdom)
- Patrick Moore (USA)
- William Bonac (Netherlands)
- Behrooz Tabani Abarghani (Iran)
- Edward Kargbo (United Arab Emirates)
- Nick Walker (USA)
- Andrea Presti (Italy)
- Derek Lunsford (USA)
Contenders to Watch
Derek Lunsford
Lunsford isn’t short on confidence or momentum. He went undefeated in 2025, laying claim to consecutive victories at the Arnold Classic, Pittsburgh Pro, and Mr. Olympia. He’s been outspoken all year. He and Andrew Jacked’s rivalry has been a dominant storyline heading into the event. Lunsford went as far as to tell Jacked he’d never win the prestigious title as long as he’s around.
Lunsford used his off-season to improve his arms and chest. He believes these changes will add more sting to his front poses, particularly his front double biceps shot. While some have suggested that he’s ‘maxed out’ his frame, others believe he’s a strong favorite to repeat as champion.
Andrew Jacked
Jacked stands tall as Lunsford’s greatest threat on paper. He swept the 2025 Romania Pro, Arnold Classic Ohio, and Arnold Classic UK contests, helping him refine his peaking process. Jacked finished with bronze at the Olympia last year, and even then, some bodybuilders, like Lee Priest, thought he deserved to win.
Filling out his frame remains one of Jacked’s biggest tests. If he can accomplish that and showcase dry detail onstage, Bob Cicherillo could be announcing a new champion on Saturday night.
Samson Dauda
Former 2024 Olympia winner Samson Dauda took a calculated approach after falling to fourth in Vegas last year. He typically competes often but opted for an extended off-season this time around. The Nigerian star emphasized that his goal was to bring the 350-pound ‘monster’ back to the Mr. Olympia. It looks like he’s close to doing so. 11 days before the event kicks off, Dauda won the 2026 Europa Pro handily. With a warm-up show in the rearview, it could lead to his best-ever package.
Nick Walker
After taking sixth at the Olympia last year, Walker made some big changes. He prepared for the 2026 Arnold Classic without a coach and placed second behind Jacked. Although “The Mutant” didn’t win gold, he considered the outing a success since he beat Hadi Choopan for the first time.
Walker pushed all-in at the 2026 Tampa Pro and qualified for the Mr. Olympia. With a new coach in his corner, “The Mutant” believes he’s finally found the winning recipe that’s eluded his grasp. He remains arguably the most popular bodybuilder in the Men’s Open, and fans would love nothing more than to see his triumph.
Martin Fitzwater
Fitzwater shouldn’t be counted out; he got past Walker at the 2025 Mr. Olympia en route to fifth place. However, the Wyoming native has faced a string of setbacks. He settled for a pair of fourth-place finishes at the 2026 Arnold Classic Ohio and Arnold Classic UK. Fitzwater has better shape than Walker, and with more size and conditioning, he could easily break into the final callout.
Dark Horses
A handful of contenders could completely turn this event on its head. Michal ‘Krizo’ Krizanek is on that list. The Slovakian mass monster’s rivalry with Tonio Burton was on display throughout the season. While Burton edged him out for the win at the New York Pro, Krizo’s improved posing and presentation helped him get revenge at the Pittsburgh Pro. Both contenders bring bubbly 3D muscle, making them impossible to ignore looking ahead.
Beyond those talents, fans aren’t dismissing Brandon Curry as a legitimate title contender. He won his lone Mr. Olympia title back in 2019 following the late Shawn Rhoden’s time on top. Each year, Curry has proven he’s still dangerous, especially when he focuses on fuller packages. Behrooz Tabani, trained by Milos Sarcev, could also spoil plans. Tabani picked up gold at the 2026 Huanji Chengdu China Pro, giving him a launchpad to climb the Open ladder in Vegas.
Wrap Up
A total of 12 bodybuilding divisions will battle under the Vegas lights in just a few days. Dan Solomon announced that the 2026 Mr. Olympia livestream will be completely free, which could translate to one of the most-watched events in bodybuilding history. Keep it locked on Fitness Volt for previews, results, and the biggest stories heading into the show.
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