The 2026 Arnold Classic is approaching fast, and Wesley Vissers is sizing up the competition. On Jan. 11, 2026, he broke down the Classic Physique lineup and laid out his top five picks ahead of the event.
Wesley Vissers is on a mission to redeem himself following a lackluster 2025 bodybuilding season. Despite entering the Arnold Classic as the reigning champ, he ultimately fell to fifth place. Instead, he watched Mike Sommerfeld take his title before securing silver behind Ramon Queiroz at the Mr. Olympia.
In a last-ditch effort, “The Dutch Oak” attempted to qualify for the Mr. Olympia at the Detroit Pro. He brought an improved look but couldn’t get past Matt Greggo in the finals. After a growth-focused off-season, the surging Pro plans to make a statement in Columbus, Ohio.
Wesley Vissers’ Top Picks for the 2026 Arnold Classic
Find his picks in no particular order from the video below:
- Mike Sommerfeld
- Matheus Menegate
- Andrea Mammoli
- Sam Sulek
- Wesley Vissers
Mike Sommerfeld
In the video, Vissers emphasized that reigning titleholder Sommerfeld is the clear favorite to win.
“Of course, the big question is, well the biggest question for me, of course, is how am I going to do? But for everybody else, it’s going to be how easy is it going to be for Mike to win? Will it be extremely easy or will it be a little more difficult. I’m of course, aiming to make it more difficult.”
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“Mike is the clear favorite,” adds Vissers. “I really want to battle him again.”
Matheus Menegate
He expects a standout performance from Matheus Menegate, who impressed on the Olympia stage in seventh place.
“Menegate from Brazil,” said Vissers. “I believe he was seventh at the Olympia. That, interestingly, was the same placing I had before winning the Arnold. Who knows? Someone like this, he is almost as tall as me with a frame that’s kind of similar. Who knows? That kind of shape they might want to see at the Arnold, so he could jump up there, for sure.”
Andrea Mammoli
Additionally, Vissers predicted that Andrea Mammoli would push into the top five.
“I was at the Olympia. I watched it. I watched the prejudging, and I saw how good he was but unfortunately, we didn’t see how he was doing in the comparisons because he didn’t hear his name. I think he would have been in the top 10 at least, if he was in that callout.”
Sam Sulek
He believes Sam Sulek could find success in his Pro debut, but warned that he might be conditioned too early:
“He looks very impressive in his updates. I am impressed but also, there might be a slight concern: he’s very in shape at the moment.
So very conditioned already, I would say at his current shape, he’s like at four weeks out; I would also believe he’s on track but we’re about nine weeks out right now. I hope he’s going to be cruising into the show in easy fashion,” he said.
Wesley Vissers
Vissers’ goal is to make the top callout and to battle with Sommerfeld, Menegate, and Mammoli in the finals.
“I have a goal. I have the Arnold in my sights,” shared Vissers. “The top callout is not only my goal, it’s my mandatory thing that needs to happen. What my dream would be, to be in a callout with Mike, Menegate, Andrea probably.”
Like former six-time champion Chris Bumstead, Vissers intends to one day test himself in the Men’s Open. Though it’s tempting to switch divisions like Urs Kalecinski, he plans to focus on Classic Physique for the time being. However, Vissers told fans to expect him to try at least one Men’s Open contest.
Vissers has the chance to regain some much-needed momentum for the next season. The 2026 Arnold Classic is set for March 5-8 in Columbus, Ohio.
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