Mr. Olympia 2026 Dates, Schedule, Prize Money, Top Bodybuilders and Predictions

For fans of professional bodybuilding and fitness competition, the pinnacle event of the year has arrived. Joe Weider's Fitness and Performance Weekend is already underway in Las Vegas, and its marquee event, the Mr. Olympia open, is right around the corner.

Olympia Weekend actually got started early in the week with the men's and women's Olympia Amateur competitions, and the Superstar Kickoff Party was held on Thursday. However, the top IFBB events have yet to unfold.

Here's a look at the remaining schedule for Olympia Weekend, along with a preview of the Olympia Open and its top competitors.

Primary Locations: Las Vegas Convention Center and Palms Casino Resort, Orleans Arena

*The 2026 prize payout is expected to be announced during competition.

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Mr. Olympia Open Preview, Top Competitors and Prediction

The Mr. Olympia Open is widely viewed as the top competition in men's bodybuilding and the biggest IFBB event of the year. Unlike the Mr. Olympia 212, it has no weight limit and brings the biggest and best competitors in the world.

The Mr. Olympia traces its origins to 1965, when Larry Scott won the inaugural competition. In 1977, even organizer Joe Weider resurrected the Sandow Trophy—which made its debut all the way back in 1901—as the top prize in bodybuilding.

Over the years, several legendary bodybuilders have become multi-time Mr. Olympia winners, including Sergio Olivia, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lee Haney, Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, and Phil Heath. In 2025, Derek Lunsford joined the list by winning his second Olympia Open title in three years.

Lunsford headlines a list of top 2026 competitors that is 22 deep. However, only a handful are likely to have a realistic shot at challenging Lunsford for the crown.

2024 winner Samson Dauda is probably the most notable challenger this year after taking an extended offseason to hone his physique and prepare for this event specifically.

"People are saying, obviously, wow, this is the best Samson. It's the biggest Samson, and it's on target to be the best," fitness coach Chris Aceto said in a YouTube video (h/t Doug Murray of Fitness Volt).

Andrew Jacked is another serious threat, one who some believe should have won last year's Olympia Open.

While Jacked finished third behind Lunsford and Hadi Choopan, he bounced back to win the 2026 Arnold Classic. While Dauda and Lunsford may have a slight edge during judging as former champions, Jacked has the goods to come out on top.

Nick Walker and Martin Fitzwater are other pros who should be considered among the early favorites.

While fans may get an early idea of who can win during the prejudging, there's a good chance that the winner won't separate himself until the finals. The prediction here is that Dauda peaks at the right time to recapture the title of Mr. Olympia.

A look at the full field can be found here .

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