2026 Mr. Olympia Live Updates: Results and Prejudging
2026 Mr. Olympia Live Updates: Results and Prejudging
212 Bodybuilder Courage Opara Withdraws from the 2026 Mr. Olympia
The 212 field loses a top-five threat. Courage Opara has withdrawn after rhabdomyolysis, a severe breakdown of muscle tissue that can damage the kidneys, left him unable to recover in time. He pulled out a couple of weeks ago, and the news broke on Sept 22.
Opara placed fifth at the 2025 Olympia and won both the Tampa Pro and the Texas Pro this season. His exit opens a place in the final callout behind three-time champion Keone Pearson, and he is not on the official 212 lineup the IFBB Pro League published on Sept 23.
Sergey Danilov’s latest update
The Open debutant two days out from prejudging.
Wesley Vissers and Andrei Deiu posing out
Final practice rounds before the Olympia stage.
Felipe Moraes, five days out
The Brazilian heavyweight in his final week before Las Vegas.
The Rock Shows Support for Wesley Vissers Days Out from the 2026 Mr. Olympia
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson backed Wesley Vissers during peak week, and his coach says the prep is finished. “The work is completely done,” said Stefan Kienzl, with no changes planned before the show.
Vissers won the Arnold Classic Ohio and the Detroit Pro this season, then lost to Mike Sommerfeld at the Arnold Classic UK. In Las Vegas he faces reigning champion Ramon Dino, Sommerfeld and two-time Arnold Classic champion Terrence Ruffin.
Nick Walker, all set for the stage
Sixth last year, then second to Andrew Jacked at the 2026 Arnold Classic. Milos Sarcev says he can “legitimately win” this week.
22-Year-Old Anton Ratushnyi Shares Shredded Physique Update 3 Days Out from His 2026 Mr. Olympia Debut
Anton Ratushnyi, 22, posted a depleted, no-pump check-in three days out from his Classic Physique Olympia debut. The update came from the Dragon’s Lair, with seven-time 212 Olympia champion Flex Lewis giving him pointers.
He won the 2025 Tournament of Champions Pro and the Southern Muscle Showdown Pro back to back. Seth Feroce predicted in 2024 that he would reach the Classic Physique top five within two or three years, while Lee Priest wants him in the Open.
Flex Lewis Shares His Top 5 Men’s Open Predictions 2 Days Before the 2026 Mr. Olympia
Flex Lewis picks Derek Lunsford to win a third Mr. Olympia title. His top five: Lunsford, Samson Dauda, Nick Walker, Andrew Jacked and Martin Fitzwater.
Not everyone agrees. Jacked has won three straight shows, the 2025 Romania Pro, the 2026 Arnold Classic Ohio and the Arnold Classic UK, and Shawn Ray calls it “Andrew Jacked’s show to lose,” with Lunsford “maxed out.”
Milos Sarcev Says Nick Walker Can ‘Legitimately Win’ 2026 Mr. Olympia; Dennis James Predicts He Beats Andrew Jacked
Milos Sarcev says Nick Walker can “legitimately win” the Olympia, and Dennis James thinks he beats Andrew Jacked. Four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler also believes Walker has the tools to win.
Walker placed sixth last year, changed coaches, then finished second to Jacked at the 2026 Arnold Classic, beating Hadi Choopan for the first time. He qualified for the Olympia by winning the 2026 Tampa Pro.
Naotaka Yokokawa before the Olympia
In the 212 lineup, where three-time champion Keone Pearson is the man to beat.
Regan Grimes, four days out
One of 22 in the Men’s Open. Iain Valliere has him tenth in his top 10 predictions.
2026 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open Preview
Our Men’s Open preview sets up the weekend’s main event. Derek Lunsford can become the first three-time champion since Phil Heath after an unbeaten 2025 at the Arnold Classic, the Pittsburgh Pro and the Olympia, and he spent his off-season on his arms and chest.
Andrew Jacked is his biggest threat on paper: third at last year’s Olympia, then winner of the Romania Pro, the Arnold Classic Ohio and the Arnold Classic UK. The official lineup has 22 athletes, including former champions Samson Dauda and Brandon Curry.
2026 Classic Physique Olympia Preview
Our Classic Physique preview: Ramon Dino defends the title he won in 2025 against a 47-athlete field. He took the crown left vacant after Chris Bumstead’s six titles, beating Mike Sommerfeld in a close showdown.
Dino took time off after his win to add back width and detail, the areas head judge Steve Weinberger flagged.
How to Watch the 2026 Mr. Olympia Free Livestream
The whole 2026 Olympia broadcast is free with a sign-up at olympiaproductions.com, covering the Orleans Arena, the Las Vegas Convention Center South Hall and the Palms Casino Resort.
Friday’s prejudging starts at 9:30am PT and the finals at 6pm PT, with six divisions crowned and Mr. Olympia prejudging. Saturday’s prejudging starts at 9:30am PT with Wheelchair and Fit Model crowned, and the finals at 7pm PT end with Mr. Olympia.
Milos Sarcev Blown Away by Wesley Vissers Days Ahead of 2026 Mr. Olympia: ‘Conditioning Is Off the Charts’
Milos Sarcev calls Wesley Vissers a genuine Classic Physique title contender: “Conditioning is off the charts.” Vissers improved his leg fullness and detail to win the 2026 Arnold Classic Ohio, then won the Detroit Pro.
His goal is to win the Olympia within three years. He predicts a final callout of himself, Niall Darwen, Terrence Ruffin, Mike Sommerfeld and Ramon Dino.
Iain Valliere Shares His Top 10 Men’s Open Predictions for the 2026 Mr. Olympia
Iain Valliere backs Derek Lunsford to win, with Samson Dauda second and Andrew Jacked third. The rest of his top 10: Nick Walker, Martin Fitzwater, Tonio Burton, Michal Krizo, Behrooz Tabani, Brandon Curry and Regan Grimes.
His list comes after last year’s runner-up, Hadi Choopan, withdrew. King Kamali disagrees with the favorite: “nobody has him winning again,” he says, arguing Walker can beat Lunsford in the back poses.
Michal Krizo Sculpts Monstrous Chest and Biceps 10 Days Out from the 2026 Mr. Olympia
Michal Krizo walked fans through his chest and biceps session 10 days out from his third Mr. Olympia: pec deck flyes, machine presses, cable crossovers, single-arm preacher curls and seated EZ-bar curls.
He was second to Tonio Burton at the New York Pro, then beat Burton at the Pittsburgh Pro a week later. For Vegas he plans to come in “a little bit better shape, a bit more shredded.”
Dexter Jackson To Be Inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame at the 2026 Mr. Olympia
Dexter Jackson, the 2008 Mr. Olympia, will be inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame during Olympia weekend. He becomes the seventh Mr. Olympia inductee, after Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler and Phil Heath.
The ceremony is Saturday, Sept 26, from 11:30am to 2pm at the Palms Casino Resort Grand Ballroom, free and open to the public. Jackson also holds the record for Arnold Classic titles, with five.
