Kai Joe Weider created the Mr. Olympic tournament in 1965The focus was solely on bodybuilding in order to identify the true number one athlete in the sport. Over six decades, the Olympia has evolved from a one-day competition to a weekend celebration of all things fitness. Calling it “bodybuilding’s biggest weekend” doesn’t do justice to this iconic event. Olympia has now become a global event in the global sports calendar.
Attendees smart enough to secure tickets to the World Fitness Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center on September 25-26 will be able to witness history and see world-class athletes showcase their greatness in multiple sports and fitness disciplines. Below is just a sample of what fans can expect during the last week of September.
Armwrestling at the 2026 Olympics: What fans can expect
Arm wrestling matches are known to stop spectators in their tracks. There’s something about a fight between two rivals that keeps fans engaged all weekend long, and it will be even more so in 2026.
In Ultimate Armwrestling League (UAL) is a great organization dedicated to showcasing this classic sport in its raw and powerful form. Details of their 2026 event have yet to be revealed, but you can be sure it will be worth watching.
The World Armlifting Championships return to Olympia this weekend
The 2025 World Armlifting Championships have drawn crowds to the Olympia Expo stage, with promoter Riccardo Magni expecting around 100 international athletes to gather in Las Vegas for the 2026 edition.
Athletes test their grip by lifting the heaviest weights with a variety of challenging sets that test pure grip strength. As with powerlifting, there are several events and lifters try three times to complete a successful lift with maximum weight. Elections are still ongoing, but will end in early August. You can learn more about this sport and its events their website.
MAS World Championship Wrestling brings the power of Siberia to Las Vegas
A sign of strength Odd Haugen was a pioneer when it came to this sport and how it is presented in the United States. MAS wrestling, which originated in Siberia, calls for two athletes to sit with their legs straight and their feet facing the center board. Then they take the stick and pull it together like a sweat. The athlete who can remove the stick from the opponent’s hand or the opponent himself from the center is considered the winner.
The Olympia World Fitness Expo is host to the annual Olympia MAS World Wrestling Championships hosted by Haugen. Men and women will compete in round robin competitions for the crown winners in different weight classes. Those winners will then compete again in separate events for the glory of winning the men’s and women’s absolute world championship belts.
Olympic weightlifting will take center stage at Olympia 2026
No strength sports festival is complete without Olympic lifting, so the America’s Barbell Talon Cup, a USA sanctioned weightlifting event, will be held in Las Vegas this September.
The intensity and standards of excellence that come with performing the Snatch and Clean & Jerk according to USAW rules and procedures are combined with the prestige that only Olympia can offer. Details on their specific plans for the Las Vegas Convention Center are expected to be announced in the near future.
Powerlifting events and bench battles at the 2026 Olympics
Olympia is famous for bodybuilding, but has long been associated with powerlifting. Like those who have taken their places on the bodybuilding stages, many lifters are preparing to step onto the elite international platform at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The International Powerlifting League and USA Powerlifting both hold full meets during Olympia Weekend. The World Powerlifting Organization (WPO) will also host 2026 Seat wars meet where the best athletes are pushing the bar both literally and figuratively when it comes to extreme weights. Inzer also features strict curl competitions to see who has the strongest biceps.
Strongman competition returns to Olympia Performance Weekend
The 2026 Strongman competition returns to the Olympia Performance Weekend, September 25th and 26th, and fans can expect to see rare and raw strength injected into a variety of weights and tools in a variety of disciplines. Events typically include classic strength sets such as the yoke lift, deadlift, and bar press, along with rotating equipment that keeps both competitors and spectators guessing.
The Strongman event is open to qualified competitors and is free to watch on the Expo floor. Fans who stop watching tend to stick around for most of the competition and are inspired to go beyond their limits during the next practice.
Sumo Wrestling at Olympia: Open Battles and Global Talent
“Sumo Dan” Kalbfleisch won many sumo wrestling tournaments throughout his career, but he is best known today as the host of the Sumo Dan Olympia event. Every year on the Friday of the World Fitness Expo, Kalbfleisch hosts a training day to introduce people interested in the sport and give them the opportunity to participate.
Saturday at the Olympia is the Sumo Dan Tournament, which includes men and women from around the world who gather in Las Vegas to compete for Olympic glory. There are weight classes and an “Openweight” event where athletes in different weight categories can go head to head.
You can see all of these events and more at the 2026 Olympia World Fitness Expo in Las Vegas by ordering expo tickets at www.mrolympia.com. VIP access begins at 8:00 AM PT on both Friday and Saturday. General admission begins at 9 am. Follow @mrolympiallc on Instagram to keep up with what’s happening in Las Vegas.
