The 2026 Mr. Olympia is set to return to Las Vegas from September 24–27, bringing together the world’s leading bodybuilding athletes for the biggest contest of the season. Moreover, the 2026 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open division will once again headline the weekend, with Derek Lunsford entering the contest as the reigning Mr. Olympia after winning the title in 2025 as colosseum strength reveals the preview and predictions.

Additionally, Lunsford will face a highly competitive field that includes 2025 podium finisher Chinedu Obiekea, former Mr. Olympia champion Samson Dauda, Nick Walker, Martin Fitzwater, Brandon Curry, William Bonac, Regan Grimes, Tonio Burton, and several other established contenders. Furthermore, Nick Walker enters the discussion as one of the strongest threats to challenge for the Sandow Trophy after finishing sixth at the 2025 Mr. Olympia.

Meanwhile, the 2026 contest will have a different dynamic because Hadi Choopan, who finished second behind Lunsford in 2025, has withdrawn from the 2026 competition and does not appear on the current official IFBB Pro League roster. Therefore, the battle for the Sandow Trophy will feature a different group of leading contenders, with Lunsford defending his championship against athletes who finished inside the top six in 2025.

2026 Mr. Olympia Predictions: Men’s Open Top 5

The 2026 Men’s Open field contains a combination of returning veterans, former champions, established Olympia contenders, and athletes looking to improve upon their 2025 results. Moreover, the predictions in this article are based on the athletes’ most recent Olympia placings and established competitive records rather than unsupported claims about their current condition.

2026 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open Official Roster

Furthermore, the official 2026 roster contains 22 Men’s Open competitors. Moreover, Hadi Choopan is not included on the current official roster following his withdrawal from the 2026 contest.

Predicted Top 5 Roster

Derek Lunsford remains the primary choice for first place because he enters the contest as the defending Mr. Olympia champion. Moreover, Samson Dauda and Chinedu Obiekea represent two of the strongest challenges based on their recent Olympia results.

Additionally, Nick Walker deserves special consideration because his sixth-place finish in 2025 does not remove him from the championship conversation. Meanwhile, Martin Fitzwater enters the prediction after finishing fifth in 2025 and has already established himself as a top-level Olympia competitor.

Therefore, Lunsford is projected to retain the Sandow Trophy, with Dauda second, Obiekea third, Walker fourth, and Fitzwater fifth. Moreover, the order could change significantly if the athletes arrive in different condition than expected.

Alternative Scenario 1: Dark Horse Top 5

An alternative outcome could develop if one of the established contenders makes a major improvement while one or more of the favorites fail to match their previous Olympia performance. Moreover, this scenario gives greater consideration to athletes capable of moving several positions upward.

Martin Fitzwater becomes the key dark-horse element in this scenario because he already finished fifth at the 2025 Olympia. Moreover, a move from fifth into the runner-up position would represent a major improvement while remaining within the range of possibility for an established top-five competitor.

Additionally, Brandon Curry remains dangerous because he is a former Mr. Olympia champion and finished seventh in 2025. Therefore, this scenario gives Curry an opportunity to return to the upper portion of the Olympia standings while keeping Lunsford at the top.

Alternative Scenario 2: Conditioning-Favored Top 5

Another possible outcome would place greater emphasis on conditioning and overall presentation. Moreover, this scenario changes the order among the leading contenders without adding athletes outside the established championship discussion.

Chinedu Obiekea moving into second place would represent an improvement from his third-place finish in 2025. Moreover, Nick Walker moving into third would give him a substantial improvement over his sixth-place finish from last year’s contest.

Additionally, Samson Dauda would remain firmly within the championship picture even if he finished fourth in this scenario. Therefore, this alternative illustrates how closely the leading competitors could be grouped if conditioning becomes a major factor in the final judging.

2026 Mr. Olympia – Top 5 Athletes Predictions

Derek Lunsford

Derek Lunsford enters the 2026 Mr. Olympia as the defending champion after winning the 2025 contest. Moreover, Lunsford defeated Hadi Choopan in 2025 and finished first with 14 total points compared with Choopan’s 16.

Additionally, Lunsford has already demonstrated that he can win the Sandow Trophy against an elite Olympia field. Meanwhile, his 2025 victory gives him the strongest recent evidence of championship-level performance among the athletes currently entered.

Therefore, Lunsford begins this prediction in first place. Moreover, the primary question is whether another competitor can present a package capable of surpassing the reigning champion.

 

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Samson Dauda

Samson Dauda remains one of the most important athletes in the 2026 prediction after finishing fourth at the 2025 Mr. Olympia. Moreover, Dauda is also a former Mr. Olympia champion after winning the title in 2024.

Additionally, Dauda now has the opportunity to move back toward the top of the division after finishing fourth behind Lunsford, Choopan, and Obiekea in 2025. Meanwhile, his championship experience makes him one of the most significant threats to Lunsford.

Therefore, Dauda is projected to finish second in the primary prediction. Moreover, his former-champion status means that he cannot be dismissed simply because he finished fourth last year.

 

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Chinedu Obiekea

Chinedu Obiekea enters the 2026 Olympia after finishing third at the 2025 contest. Moreover, that result placed him directly behind Lunsford and Choopan and established him as one of the leading competitors in the division.

Additionally, Obiekea’s current official country designation is the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, his return gives him an opportunity to improve upon his third-place result and move closer to the Sandow Trophy.

Therefore, Obiekea is projected to finish third in the primary prediction. Moreover, the conditioning-focused scenario moves him into second, demonstrating why he remains one of the strongest threats to the defending champion.

 

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Nick Walker

Nick Walker is one of the most intriguing athletes in the 2026 field after finishing sixth at the 2025 Mr. Olympia. Moreover, Walker finished behind Lunsford, Choopan, Obiekea, Dauda, and Fitzwater in last year’s final standings.

Additionally, Walker remains an established Olympia-level competitor and one of the athletes capable of making a substantial move up the standings. Meanwhile, his position in the current 2026 roster keeps him firmly within the conversation surrounding the Sandow Trophy.

Therefore, Walker is projected to finish fourth in the primary prediction, although the conditioning-focused scenario moves him into third. Moreover, his placement range demonstrates why Walker should be considered a genuine Sandow contender rather than simply another athlete fighting for a top-10 position.

 

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Martin Fitzwater

Martin Fitzwater enters the 2026 Olympia after finishing fifth in the 2025 contest. Moreover, that result placed him immediately among the leading competitors in the Men’s Open division.

Additionally, Fitzwater has already demonstrated that he can compete against the best athletes on the Olympia stage. Meanwhile, another strong performance could allow him to move ahead of competitors who finished above him last year.

Therefore, Fitzwater rounds out the primary predicted top five. Moreover, the dark-horse scenario moves him into second, showing how dramatically the final standings could change if he improves while one or more favorites fall back.

 

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Biggest Threats Outside the Top 5

The athletes outside the primary top five should not be overlooked because the 2026 roster contains multiple established Olympia competitors. Moreover, Brandon Curry, William Bonac, Regan Grimes, and Tonio Burton all finished inside the top 14 at the 2025 Olympia, with Curry, Burton, and Bonac finishing inside the top nine.

Additionally, Michal Krizanek, James Hollingshead, Behrooz Tabani Abarghani, and Leandro Sencini Peres add further depth to the 2026 field. Meanwhile, several of these athletes could move upward if they produce a stronger Olympia package than expected.

Therefore, the biggest threat to the predicted top five is that the final standings could change considerably depending on the condition and presentation shown on stage. Moreover, the depth of the 2026 roster makes it difficult to assume that last year’s order will simply repeat itself.

Biggest Threats (Roster Table — Outside the Top 5)

Brandon Curry stands out because he is a former Mr. Olympia champion and finished seventh in 2025. Moreover, William Bonac also brings significant Olympia experience after placing ninth last year.

Additionally, Tonio Burton finished eighth in 2025, while Behrooz Tabani Abarghani finished 11th. Therefore, both remain relevant names when considering possible movement outside the primary top five.

Meanwhile, Regan Grimes, Michal Krizanek, James Hollingshead, and Leandro Sencini Peres add further depth to the roster. Moreover, their final placings will depend on the packages they present when they take the Olympia stage.

Dark Horses Who Could Shock the Olympia

Every Olympia prediction contains athletes who could outperform expectations, and the 2026 field includes several potential dark horses. Moreover, a dark horse does not necessarily mean an unknown athlete because an established competitor can also qualify as a dark horse when projected outside the leading group.

Additionally, Leandro Sencini Peres, James Hollingshead, Damian Kuffel, Michal Krizanek, and Behrooz Tabani Abarghani are among the names worth monitoring. Meanwhile, Regan Grimes and Tonio Burton could also make significant moves if they improve upon their previous Olympia standings.

Therefore, the dark-horse category should be viewed as a group of competitors capable of exceeding expectations rather than as a prediction that any one athlete will definitely break into the top five. Moreover, the final Olympia judging will determine whether any of these athletes can make that jump.

Dark Horse Roster

Leandro Sencini Peres

Leandro Sencini Peres is part of the official 2026 Men’s Open roster representing Brazil. Moreover, his inclusion adds another international competitor to a deep Olympia field.

Additionally, Peres is not included among the five primary favorites in this prediction. Therefore, a strong performance could allow him to finish considerably higher than a conservative prediction would suggest.

Meanwhile, the Olympia stage provides every qualified athlete with the opportunity to change the perception surrounding his competitive position. Moreover, Peres is one of the competitors who could benefit if the final standings become unpredictable.

James Hollingshead

Furthermore, James Hollingshead returns to the 2026 Olympia lineup representing the United Kingdom. Moreover, his inclusion adds another experienced competitor to an already deep Men’s Open division.

Additionally, Hollingshead’s dark-horse status comes from the depth of the field rather than a lack of competitive experience. Therefore, a strong Olympia package could place him higher than expected.

Meanwhile, the final result will depend on how his complete physique compares with the athletes around him. Moreover, Hollingshead remains a competitor worth watching when the Men’s Open field takes the stage.

Damian Kuffel

Damian Kuffel is another official member of the 2026 Men’s Open field, representing Poland. Moreover, his presence adds another international athlete to the division.

Additionally, Kuffel is not among the five primary favorites selected for this prediction. Therefore, a significant improvement in his final Olympia package could make him one of the athletes capable of surprising the field.

Meanwhile, the strength of the 2026 lineup means that even a substantial improvement in placing would represent a notable result. Moreover, Kuffel’s dark-horse designation reflects that possibility without assuming an outcome that has not yet occurred.

Michal Krizanek

Michal Krizanek returns to the Olympia lineup representing Slovakia. Moreover, his inclusion gives the European contingent another established Men’s Open competitor.

Additionally, Krizanek is not projected to finish inside the primary top five. Therefore, his dark-horse path would involve moving substantially higher than expected and disrupting the established order.

Meanwhile, the final comparison will come down to the complete physique presented on stage. Moreover, Krizanek remains a competitor who should be monitored throughout Olympia weekend.

Behrooz Tabani Abarghani

Behrooz Tabani Abarghani returns to the Olympia stage representing Iran. Moreover, he finished 11th at the 2025 Mr. Olympia, placing him among the athletes with recent Olympia experience.

Additionally, his 2025 result gives him a measurable reference point heading into the 2026 contest. Therefore, moving substantially higher in the standings would make him one of the more notable dark-horse stories of the weekend.

Meanwhile, the depth of the current roster means that a significant improvement could create major movement in the middle and upper portions of the standings. Moreover, Tabani Abarghani remains one of the athletes capable of making that kind of jump.

2025 vs. 2026: What Changed?

The biggest change between the 2025 and 2026 Men’s Open fields is the absence of Hadi Choopan. Moreover, Choopan finished second behind Lunsford in 2025 with 16 total points but is not included on the current official 2026 roster after withdrawing.

Additionally, Derek Lunsford enters 2026 from the opposite position because he is no longer chasing the championship; instead, he is defending it. Meanwhile, Chinedu Obiekea returns after placing third, Samson Dauda returns after fourth, Martin Fitzwater returns after fifth, and Nick Walker returns after sixth.

Therefore, the 2026 championship battle has a different structure from the 2025 contest. Moreover, the absence of the runner-up creates an opening for the returning contenders to move upward while Lunsford attempts to remain at the top.

2025 Mr. Olympia vs. 2026

The 2025 top 10 established Lunsford as champion, Choopan as runner-up, Obiekea in third, Dauda in fourth, Fitzwater in fifth, Walker in sixth, Curry in seventh, Burton in eighth, Bonac in ninth, and Vitalii Ugolnikov in 10th. Moreover, only those athletes who remain on the current 2026 official roster are carried forward into the 2026 prediction.

Final 2026 Prediction

Derek Lunsford remains the primary prediction to win the 2026 Mr. Olympia and claim another Sandow Trophy. Moreover, his status as the reigning champion gives him the strongest recent competitive case among the athletes currently entered.

Additionally, Samson Dauda is projected to finish second, while Chinedu Obiekea is projected third. Meanwhile, Nick Walker is projected fourth and Martin Fitzwater fifth, although both Walker and Fitzwater have realistic paths to move higher depending on their final Olympia presentations.

Therefore, the 2026 Olympia should not be viewed as a guaranteed repeat of the 2025 standings. Moreover, Nick Walker’s presence makes the title race particularly interesting because he is not simply being considered for another top-10 finish; he is a genuine contender for the Sandow Trophy who could challenge the leading favorites.

2026 Olympia Event Information

The 2026 Olympia Weekend will take place in Las Vegas from September 24 through September 27. Moreover, the official Olympia schedule places the Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center, while the evening finals will be held at Orleans Arena.

Additionally, the Palms Casino Resort will serve as the host hotel for the weekend. Therefore, the major Olympia activities will be spread across the official Olympia venues in Las Vegas.

This news is written by a member of the Colosseum Strength Editorial Staff. If you have any questions or require further clarification about this news, please leave a comment below.

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2026 Mr. Olympia Preview & Predictions

• 2026 Mr. Olympia Preview & Predictions: Men’s Open Top 5

Overview

The 2026 Mr. Olympia Men’s Open contest features a strong field led by defending champion Derek Lunsford, former champion Samson Dauda, third-place finisher Chinedu Obiekea, Nick Walker, Martin Fitzwater, and several other established competitors. Moreover, the withdrawal of 2025 runner-up Hadi Choopan changes the competitive landscape and creates additional opportunities for the remaining contenders.

Additionally, Derek Lunsford is the primary prediction to win the Sandow Trophy, with Dauda, Obiekea, Walker, and Fitzwater completing the predicted top five. Meanwhile, Nick Walker remains one of the most important athletes to watch because his sixth-place finish in 2025 leaves room for a substantial improvement, making him a serious contender for the championship.

Therefore, the 2026 Olympia should provide another highly competitive Men’s Open battle in Las Vegas. Moreover, while Lunsford begins the contest as the defending champion, the presence of multiple proven contenders means that the final standings could change dramatically once the athletes step onto the Olympia stage.

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Featured Image – 2026 Mr. Olympia Preview & Predictions: Men’s Open Top 5 – Credit: @Credit: @derekLunsford_, @Mrolympiallc (Instagram)