What is Mr. Olympia?
The world title of professional bodybuilding, first contested in 1965 and won by Larry Scott. It is staged as Joe Weider's Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend, sanctioned under the IFBB Professional League and produced commercially rather than by a federation — Olympia Productions has owned the event since 2020.[1] [2]
| Season | Pool / Format | Host cities |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Derek Lunsford (2nd title) — Hadi Choopan 2nd | Resorts World, Las Vegas — 61st; $600,000 first prize |
| 2024 | Samson Dauda (GBR/NGR) | Las Vegas — 60th Olympia |
| 2023 | Derek Lunsford (USA) | Orlando, Florida |
| 2022 | Hadi Choopan (IRI) | Las Vegas |
| 2021 | Mamdouh 'Big Ramy' Elssbiay (2nd title) | Orlando, Florida |
| 2026 | — scheduled | Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, 24–27 September |
Recent Men's Open champions.
What is contested?
Eleven separate divisions, each judged in a prejudging round and a final: Men's Open — the Mr. Olympia title proper — plus Classic Physique, Men's Physique, 212, Ms. Olympia, Women's Physique, Figure, Fitness, Bikini, Wellness and Wheelchair. The Open field is typically fifteen to twenty invited professionals; the smaller divisions run to forty.[1] [3]
How do competitors qualify?
Through the Olympia Qualification Series, and an IFBB pro card earned at amateur level is the precondition for any of it. The top three from the previous Olympia qualify automatically. Winning any IFBB Pro League open show qualifies a competitor in the Men's Open, 212, Women's Bodybuilding, Women's Physique, Fitness and Figure. The bar is higher in Classic Physique, Men's Physique, Bikini and Wellness, where a competitor needs two wins or a top-25 points finish, with points awarded down the placings. Former champions hold lifetime eligibility, but it must be exercised and approved rather than assumed.[3]
Why does it matter?
Because bodybuilding has no world championship in the federation sense — the sport's undisputed title is a promoted event, and the Olympia is it. Derek Lunsford's second win in 2025 made him the first man since Jay Cutler in 2009 to regain the title after losing it, taking a $600,000 first prize.[2] [4]
References
- Mr. Olympia — official site. Accessed August 2026.
- Mr. Olympia — past champions. Accessed August 2026.
- IFBB Pro League — Olympia qualification rules. Accessed August 2026.
- IFBB Professional League. Accessed August 2026.