Arnold Schwarzenegger gave us many great things, and among them is the prestigious Arnold Sports Festival, whose 2026 edition is less than a month away.

So, get ready to witness one of the greatest marvels of sports and fitness at the Arnold Sports Festival, in Columbus, Ohio, from March 5-8. Besides bodybuilding, the festival will feature sports such as combat, dance & fitness, strongman, and combat.

But at the heart of this festival lies the most-anticipated event: the Arnold Classic. Last year's winner, Derek Lunsford, is taking a back seat this year, giving way to crown a new champion.

This makes Hadi Choopan the new fan favorite, while Sam Sulek will be making his IFBB Pro debut via the Arnold Classic 2026. Also, Strongman Hafthor Bjornsson will not be attending due to his commitments to the Enhanced Games.

Here are more details about the festival that you should know if you want to attend.

Dates: March 5-8

Venue: Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Events:

The details for the various events are listed on the Arnold Sports Festival website. Here are the details for some of the big events that you need to look out for.

• Arnold Classic - March 6-7, [Time -7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.]
• 2026 Arnold Expo - March 6-8, [Time - 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. / 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on March 8]
• The Arnold IFBB Pro League Meet & Greet - March 5, [Time 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.]
• Arnold Showcase - March 8, [Time - 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.]

Tickets:

You can buy the tickets for each event directly from the website, which are available as VIP, Ultimate Expo, and a 3-day package. Children under 14 can attend for free if accompanied by a paying adult.

• Bodybuilding: Ticket prices range from $35 - $1199.
• Strongman: Ticket prices range from $90 - $699.
• Expo: Ticket prices range from $40 - $199.
• Events:

The legend of Arnold Sports Festival

Founded in 1989 by bodybuilding legend-turned actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and event promoter Jim Lorimer, the Arnold Sports Festival is the world's most celebrated multi-sport festival.

What started as a single bodybuilding competition, the Arnold Classic, the most decorated bodybuilding competition after Mr. Olympia, soon expanded beyond bodybuilding into a global celebration of sports, fitness, and athletism.

The event is held in Columbus, Ohio, and features various sports besides bodybuilding, including powerlifting, Strongman, Olympic weightlifting, martial arts, fencing, gymnastics, cheerleading, and esports fitness competitions.

Over the years, the festival has been attended by several athletes and celebrities like Ronnie Coleman, Hafthor Bjornsson, Phil Heath, Michael Hooper, Chuck Norris, and Jean-Claude Van Damme. The festival's popularity in the US gave birth to other editions in Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa.

So, are you planning to experience the frenzy of the 7x Mr. Olympia's Sports Festival?

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Souvik Roy