The 2026 Mr. Olympia is just weeks away, and the Men's Open division already has a clear group of contenders. Several of the sport's biggest names are coming off major wins, while others are looking to improve on last year's results.

According to an August 29 Instagram post from Olympiastats, Derek Lunsford sits at No. 1 in the current Open bodybuilding rankings, followed by Andrew Jacked, Samson Dauda, Nick Walker and Hadi Choopan.

With more than $2 million in prize money on the line, the race for the Sandow Trophy is taking shape.

Here are the top 10 Open bodybuilders ahead of the 2026 Mr. Olympia, as per an Instagram post shared by Olympiastats.

10. William Bonac — Ghana

William Bonac has been one of the most durable Open bodybuilders of the past decade. He is a two-time Arnold Classic champion and finished runner-up at the Mr. Olympia in 2019 and 2020.

He finished ninth at the 2025 Olympia and then qualified for the 2026 event.

9. Martin Fitzwater — United States

Martin Fitzwater has moved up the Open division in recent seasons. He won the 2024 Detroit Pro and followed that with a fourth-place finish at that year's Olympia.

He finished fifth at the 2025 Olympia and fourth at the 2026 Arnold Classic. Fitzwater is also qualified for this year's Olympia.

8. Brandon Curry — United States

Brandon Curry won the 2019 Arnold Classic before capturing the 2019 Mr. Olympia title.

Curry finished second at the 2020 Olympia and has continued competing in major contests. His recent results put him in the current top 10.

7. Michal Krizo — Slovakia

Michal Krizo entered the IFBB Pro League after winning five Arnold Classic titles in the IFBB Elite Pro.

He won the 2022 EVLS Prague Pro and 2023 Empro Spain Pro while finishing seventh at the 2023 Olympia. Krizo won the 2026 Pittsburgh Pro and finished second at the New York Pro.

6. Tonio Burton — United States

Tonio Burton has enjoyed a strong 2026 season. He won the New York Pro in May, beating Krizo, before adding another victory at the Legion Sports Fest Pro.

Burton also finished eighth at the 2025 Olympia. Those recent wins and his Olympia experience have helped put him among the leading Open competitors.

5. Hadi Choopan — Iran

Hadi Choopan owns one of the strongest Olympia records in the current Open division. He won the 2022 Mr. Olympia after finishing in the top three in 2019 and 2021.

Choopan then finished runner-up at the Olympia in 2023, 2024, and 2025. He also won the 2024 Arnold Classic, but reported visa problems are expected to keep him out of the 2026 Olympia.

4. Nick Walker — United States

Nick Walker turned pro in 2020. He won the 2021 New York Pro and Arnold Classic before finishing fifth at his first Olympia.

Walker had his best Olympia result in 2022, placing third. He followed that with a second-place finish at the 2026 Arnold Classic and a Tampa Pro win in July.

3. Samson Dauda — Nigeria

Samson Dauda won the 2023 Arnold Classic. A year later, he won the 2024 Mr. Olympia and became the first Nigerian to claim the title.

Dauda finished fourth at the 2025 Olympia. His championship resume puts him among the division's top competitors. His size and shape have also helped him stand out on the Olympia stage.

2. Andrew Jacked — Nigeria

Andrew Jacked reached the Olympia after winning the 2022 Arnold Classic Amateur and Texas Pro. He improved from eighth in 2022 to third in 2025.

Jacked improved a lot over the years, he then won both the Arnold Classic and Arnold Classic UK in 2026. He will enter the Olympia with two major wins this year.

1. Derek Lunsford — United States

Derek Lunsford has won Olympia titles in both the 212 and Open divisions. In 2021, Lunsford won his first Olympia title in the 212-pound category by defeating Shaun Clarida.

Lunsford then won the 2023 Open title, placed third in 2024, and reclaimed the Sandow in 2025. He also won the 2025 Arnold Classic and Pittsburgh Pro. Those results put him at No. 1 in the current ranking.

The Open field heading to Las Vegas includes former champions, recent Olympia finalists, and competitors coming off major wins. The 2026 Olympia will bring them together on the same stage.

Written by

Evince Das

Edited by

Rudra Dubey