Mr. Olympia is returning to a classic venue. The 2026 competition will be held at the Orleans Arena for the first time since 2019.

On January 26, Olympia owner Jake Wood and president Dan Solomon confirmed that the competition is bringing back the old arena experience. Back in December, the IFFB said The Palms Las Vegas would act as the "host hotel" for the 2026 event. Now, they have an update on the arena for the actual contest.

"After spending six years in a theater environment, the decision to crown this year’s champions at the nearby Orleans Arena allows us to fully scale our presentation while amplifying the intensity and prestige of the fitness industry’s premier event," said CEO Dan Solomon.

Owner Jake Wood added, “Returning to the Orleans Arena creates meaningful benefits for fans and athletes. The expanded seating capacity opens the door to welcoming more attendees."

Wood also explained that the larger venue will enable them to up the production value of the Olympia, while offering "a wider range of ticket prices."

The bodybuilding community took the announcement well. In fact, multiple athletes, including the reigning Mr. Olympia, giving his two cents.

Derek Lunsford on the Mr. Olympia Venue Switch

Derek Lunsford, who regained his Mr. Olympia title in 2025, appreciated the decision and said, “Love this place!”

Last time, in 2019, Lunsford competed at the same venue and earned 2nd place in the 212 division, losing to Kamal Elgargni.

However, the former 212 Olympia champion has progressed far beyond his old division in the years that followed. In 2025, Lunsford overcame a panic attack and a pec tear to win the Sandow trophy for the second time, avenging his loss to Samson Dauda.

Now the defending champion is excited to defend his title at the venue where he fell short over half a decade ago. When asked who he considers his biggest competitor for the 2026 event, he named Andrew Jacked.

"Based on what we’ve seen so far, I still think that Hadi has the most balanced physique at the moment. I’m interested, like all of us, to see what Andrew does," said Lunsford.

Yet, what did you think about the announcement? Tell us in the comments.

Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi