Do you want your favorite bodybuilder to win Mr. Olympia this year? Check if they made the list first.

As of now, seven bodybuilders have a confirmed spot on the 2026 Mr. Olympia Men's Open list.

• Derek Lunsford (USA)
• Hadi Choopan (Iran)
• Chinedu Andrew 'Jacked' Obiekea (UAE)
• Tonio Burton (USA)
• Martin Fitzwater (USA)
• Sergey Danilov (Russia)
• Michal Krizanek (Slovakia)

It's a no-brainer how Derek Lunsford qualified; being the 2025 champion automatically qualifies him for this year's competition. He is among the top contenders this year, with all eyes on him to see if he can reclaim his title.

His biggest competitor, Hadi Choopan, qualified for the same reason; he placed second in the last competition, giving him an automatic seat. The Persian Wolf was a fan favorite at the Arnold Classic this year and is also a strong contender for Mr. Olympia this year. What sets him apart from his competition is his muscle density and maturity.

As for the 2026 Arnold Classic winner, Andrew Jacked punched his ticket for this year's Olympia by placing third in 2025. He further cemented his position by shining at the 2025 Romania Muscle Fest Pro.

Then there are Sergey Danilov and Tonio Burton, who earned their places on the roster by winning the 2025 France Pro and the 2025 Mexican Pro, respectively.

Martin Fitzwater got himself a spot on the 2026 Mr. Olympia list by clinching the top spot at the 2025 EVLS Prague Pro for the second time in a row. And he was followed by Slovakian pro bodybuilder Michal Krizanek, who also earned his right by winning the British Grand Prix Pro 2025.

These seven competitors will be joined by more athletes as more IFBB Pro shows take place and additional athletes secure their spots to compete in the world's most prestigious bodybuilding competition.

Who will take the Sandow trophy can be discussed when the competition is near, but as for now, let's see what the criteria are for choosing a contender for Mr. Olympia.

Qualification Criteria for 2026 Mr. Olympia Men's Open

The qualification criteria for the 2026 Mr. Olympia depend on which division the athlete competes in. For the Men’s Open division, bodybuilders are selected in three main ways:

• If they finished in the top 3 at the 2025 Mr. Olympia.
• Win any IFBB Pro Men’s Open competition within the qualification period.
• Former Mr. Olympia winners have a lifetime eligibility, but it is subject to approval from IFBB if more than five years have passed since their last win.

The qualification process for Men's Open is simpler than other divisions as there is no points-ranking method. If you win a Pro show, you automatically win your spot. The qualification window for the 2026 edition is from September 15, 2025, through August 30, 2026.

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Written by

Ruwa Javed

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi