A Comprehensive Overview of the 2026 Arnold Classic South America Bodybuilding Competition
The 2026 Arnold Classic South America was held on April 25 in São Paulo, as part of the renowned Arnold Sports Festival South America. This one-day event showcased a mix of both emerging talent and seasoned veterans in the bodybuilding arena, specifically spotlighting the Men’s Open Bodybuilding and Classic Physique divisions. Dominating the Men’s Open category, Leandro Sencini Peres delivered a remarkable performance that earned him first place.
In the Classic Physique category, MHP Athlete Livingstone Livinho claimed the title and is now setting his sights on competing at the Mr. Olympia later this year. The stakes were high, as the competition offered valuable Olympia qualification opportunities, making it an important stop in the bodybuilding season.
Competitors in both divisions were eager to make an impression early in the year. The Men’s Open showcased a competitive lineup, while the Classic Physique competitors focused on aesthetics, conditioning, and stage presence.
Below, you will find the complete breakdown of results from the 2026 Arnold Classic South America.
Results from the 2026 Arnold Classic South America
Men’s Open Bodybuilding
- Winner – Leandro Sencini Peres
- Second Place – Wellington Baptista
- Third Place – Blessing Awodibu
- Fourth Place – Trindade Alexandre
- Fifth Place – Jose William Junior
- Sixth Place – Andre Carlao
- Seventh Place – Sibusiso Kotelo
- Eighth Place – Davi Flex Jr
- Ninth Place – Alan Ramiro Bonadiman
- Tenth Place – David Adriano Justino Da Silva
Classic Physique
- Winner – Livingstone Livinho
- Second Place – Rodrigo Cavalcanti
- Third Place – Paulo Henrique
- Fourth Place – Kenny Moreira
- Fifth Place – Wanderson Chaves
- Sixth Place – Marco Gomes
- Seventh Place – Eiton Freitas Nascimento
- Eighth Place – Carlos Roberto Viking
- Ninth Place – Marcelo De Jesus
- Tenth Place – Eduardo Inacio Falcao
Men’s Wheelchair
Official Scorecards
| MEN’S BODYBUILDING – OPEN | ||||||
| # | NAME | COUNTRY | JUDGING | FINALS | TOTAL | PLACE |
| 9 | Leandro Sencini Peres | Brazil | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| 4 | Wellington Baptista | Brazil | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 |
| 3 | Blessing Awodibu | USA | 9 | 9 | 18 | 3 |
| 2 | Trindade Alexandre | Brazil | 12 | 12 | 24 | 4 |
| 10 | Jose William Junior | Brazil | 15 | 15 | 30 | 5 |
| 5 | Andre Carlao | Brazil | 18 | 18 | 36 | 6 |
| 7 | Sibusiso Kotelo | South Africa | 21 | 21 | 42 | 7 |
| 6 | Davi Flex Jr | Brazil | 24 | 24 | 48 | 8 |
| 8 | Alan Ramiro Bonadiman | Brazil | 27 | 27 | 54 | 9 |
| 1 | David Adriano Justino Da Silva | Brazil | 30 | 30 | 60 | 10 |
| MEN’S CLASSIC PHYSIQUE – OPEN | ||||||
| # | NAME | COUNTRY | JUDGING | FINALS | TOTAL | PLACE |
| 20 | Livingstone Livinho | Brazil | 3 | 3 | 1 | |
| 12 | Rodrigo Cavalcanti | Brazil | 6 | 6 | 2 | |
| 19 | Paulo Henrique | Portugal | 9 | 9 | 3 | |
| 21 | Kenny Moreira | Brazil | 12 | 12 | 4 | |
| 13 | Wanderson Chaves | Brazil | 15 | 15 | 5 | |
| 18 | Marco Gomes | Brazil | 18 | 18 | 6 | |
| 22 | Eiton Freitas Nascimento | Brazil | 21 | 21 | 7 | |
| 24 | Carlos Roberto Viking | Brazil | 24 | 24 | 8 | |
| 15 | Marcelo De Jesus | Brazil | 27 | 27 | 9 | |
| 17 | Eduardo Inacio Falcao | Brazil | 30 | 30 | 10 | |
| 11 | Lucas Almeida Rios Alves | Brazil | 33 | 33 | 11 | |
| 14 | Rodrigo Coelho | Brazil | 36 | 36 | 12 | |
| 23 | Sergio Santos | Brazil | 39 | 39 | 13 | |
| MEN’S WHEELCHAIR – OPEN | ||||||
| # | NAME | COUNTRY | JUDGING | FINALS | TOTAL | PLACE |
| 25 | Josue Fabiano | Brazil | 3 | 3 | 1 | |
Event Overview & Significance
The Arnold Classic South America remains a premier event on the IFBB Pro League calendar. Each year, it attracts top athletes who are looking to kickstart their season and earn a coveted qualification for the Olympia.
The 2026 edition upheld this tradition, displaying exceptional performances across both categories. The winner of the Men’s Open now looks forward to showcasing at the Olympia, while the Classic Physique champion adds another achievement to his competitive record.
Stay tuned for further analyses, competitor reactions, and official scorecards as they become available.
*Featured image via Instagram @leandroperespro
