The Biggest Sports Festival is Almost Here!
Prepare yourself for the highly anticipated Arnold Sports Festival, an extraordinary celebration of athleticism, strength, and performance. Founded by bodybuilding icon Arnold Schwarzenegger, this event has grown from its early days as a professional bodybuilding competition rivaling the Mr. Olympia to a colossal four-day festival featuring diverse competitions across disciplines such as combat sports, powerlifting, functional fitness, and more. While the spotlight shines on the centerpiece events—the Arnold Classic bodybuilding contest and the Arnold Strongman Classic—thousands of athletes, both amateur and professional, will showcase their skills to enthusiastic crowds.
The festival takes place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, with various venues dedicated to special events and showcases. Beyond the competitions, attendees can explore the Arnold Expo, which features hundreds of vendors, informative seminars, and engaging demonstrations focused on health, nutrition, training, and athletic performance.
Stay tuned as our team at Generation Iron brings you a comprehensive breakdown and schedule for the Arnold Sports Festival.
Bodybuilding Competition Schedule
The bodybuilding segment of the Arnold Classic 2026 is scheduled for Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7. This thrilling event will feature some of the top IFBB Pro League athletes competing in various divisions:
Friday, March 6 – Prejudging and Finals
- Classic Physique Prejudging: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM on the Expo Stage.
- Fitness International Prejudging: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM on the Expo Stage.
- Wellness International Prejudging: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM on the Expo Stage.
- Fit, Wellness, and Physique Finals: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM in the Battelle Grand.
During the prejudging sessions, judges assess athletes side by side, establishing scores that will be finalized later that evening. The evening session will culminate in the finals for the Classic Physique, Fitness, and Wellness divisions.
Saturday, March 7 – Major Finals
- Arnold Classic Men’s Open Prejudging: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM in the Battelle Grand.
- Arnold Classic Men’s Open Finals: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM in the Battelle Grand.
- Men’s Physique Finals: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM in the Battelle Grand.
- Bikini International Finals: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM in the Battelle Grand.
Saturday night highlights the most exhilarating finals of the festival, featuring the Arnold Classic Men’s Open, where elite professional bodybuilders compete for one of the year’s most prestigious titles. Additionally, the finals for the Men’s Physique and Bikini divisions will take place.
Arnold Strongman Classic Schedule
The Strongman portion of the festival attracts some of the world’s strongest athletes and consists of heavy implement events across two days:
Friday, March 6
- Arnold Strongman Classic Day 1: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM in the Strongman Arena. Expect events like the Elephant Bar Deadlift, Cyr Dumbbell Challenge, and Stone to Shoulder, focusing on maximum strength and explosive power.
Saturday, March 7
- Arnold Strongman Classic Day 2: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM in the Strongman Arena. Day two includes events such as the Austrian Oak Log Press, Stone Drag, and ramp races or strongman bag events. The overall champion will be determined by scores from both days.
The Strongman Arena is lively and action-packed, featuring many competitions throughout the festival and allowing spectators to witness incredible feats of strength with uncommon implements.
Additional Strength and Fitness Competitions
The Arnold Sports Festival also features various other competitions throughout the weekend:
- Powerlifting and Weightlifting: Both raw and equipped powerlifting events will take place daily. Olympic weightlifting showcases snatch and clean-and-jerk sessions throughout the day.
- Armwrestling and ArmLifting: These events will occur on Friday and Saturday at scheduled times.
- Combat Sports: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, grappling, and martial arts matches will be held over the weekend.
- Amateur Strongman and Fitness Events: Amateur divisions will run concurrently with professional events, with times varying by classification.
Expo and Support Events
The Arnold Expo is open to all festival attendees, running during the following hours:
- Friday, March 6: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday, March 7: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Sunday, March 8: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
This expo features hundreds of vendors, live demonstrations, seminars, and fitness challenges, providing an enriching experience for fans and athletes alike.
Conclusion
The Arnold Classic 2026 promises an exciting weekend filled with world-class competition and athletic celebration. With a detailed schedule for bodybuilding prejudging and finals, along with a comprehensive strongman lineup, this festival is your chance to witness elite performances across strength and physique sports. From top-notch bodybuilders vying for prestigious titles to remarkable displays of strength in the Strongman Arena, the Arnold Sports Festival is an essential event for fitness enthusiasts.
Will you be tuning into the Arnold Sports Festival? Share your thoughts in the comments and forums. Don’t forget to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
