Muscle Insider’s 2026 Olympia Contest Coverage is presented by MUTANT.
Here’s where you should go, what to watch for, and how to make the most of your time in Vegas.
By Roger “Rock” Lockridge, Managing Editor
Whether it’s your first time at the Olympia or your 10th, it’s always a special weekend for bodybuilding and fitness fans. The 2026 Olympia Weekend takes over Las Vegas from September 24–27, and that’s why you want to do everything you can to make the experience memorable for years to come.
This is a snapshot guide to the key locations, major moments to watch for, and special events that can help you get the most out of your Olympia experience.
2026 Olympia Schedule, Tickets & Official Information
Most of what you need to know can be found on the official Olympia website, including tickets, event information, and passes for the World Fitness Expo. If you can’t make it to the finals—or tickets sell out—you can also watch the 2026 Olympia livestream for free from your hotel room or anywhere else you happen to be.
The Olympia site is also where you’ll find the full schedule for the week in Las Vegas. We’ll save you a few minutes and include that link here. Everything from the Amateur Olympia to Sunday morning’s Olympia Champions Seminar is included, making it easier to plan your weekend.
Olympia World Fitness Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center
The Las Vegas Convention Center will host the Olympia World Fitness Expo, along with various strength sports and educational events such as Olympia University. An Expo floor plan is available to help you navigate through the throngs of fans expected to pack the aisles on both Friday and Saturday.
Once you walk into the Expo, you’ll see booths from supplement brands and clothing companies competing for your attention, and your hard-earned cash. Many will have special Olympia promotions, so leave some room in your luggage if you plan on doing any shopping.
The Expo is also where prejudging for most Olympia divisions will take place, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. General admission includes standing room and limited open seating, so arriving early is a smart move. In 2025, hundreds of fans stood behind the seated section to watch and cheer on their favorite athletes.
While you’re traveling or at the hotel, follow the brands and athletes you want to see so you can keep up with appearance schedules and know when they’ll be at the Expo. Many of the personalities you follow online will be there in person, making the Expo one of the best opportunities of the weekend for photos and interactions.
2026 Olympia Finals at Orleans Arena
For the first time in seven years, Orleans Arena will host the Friday and Saturday night finals. This is a much bigger venue than the Resorts World Theater. So, the arena experience will be a special one this year.
The schedule for both nights of finals is available on the Olympia website. World champions will be crowned and history will be made, but keep in mind that video recording or livestreaming Olympia events is strictly prohibited without written consent. Violators are subject to removal from the venue.
Palms Casino Resort: Official 2026 Olympia Host Hotel
The iconic Palms Casino Resort is the host hotel for 2026, and there will be several events there as well, including Flex Lewis’ Dragon Lair pop-up gym, the Superstar Poolside Meet & Greet, International Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and the Olympia VIP afterparty. Even if you’re not staying there, it would be worth your while to spend time there and be a part of it all.
You may be thinking all that travel means more parking fees and Uber costs, but good news: there will be a shuttle available to go back and forth between all three locations. The schedule will be available at all three places so you can get where you need to go when you need to get there.
If you’re going to be in Las Vegas, make sure you also watch for the Muscle Insider team to be all over the Olympia and say hello. We appreciate all the support we get and would love to say thank you. Make sure you stay tuned to Muscle Insider and all our platforms so you can see even more coverage of this year’s Olympia.
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Image note: Some images in this article were created or modified using artificial intelligence for illustrative purposes.