Revolution or Ruin at Arnold 2026?

 

The Arnold Classic Physique 2025 left me with many doubts. Although the victory of Germany’s Mike Sommerfeld was clear, Logan Franklin’s second place finish came dangerously close to beating him. A dominant performance from Sommerfeld was expected given the absence of giants like Chris Bumstead, Ramon Dino Rocha, or Urs Kalecinski, and the disappointing showing by the defending champion, Wesley Vissers.

And the truth is, this Arnold Classic Physique 2025 was genuinely disappointing. So much so that none of the Top 5 athletes (except Sommerfeld) even managed to break into the Top 5 at the Mr. Olympia 2025. Neither Franklin, nor Greggo, nor Daboul made a significant impact at the Olympia. This tells me one clear thing: the level of competition at the Arnold was much lower, and Sommerfeld’s win, though deserved, lacked the weight and epic merit it should have carried.

Looking ahead to the Arnold Classic Physique 2026, things don’t seem to change much… at least when it comes to the traditional big names. Neither Rocha, nor Kalecinski, nor Ruffin are announced (for now) in the lineup. Only Vissers, the 2024 champion and major disappointment of 2025, is confirmed to return in search of redemption.

But here’s where it gets truly interesting…

It will be absolutely fascinating to witness the professional debut of Sam Sulek, the undisputed social media star who turned pro in 2025 and now returns to the Arnold stage to face, at least initially, only a handful of recognized Classic Physique athletes.

Sulek already surprised everyone this year by competing in the Classic Physique division when almost everyone assumed he would debut in Open. His meteoric rise, from influencer to amateur and from amateur to professional in record time, has been remarkable. Now, at last, it’s time to see what he’s really made of as a pro.

And he won’t be alone. The excitement grows with the appearance of future major Classic Physique prospects: Matheus Menegate (whom many already call “the new CBUM”), Andrea Mammoli, Paul Kanu… and let’s not forget Mexico’s Jorge Herrera.

Menegate, Mammoli, and Kanu seem destined to rise quickly and battle for top positions in Classic Physique. While Rocha, Sommerfeld, Ruffin, and Josema Beast appear more focused on the Olympia, and Kalecinski looks to improve his standing in Open, it will fall to Menegate, Mammoli, Kanu, and above all Sulek to elevate the prestige of this division even further.

A division that continues to gain respect and admiration worldwide. And of course, Jorge Herrera will keep us all on edge, wondering whether Mexican bodybuilding will finally have a real chance to move up the ranks in Classic Physique, a division that keeps growing in popularity both in Mexico and across the bodybuilding world.

Will this Arnold Classic Physique 2026 be the ultimate springboard for a new generation that shakes up the sport…? Or will we continue to see a level of competition below what we all expect and deserve? The future of Classic Physique looks bright, unpredictable, and absolutely unmissable.