News report · Forma

Arnold Sports Festival 2026: record crowds, heavy lifts, body movement returns to Birmingham

On the ground at the NEC, where around 100,000 fans came for lifting, bodybuilding and the fitness brands around them.

By Tanika ThotaApril 2026

Bronze statue of a bodybuilder striking a pose on a plinth at the Arnold Sports Festival

Established in 1989 by Arnold Schwarzenegger and fitness promoter Jim Lorimer, the event has become one of the largest multi-sport festivals in the world.

Around 100,000 athletes and fitness enthusiasts attended the Arnold Sports Festival UK at National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. March 27 marked the beginning of a long weekend full of weightlifting, bodybuilding, and community within the fitness industry.

Crowds queueing behind barriers in front of a red Panatta bodybuilding stand at the NEC — Crowds queue to get in at the NEC.

From the moment the NEC opened its doors, thousands had already gathered outside, with people quickly piling in to visit various booths. Brands in attendance included Applied Nutrition, Celsius, Panatta, and Raw Nutrition, among several others.

The Arnold Expo stage with large screens and purple lighting, and an audience in front — The Arnold Expo main stage.

The air was buzzing with motivation as visitors geared up for the expo, which featured various bodybuilding competitions with cash prizes of up to $750,000 for first place. Several well-known names in the fitness industry attended, including Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, Hafthor Bjornsson, Sam Sulek, and Joey Swoll. Schwarzenegger himself also appeared at the event at around 5pm.

An audience seated in a dark hall, one wearing a Gymshark Lifting Club top — The audience at the expo show.

The expo show began shortly after Schwarzenegger’s appearance, with Andrew Jacked (Andrew Obiekea) winning first place and taking home the $750,000 cash prize. Ashlyn Brown won the women’s bikini competition, although no prize amount was disclosed.

Events like this are essential in promoting healthy wellbeing through the commercialisation of fitness, strength, and sport.

Athletes climbing ropes on a CrossFit-style rig inside the arena while a spectator in an Arnold top watches — Rope climbs on the competition floor.

The festival provided a platform for a wide range of disciplines, including bodybuilding, gymnastics, powerlifting, strongman, martial arts, and fencing.

A woman in a pink sports top working hard on an air bike surrounded by a crowd and officials — Competitors push through a test on the air bikes.

The expo also helps bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts launch their careers and gain visibility through the stage. Schwarzenegger’s involvement reinforces his long-standing stance on drug-free training, as he has repeatedly warned against performance-enhancing drug use in modern bodybuilding.

The festival’s official Instagram account has already promoted a future event in 2027, stating it will be “the fastest-growing show on the planet.”