Arnold Sports Classic and Festival set for March return to Columbus in 38th year
Columbus prepares for the 2026 Arnold weekend
The Arnold Sports Classic and the broader Arnold Sports Festival are scheduled to return to Columbus on March 5–8, 2026, marking the event’s 38th edition. The multi-day program again centers on the Greater Columbus Convention Center downtown, combining professional and amateur competitions with a large consumer expo and ticketed stage events.
The weekend has grown into a signature early-March draw for the city’s hospitality and events calendar, with organizers outlining a slate that spans bodybuilding, strength sports and multi-sport exhibitions, alongside a large vendor floor.
Core venues and expo hours
The Arnold Expo is planned for the convention center, with public hours set for Friday, March 6 (10 a.m.–7 p.m.), Saturday, March 7 (10 a.m.–7 p.m.), and Sunday, March 8 (10 a.m.–4 p.m.). Early entry at 9 a.m. is reserved for select ticket categories. Organizers have also promoted an exhibitor footprint of more than 500 booths, positioning the expo as the festival’s central public-facing component.
Strength and bodybuilding anchors
Among the headline competitions, the Arnold Strongman Classic is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 6–7, with all sessions planned inside the convention center’s Strongman Arena. The event format is set across six disciplines over two days, with the men’s field listed at 10 competitors competing for the Louis Cyr Trophy. Scheduled events include the Elephant Bar Deadlift and Cyr Dumbbell Challenge on Friday, followed by the Austrian Oak and additional events on Saturday.
On the physique-sports side, the IFBB Pro calendar lists the Arnold Classic weekend in Columbus across March 5–8, covering multiple divisions, while an Arnold Amateur USA Pro Qualifier is also scheduled during the same dates. Beyond the pro and amateur stage shows, general-admission expo tickets are marketed as covering a wide range of on-site competitions and demonstrations across several sports.
- Festival dates: March 5–8, 2026
- Arnold Expo public days: March 6–8
- Arnold Strongman Classic: March 6–7
- Arnold Sunday Showcase: March 8 at 9:30 a.m. (ticketed)
Tickets and access: what admission does and does not include
Ticketing is structured around expo access and separate, reserved-seat events. Organizers specify that some marquee programs—such as night finals, meet-and-greet events, and showcase programming—require additional tickets beyond expo admission. Children 14 and under are admitted free to the expo when accompanied by a paying adult, with exclusions for separately ticketed events.
Organizers note that many scheduled activities require special tickets and that times remain subject to change.
Economic footprint and visitor draw
Recent projections tied to the Arnold weekend in Columbus have included expectations of roughly 100,000 visitors and about $15.6 million in direct visitor spending, along with thousands of hotel room-nights. While 2026 projections were not detailed in the same terms, the published figures underscore why the event remains a key tourism weekend for downtown businesses, hotels and convention-area venues.