The Olympia is Eliminating its Traditional Pay-Per-View Charge for 2026
The biggest bodybuilding show in the world just became much easier to watch.
Olympia President and CEO Dan Solomon announced Wednesday, Sept. 9, that the 2026 Mr. Olympia livestream will be available completely free of charge, eliminating the pay-per-view model that fans have used to watch the event in recent years.
The decision represents a significant change for Olympia Weekend. The standard livestream package for the 2025 Olympia cost $74.99, but fans will now be able to watch the 2026 competition without paying for access. Registration through OlympiaTV is still required.
The 2026 Olympia takes place Sept. 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nevada, with Derek Lunsford looking to defend the Mr. Olympia title against a loaded Men’s Open field.
Dan Solomon Announces Free 2026 Olympia Livestream
Solomon revealed the news after speaking with Olympia owner Jake Wood about the continued growth of Olympia Weekend.
Solomon said the organization reached several important goals involving sponsorships, exhibitors, its VIP program and new events surrounding the Olympia.
That success prompted Wood to make a major decision for the fans.
“When I shared all the updates with Jake, he said, let’s celebrate by giving away this year’s Olympia livestream for free,” Solomon said. “So that’s exactly what we’re going to do. This year, it’s no longer a pay-per-view. It will stream live for free.”
The change could dramatically expand the potential audience for bodybuilding’s biggest weekend. Instead of requiring fans around the world to purchase the event, anyone who registers will have access to the broadcast.
The official OlympiaTV website has already been updated with the message: “This year’s livestream is FREE!”
Free Stream Will Include All 12 Olympia Divisions
This isn’t simply a free stream of Saturday night’s Men’s Open final.
According to OlympiaTV, the broadcast will include complete prejudging and finals coverage for all 12 Olympia divisions, along with additional programming throughout the week.
Fans will also have access to athlete check-ins, the Olympia Press Conference, Amateur Olympia coverage, the Champions Seminar and pre-shows before Friday and Saturday’s competitions. Seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath is among the personalities scheduled to be part of the broadcast team.
Image embed via Instagram @mrolympiallc
