There has been 21 invites sent out and spots still remain open.
The 2026 World’s Strongest Man competition is scheduled to take place from April 23-26. The event will return to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina once again where the top competitors in the world will battle for the crown. To this point, much of the lineup has been confirmed but there is still spots remaining.
There is expected to be 25 spots available in the end, but there is a chance the number could reach as many as 30.
2026 World’s Strongest Man Lineup
Here is an early look at the group that has been confirmed to the competition:
- Austin Andrade
- Adam Bishop
- Andrew Flynn
- Andrej Fojtu
- Nick Guardione
- Lucas Hatton
- Paddy Haynes
- Mitchell Hooper
- Bryce Johnson
- Martins Licis
- Trey Mitchell
- Evans Nana
- Rayno Nel
- Josh Patacca
- Mat Ragg
- Luke Richardson
- Jaco Schoonwinkel
- Evan Singleton
- Luke Stoltman
- Tom Stoltman
- Eddie Williams
The lineup is headlined by four former champions. This includes Rayno Nel, who became the first rookie to win the title since 1997. He will be challenged by a loaded lineup with a trio that have hoisted the trophy.
Tom Stoltman is a three-time champion and finished as the runner-up to Nel last year. Stoltman is coming off a victory at the Britain’s Strongest Man competition. He is at the top of his game once again. Martins Licis and Mitchell Hooper are also former champions.
Hooper is planning to attempt a world-record deadlift aside Hafthor Bjornsson during the 2026 Enhanced Games. Licis is expected to make his return to the competition for the first time since 2022.
2026 World’s Strongest Man Returning To Myrtle Beach
The World’s Strongest Man competition will be back in Myrtle Beach for the third time in four years. In 2025, the competition took place in Sacramento, which has held the event three times. The qualifying rounds will begin on Thursday and Friday from the Oceanfront Borroughs & Chapin Paviolion Place. A champion will be crowned after the two-day final round taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
President of Visit Myrtle Beach Stuart Butler shared a statement following the announcement:
“We’re thrilled to welcome the World’s Strongest Man competition back to downtown Myrtle Beach for another exciting showcase of live sports action. This world-class competition has exceeded out expectations each year we’ve hosted it, bringing in competitors and fans from across the globe and putting Myrtle Beach on the world stage.”
In 1977, the WSM began action from Universal Studios, California. It would be held in the United States for the first six years before taking trips around the globe. This includes New Zealand, Sweden, France, Portugal, South Africa, and many more locations. The last competition held outside of the U.S. took place in the Phillippines in 2018.
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