Brandao is scheduled to return during the 2026 Arnold Classic.
Rafael Brandao is preparing to make his return to competition during the Arnold Classic in March. After taking some time off to make needed improvements, Brandao will hit the stage in 2026 and shared a physique update giving fans the latest update on his progress.
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Brandao is no stranger to the Arnold Classic stage. He finished third behind Hadi Choopan and Samson Dauda in 2024, proving that he can compete with the top competitors in the world. Brandao would go onto win the Arnold Classic South America that same year before finishing eighth at the Olympia. Brandao last took the stage during the Romania Muscle Fest Pro, but decided to take the 2025 season off.
Despite his love for the gym and lifting, it wasn’t until 18 years old that he started to focus on the actual sport of bodybuilding. Rafael knew that if he was going to be competing, he needed to step up his knowledge of both nutrition and workouts in order to build a physique that was good enough to step on stage. He has done just that and has become an extremely popular competitor.
| Full Name: Rafael Brandao (Men’s Open Bodybuilder) | ||
| Weight | Height | Date Of Birth |
| 245-255lbs | 5’11” | June 24, 1993 |
| Division | Era | Nationality |
| Men’s Open | 2010, 2020 | Brazilian |
Rafael Brandao Preparing For Arnold Classic
Brandao is known for having incredible aesthetics. Combine that with his impressive genetics and a true passion for the sport of bodybuilding, and he could take the crown at the Mr. Olympia someday. For now, he will compete against the best at the upcoming Arnold and give fans a taste of his true potential.
“Under 4 weeks
Time to get ready 🔥”
The Men’s Open division will be loaded once again this year. Reigning Arnold and Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford announced that he will not be present during the show so there will be a new champion crowned in 2026.
Choopan and Andrew Jacked lead the way after finishing second and third to Lunsford during the Olympia respectively. Jacked finished third at last year’s competition and is expected to be one of the favorites to win the show. Curry is another former champion that will return after his fourth-place finish in 2025.
The Arnold Sports Festival will return to Columbus, Ohio and take place from March 5-8. The headliner will be the bodybuilding competition, which will crown new champions in each division on Friday and Saturday night. In May, Schwarzenegger shared that the 2026 Arnold Classic will feature a $1.5 million prize purse. This includes $750,000 to the Men’s Open champion. Arnold has been raising his prize money each year in order to give competitors further incentive to take the stage. He also wants the prize to be worth the preparation that bodybuilders go through all year long.
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