Last Updated on February 7, 2025
The Arnold Sports Festival 2025, one of the world’s premier fitness and bodybuilding events, is set to make a grand return to Columbus, Ohio, USA from February 27 to March 2, marking its 36th annual celebration. This year’s festival promises to be the biggest in its history, with a record-breaking $500,000 prize awaiting the Arnold Classic champion.
Known for its spectacular display of strength, physique, and endurance, the festival has become a staple in Columbus culture, attracting massive crowds and contributing over $54 million to the local economy over the years. The event, named after legendary bodybuilder, actor, and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, continues to push boundaries, offering an ever-expanding lineup of competitions, exhibitions, and industry-leading attractions.
Arnold Sports Festival 2025: A Growing Legacy
The Arnold Sports Festival is no ordinary gathering; it is a powerhouse of fitness enthusiasts, professional athletes, and fans who come together for four action-packed days. Brent LaLonde, the festival’s director of communications, emphasizes its immense scale, noting that it draws over 100,000 visitors each year.
“The city has done a lot for the show, and the show has done a lot for the city. They both grow together,” LaLonde explains. The partnership between Columbus and the Arnold Sports Festival has cemented the city’s reputation as a hub for health and fitness, making it a must-visit destination for competitors and spectators alike.
Evolution and Expansion
Since 2020, when the festival faced unprecedented restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has undergone significant changes to adapt and improve. One of the most notable adjustments is the relocation of the Arnold Strongman/Strongwoman Classic to its own dedicated arena. This move not only enhances the viewing experience for strongman fans but also allows for better organization of the overall festival, providing more space for additional events.
With the main stage now free from multiple overlapping competitions, organizers have introduced more interactive elements, including seminars, meet-and-greets, and exclusive sessions with fitness icons. Past festivals have featured bodybuilding legends like Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler, giving fans an up-close look at the best in the business.
“The core of the festival remains the same—it’s all about celebrating athleticism, from bodybuilding and strength sports to combat sports, weightlifting, and martial arts,” LaLonde states. This commitment to honoring athletic excellence has kept the festival at the forefront of the fitness industry, drawing both seasoned professionals and aspiring newcomers.
What’s in Store for 2025?
This year’s Arnold Sports Festival will once again spotlight the most elite athletes in bodybuilding, powerlifting, and strongman competitions. Among the major highlights is the much-anticipated return of Iranian bodybuilder Hadi Choopan, also known as “The Persian Wolf,” who is looking to defend his Arnold Classic title and secure back-to-back victories.
In the strongman arena, Canada’s Mitchell Hooper is eyeing his third consecutive Arnold Strongman championship. If successful, he will join an elite club of three-time winners, placing him alongside legends like Brian Shaw and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, the latter famously known for portraying Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane on Game of Thrones. However, he still has a long way to go to catch up with Žydrūnas Savickas, who holds a record-breaking eight Arnold Strongman victories.
The festival will also welcome social media sensation Sam Sulek, a fitness influencer from Delaware, Ohio, who has gained a massive following on YouTube and Instagram with his workout vlogs and training insights. His presence is expected to bring an even larger audience to the event, particularly among younger fitness enthusiasts who follow his journey online.
Beyond the main competitions, the festival will feature an impressive lineup of over 1,000 vendors, offering everything from the latest gym equipment and apparel to supplements and cutting-edge fitness technology. More than 35 sports and fitness events will take place, spanning weightlifting, combat sports, gymnastics, and even foosball.
One of the fastest-growing attractions is the Strongest Firefighter competition. This unique event brings together approximately 150 firefighters who showcase their strength in grueling challenges, such as ambulance tire deadlifts and fire hydrant loads, reminiscent of the traditional Atlas stone lift. It has quickly become a fan favorite, merging physical prowess with the real-world heroism of first responders.
A One-of-a-Kind Experience
The Arnold Sports Festival is more than just an event; it is a global fitness phenomenon that continues to grow each year. Its success is largely attributed to its namesake, Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose influence spans across bodybuilding, Hollywood, politics, and beyond.
“It’s led by the greatest ambassador and champion of sports history in Arnold,” LaLonde says. “He’s a unicorn in bodybuilding, but he’s also a worldwide icon, from being a movie star to the governor of California and the greatest Olympia Champion of all time.”
Unlike other major fitness events, the Arnold Sports Festival stands out for its ability to bring together multiple disciplines under one roof. While bodybuilding has the Olympia and strongman has the World’s Strongest Man competition, no other event offers such a diverse array of athletic showcases in a single location. This combination of disciplines creates an electric atmosphere that keeps fans coming back year after year.
As anticipation builds for this year’s event, organizers are confident that the festival will continue to expand and draw even more attention to Columbus as a premier destination for health and fitness.
“I think the city is definitely the focus of the health and fitness industry once a year,” LaLonde states. “If we could have the Arnold Classic in Columbus every weekend, we’d all be thrilled.”
With an all-star lineup of competitors, an ever-growing list of events, and an unparalleled atmosphere, the Arnold Sports Festival 2025 is shaping up to be a historic event that solidifies its place as the ultimate celebration of strength, fitness, and athletic excellence.
