The 2026 Armlifting USA World Championships, led by President and promoter Riccardo Magni, will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada as part of the 2026 Olympia World Fitness Expo on the weekend of September 25th and 26th.
Armlifting is a grip sport that functions as a hybrid of powerlifting and strongman. Like powerlifting, there are three lifts and three attempts per athlete to achieve the heaviest weight possible while seeking approval from referees. The implements that are used to test that grip can be different from one event to the next, similar to strongman competitions. Each implement offers its own unique challenge, but the objective is to lift the weight and stand tall without losing grip before receiving the down command. Chalk can be used but no other accessories are allowed.
The events for the 2026 world championship contest are as follows.
Ebony Perez
2026 Armlifting USA World Championship Athlete Information
As of this writing, the final roster for the event has yet to be officially announced. Athletes have qualified through the organization’s World Super Series schedule. Competitors will compete in men’s and women’s divisions based on age and weight classes. Weigh-ins for the competition are scheduled for Thursday, September 24th. Competitions will be held at the Armlifting USA area of the World Fitness Expo at the designated dates and times below.
Friday, September 25th
9:00 AM -12:30 PM Pacific Time – Men’s Teen, Masters, Open 70-kilogram, and Open 80-kilogram
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Pacific Time – All Women’s Divisions
Saturday, September 26th
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM Pacific Time – Men’s Open 90, 100, 110-kilogram
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Pacific Time – Men’s 125 and Over 125-kilogram
Aside from competing for world titles, athletes will have opportunities to set world records as well. The 2025 event saw multiple world records fall at the hands of competitors like Ebony Perez, who lifted 165 pounds on the Raptor grip to claim the all-time world record across all divisions for that implement, and there is a good chance that other records will suffer the same fate in 2026.
For more information about Armlifting USA, visit their website or follow @armliftingusa on Instagram. Tickets to the 2026 Olympia World Fitness Expo can be purchased in advance at www.mrolympia.com .
