Arnold Sports Festival 2025: Dates, Event Schedule and More for Arnold Classic

The Arnold Sports Festival is back in Columbus, Ohio for 2025, and this year's event might be the biggest yet.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's annual celebration of all things fitness will feature some of the world's best bodybuilders, fitness competitors, strength athletes, martial artists and more. The weekend will, naturally, be headlined by the 2025 Arnold Classic.

The Arnold Classic has become the No. 2 International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) competition in the world, behind only The Olympia. This year's Men's Open competition will feature a top prize of $500,000. That's only $100,000 less than Samson Dauda took home for winning the 2024 Olympia.

Dauda is scheduled to compete this weekend, with a chance to top $1 million in prize money in less than a calendar year. However, he'll feature stiff competition from a star-studded field that features two other former Olympia winners.

Of course, the Arnold Sports Festival will feature much more than the Men's Open. Fans in attendance will have a variety of events to choose from during the festival, which will run from February 27 to March 2. Events will be held at multiple locations throughout Columbus, including the Columbus Convention Center, the Ohio Expo Center, the Hilton Columbus Downtown and the Hyatt Regency—though the Columbus Convention Center will play host to most.

Fans who can't attend can sign up to live stream marquee events at the Arnold Sports Festival's official website.

Arnold Sports Festival 2025, Schedule of Key Events

Thursday, February 27

Arnold Amateur 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

IFBB Pro League Meet & Greet 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. ET

Friday, February 28

Martial Arts Festival 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Armwrestling 9 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. ET

USA Powerlifting 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET

MAS Wrestling 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET

Arnold Strongman Classic 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Arnold Classic Physique Prejudging 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET

Fitness International Prejudging 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. ET

Gymnastics 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. ET

Fitness International Finals 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. ET

Arnold Classic Open Prejudging 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. ET

Arnold Classic Physique Finals 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. ET

Saturday, March 1

Grappling 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET

USA Weightlifting 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET

Youth Dancesport 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Cheerleading & Dance 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET

Gymnastics 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET

Martial Arts Festival 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Arnold Expo 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET

Pro Wheelchair Bodybuilding 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Arnold Strongman Classic 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Arnold Men's Physique Finals 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. ET

Arnold Classic Men's Open 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. ET

Sunday, March 2

USA Weightlifting 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Cheerleading & Dance 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET

Gymnastics 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Martial Arts Festival 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET

Arnold Showcase 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. ET

Grappling 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET

Arnold Expo 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Amateur Strongman 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET

Arnold Classic Preview

As is always the case, the Men's Open will feature many of the world's top IFBB pros, including Dauda and fellow Olympia champions Derek Lunsford and Brandon Curry. However, reigning champion Hadi Choopan is not scheduled to compete.

Curry, who won in 2019 and 2022, is seeking his third Arnold Classic title. The 41-year-old, who turned pro back in 2011, finished ninth at the 2024 Olympia. However, he believes he's ready to step back into the spotlight and challenge the world's best.

"I think I can duplicate some of my best looks in different aspects," Curry told The Menace podcast with Dennis James (h/t Scott "Future" Felstead of Muscle & Fitness).

Other notable entrants include Andrew Jacked, Shaun Clarida and two-time Classic winner Williams Bonac. Former Classic winner and seven-time Olympia winner Phil Heath believes that all three could challenge for this year's title.

"We got Andrew Jacked and we got another guy that gets pushed to the side sometimes but is definitely a formidable force and that is William Bonac," Heath said in a YouTube video (h/t Belinda Evans of Fitness Volt). "...The Giants Killer, that is Shaun Clarida."

Fans can expect a truly epic competition in the Men's Open, whether it's won by one of the favorites or a dark horse. Those in attendance or tracking the action via live stream will have plenty to enjoy both before and after the main event too.