Tabani qualifies for 2026 Mr. Olympia with victory in China
Iranian bodybuilder Behrouz Tabani secured qualification for the 2026 Mr. Olympia after winning the Men’s Open title at the Huanji China Pro event.
Tabani fended off a strong challenge from Britain’s James Hollingshead to claim the title in Chengdu, China, with China’s Wei Li finishing third.
The victory ensures Tabani will return to bodybuilding’s most prestigious competition after making his long-awaited Mr. Olympia debut last year.
After spending several years unable to compete at the event because of visa issues, Tabani finally stepped onto the Mr. Olympia stage in the Men’s Open division in 2025. Despite an impressive showing, he narrowly missed out on a place in the top 10, finishing 11th in the preliminary standings.
The Iranian, whose rapid improvement over the past two years has earned widespread praise from fans and bodybuilding experts, needed to win a qualifying event to book his place at the 2026 edition.
Tabani had originally planned to compete in several European events but was forced to alter his schedule after regional military tensions prevented him from traveling. He instead opted to compete in China, where he emerged victorious against a field that included several fellow Iranians.
The result guarantees Tabani another opportunity to compete against the sport’s biggest stars, including fellow Iranian Hadi Choopan, at the 2026 Mr. Olympia.
The 33-year-old will now aim for a breakthrough finish among the world’s elite at September’s showpiece in Las Vegas, with a top-five result firmly in his sights.