Get ready, Classic Physique fans — Sam Sulek is officially stepping onto the pro stage, and he’s doing it big. The newly crowned IFBB Pro just dropped the news that his professional debut will go down at none other than the 2026 Arnold Classic.
That’s right — Sulek’s skipping the warm-ups and heading straight to Columbus, Ohio, to throw down with the best of the best.
The Mic Drop Moment
Sulek broke the news the same way he does everything: in a chill video with Chris Bumstead, no big deal — just talking life, Gymshark deals, and oh yeah, his first-ever pro show.
You can catch the moment around the 48:48 mark in their latest YouTube video. The clip features the big Gymshark reveal up front and a killer back-day training session with CBum and fellow swole influencer David Laid.
Shortly after the video dropped, the Arnold Sports Festival made it official on their social channels: Sulek is in.
How He Got Here
Sulek punched his ticket to the big leagues by winning the overall title at the 2025 Arnold Amateur Classic Physique — a feat that earned him his pro card and a golden invite to compete at the 2026 Arnold Classic.
Pro tip: the Arnold is invite-only, so this win was basically a golden envelope with “Columbus or bust” written all over it.
Sulek told Bumstead that the invite alone made it worth taking a full year off the stage to prep properly. No rushing, no half-measures. He’s coming in ready to shake the stage.
High Stakes, Big Gains
The 2026 Arnold Classic is already buzzing for a reason: money talks.
Arnold himself announced that the Men’s Open champ will walk away with a $750,000 payday — but Classic Physique isn’t being left out of the action. For the first time ever, the winner of Classic Physique will take home a cool $100,000, making it the biggest payout in the division’s history.
Oh, and the champ? Automatically qualifies for the 2026 Olympia.
So yeah… it’s a big deal.
The Takeaway
Sulek’s decision to debut at the Arnold Classic isn’t just bold — it’s strategic. He’s skipping the smaller stages and going straight to war. With the Gymshark spotlight on him, a growing army of fans, and CBum in his corner, all eyes will be on Sam when March 5–8, 2026, rolls around.
Will he live up to the hype? Will he bring chaos to Classic Physique’s clean lines?
We’ll find out in Columbus. Bring popcorn — and protein.