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Las Vegas will welcome another major weekend of bodybuilding when the 2026 Steve Karr Las Vegas Classic Pro takes place on Saturday, November 7. The IFBB Pro League event will feature six professional divisions, bringing together competitors in Men's 212 Bodybuilding, Classic Physique, Men's Physique, Women's Bodybuilding, Women's Physique, and Fit Model.
Promoted by Austin Karr, the competition continues a longstanding Las Vegas bodybuilding tradition associated with his father, Steve Karr. The show also arrives during the qualification period for the 2027 Olympia, adding competitive importance to the results across all six divisions. For fans following the professional circuit after the 2026 Olympia, the Las Vegas Classic provides another opportunity to see athletes establish themselves heading into the next competitive season.
The Las Vegas Classic is organized by Austin Karr, who continues the event's legacy alongside his wife, Shanelle. According to the official promoter website, the NPC Steve Karr Classic is now in its 34th year and is recognized by its organizers as Las Vegas' longest-running bodybuilding competition.
The event combines IFBB Pro League competition with an NPC national qualifier, giving spectators a chance to watch established professional athletes and amateur competitors on the same day.
Official IFBB Pro event listing
Men's Physique, Women's Physique, and Fit Model add further variety to the competition, each with distinct judging criteria. This gives the event a broader appeal than a show focused exclusively on one bodybuilding category.
One detail worth highlighting is the inclusion of Women's Bodybuilding. With fewer professional contests offering the division compared with some other categories, each opportunity for female bodybuilding competitors to appear onstage carries particular interest for followers of the sport.
9:00 a.m. – Men's Competition: IFBB Pro and NPC men's divisions, including prejudging and finals.
2:00 p.m. – Women's Competition: IFBB Pro and NPC women's divisions, including prejudging and finals.
These are the session times published by the event organizer. Individual division running orders may be adjusted, so athletes and spectators should check for schedule updates closer to the competition.
The event will bring together professional and amateur competition throughout the day, with men's categories scheduled for the morning session and women's categories taking the stage in the afternoon.
Event tickets and schedule
Steve Karr was an established figure in the Las Vegas bodybuilding community, and his name remains associated with one of the city's longest-running competitions. Austin Karr and his wife, Shanelle, have continued that tradition, maintaining the show's connection to local bodybuilding while developing opportunities for professional and amateur athletes.
The organizers have also expanded their event calendar over the years. In 2023, they introduced the NPC Natural City of Lights, a separate competition intended for natural athletes.
That event should not be confused with the Steve Karr Las Vegas Classic Pro. The November 7 professional competition is listed as a regular IFBB Pro League contest, not a Natural Pro event.
However, qualification works differently depending on the division.
For Men's 212 Bodybuilding, Women's Bodybuilding, Women's Physique, and Fit Model, the winner of an eligible Open professional contest qualifies for the 2027 Olympia. This makes a victory in Las Vegas especially valuable for competitors in those four divisions.
The situation is different for Classic Physique and Men's Physique. Under the 2027 qualification rules, athletes in these divisions can qualify by winning two Open contests during the qualification period or by finishing among the top 20 in the point standings. At regular Open Pro contests such as the Las Vegas Classic, first place earns 10 points, second earns four, third earns three, fourth earns two, and fifth earns one.
That means a Classic Physique or Men's Physique victory in Las Vegas is still important, but it does not automatically guarantee an Olympia berth on its own.
2027 Olympia Qualification System
The judging places considerable emphasis on muscular development, symmetry, proportion, and overall presentation. With direct Olympia qualification available to the Open division winner, the Las Vegas contest offers an important opportunity for competitors looking to secure their place at the 2027 Olympia.
The final registered lineup will determine which athletes emerge as the strongest contenders. Until an official competitor list is confirmed, identifying favorites would be premature.
Winning one show can bring an athlete closer to meeting the two-win requirement, while a strong placing can contribute valuable points toward the season standings. This creates a different competitive dynamic from divisions where winning a single qualifying event is sufficient.
Classic Physique competitors will be judged on the combination of muscularity, symmetry, proportion, and classic presentation. Men's Physique will emphasize balanced upper-body development, conditioning, and overall stage appearance.
Both divisions could produce meaningful results for athletes building momentum toward the next Olympia.
Women's Bodybuilding places the greatest emphasis on overall muscular development, proportion, conditioning, and posing. Women's Physique also rewards muscularity and conditioning, but under a different set of division-specific expectations.
Fit Model represents another side of professional physique competition, with judging criteria that differ considerably from traditional bodybuilding. Its inclusion broadens the range of female athletes represented at the event.
Under the 2027 Olympia Qualification System, an eligible Open contest victory in each of these three divisions provides direct Olympia qualification. That gives the women's professional competition genuine stakes beyond the individual event titles.
A livestream listing is also available through Center Podium TV, providing an option for bodybuilding fans who cannot attend the Las Vegas event in person. Viewers should confirm the latest broadcast schedule through the streaming provider.
For IFBB Pro competitors, contest registration is handled through the IFBB Pro League membership system. The promoter explains that athletes must register through their member profiles, complete the required competition contract, and receive confirmation following approval.
The promoter also states that professional contest registration closes on the Monday of contest week at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Athletes should check the current registration instructions directly rather than relying on older contest-entry procedures.
Official promoter website
The event also has a distinct place within Las Vegas bodybuilding. Rather than being another newly introduced contest, it carries a name associated with decades of competition in the city. With Austin Karr continuing the tradition, the show connects the region's bodybuilding history with the current IFBB Pro League circuit.
The most important unanswered question is the final competitor lineup. Once registered athletes are confirmed, the strongest matchups and potential favorites will become clearer.
For now, the 2026 Steve Karr Las Vegas Classic Pro is scheduled for November 7 at the Alexis Park All Suite Resort in Las Vegas, featuring six professional divisions alongside NPC competition.
Promoted by Austin Karr, the competition continues a longstanding Las Vegas bodybuilding tradition associated with his father, Steve Karr. The show also arrives during the qualification period for the 2027 Olympia, adding competitive importance to the results across all six divisions. For fans following the professional circuit after the 2026 Olympia, the Las Vegas Classic provides another opportunity to see athletes establish themselves heading into the next competitive season.
When and Where Is the 2026 Steve Karr Las Vegas Classic Pro?
The competition is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Alexis Park All Suite Resort, located at 375 East Harmon Avenue in Las Vegas, Nevada. The venue will host both professional and amateur competition, with the event taking place in the resort's Zeus Ballroom.The Las Vegas Classic is organized by Austin Karr, who continues the event's legacy alongside his wife, Shanelle. According to the official promoter website, the NPC Steve Karr Classic is now in its 34th year and is recognized by its organizers as Las Vegas' longest-running bodybuilding competition.
The event combines IFBB Pro League competition with an NPC national qualifier, giving spectators a chance to watch established professional athletes and amateur competitors on the same day.
Official IFBB Pro event listing
Six Professional Divisions Confirmed
The IFBB Pro League has confirmed six divisions for the 2026 competition:- Men's 212 Bodybuilding
- Classic Physique
- Men's Physique
- Women's Bodybuilding
- Women's Physique
- Women's Fit Model
Men's Physique, Women's Physique, and Fit Model add further variety to the competition, each with distinct judging criteria. This gives the event a broader appeal than a show focused exclusively on one bodybuilding category.
One detail worth highlighting is the inclusion of Women's Bodybuilding. With fewer professional contests offering the division compared with some other categories, each opportunity for female bodybuilding competitors to appear onstage carries particular interest for followers of the sport.
November 7 Competition Schedule
According to the official ticket listing, the event will operate across two main sessions.9:00 a.m. – Men's Competition: IFBB Pro and NPC men's divisions, including prejudging and finals.
2:00 p.m. – Women's Competition: IFBB Pro and NPC women's divisions, including prejudging and finals.
These are the session times published by the event organizer. Individual division running orders may be adjusted, so athletes and spectators should check for schedule updates closer to the competition.
The event will bring together professional and amateur competition throughout the day, with men's categories scheduled for the morning session and women's categories taking the stage in the afternoon.
Event tickets and schedule
The Legacy Behind the Steve Karr Classic
The Steve Karr Classic has a history that extends well beyond the current IFBB Pro event.Steve Karr was an established figure in the Las Vegas bodybuilding community, and his name remains associated with one of the city's longest-running competitions. Austin Karr and his wife, Shanelle, have continued that tradition, maintaining the show's connection to local bodybuilding while developing opportunities for professional and amateur athletes.
The organizers have also expanded their event calendar over the years. In 2023, they introduced the NPC Natural City of Lights, a separate competition intended for natural athletes.
That event should not be confused with the Steve Karr Las Vegas Classic Pro. The November 7 professional competition is listed as a regular IFBB Pro League contest, not a Natural Pro event.
What's at Stake for the 2027 Olympia?
The 2026 Steve Karr Las Vegas Classic Pro falls within the 2027 Olympia Qualification System, which runs from August 31, 2026, through September 12, 2027.However, qualification works differently depending on the division.
For Men's 212 Bodybuilding, Women's Bodybuilding, Women's Physique, and Fit Model, the winner of an eligible Open professional contest qualifies for the 2027 Olympia. This makes a victory in Las Vegas especially valuable for competitors in those four divisions.
The situation is different for Classic Physique and Men's Physique. Under the 2027 qualification rules, athletes in these divisions can qualify by winning two Open contests during the qualification period or by finishing among the top 20 in the point standings. At regular Open Pro contests such as the Las Vegas Classic, first place earns 10 points, second earns four, third earns three, fourth earns two, and fifth earns one.
That means a Classic Physique or Men's Physique victory in Las Vegas is still important, but it does not automatically guarantee an Olympia berth on its own.
2027 Olympia Qualification System
What to Watch in Men's 212 Bodybuilding
Men's 212 Bodybuilding remains one of the most competitive categories for athletes combining substantial muscle mass with conditioning while meeting the division's weight limit.The judging places considerable emphasis on muscular development, symmetry, proportion, and overall presentation. With direct Olympia qualification available to the Open division winner, the Las Vegas contest offers an important opportunity for competitors looking to secure their place at the 2027 Olympia.
The final registered lineup will determine which athletes emerge as the strongest contenders. Until an official competitor list is confirmed, identifying favorites would be premature.
Classic Physique and Men's Physique Could Deliver Interesting Matchups
Classic Physique and Men's Physique will also be worth following because of how the 2027 qualification system has changed the importance of each regular-season contest.Winning one show can bring an athlete closer to meeting the two-win requirement, while a strong placing can contribute valuable points toward the season standings. This creates a different competitive dynamic from divisions where winning a single qualifying event is sufficient.
Classic Physique competitors will be judged on the combination of muscularity, symmetry, proportion, and classic presentation. Men's Physique will emphasize balanced upper-body development, conditioning, and overall stage appearance.
Both divisions could produce meaningful results for athletes building momentum toward the next Olympia.
Women's Bodybuilding, Women's Physique and Fit Model
The women's professional lineup provides three distinct competitive styles.Women's Bodybuilding places the greatest emphasis on overall muscular development, proportion, conditioning, and posing. Women's Physique also rewards muscularity and conditioning, but under a different set of division-specific expectations.
Fit Model represents another side of professional physique competition, with judging criteria that differ considerably from traditional bodybuilding. Its inclusion broadens the range of female athletes represented at the event.
Under the 2027 Olympia Qualification System, an eligible Open contest victory in each of these three divisions provides direct Olympia qualification. That gives the women's professional competition genuine stakes beyond the individual event titles.
Tickets, Livestream and Competitor Registration
Tickets for the November 7 competition are available through the event organizer's official Eventbrite listing. The organizer states that ticket sales are final and non-refundable.A livestream listing is also available through Center Podium TV, providing an option for bodybuilding fans who cannot attend the Las Vegas event in person. Viewers should confirm the latest broadcast schedule through the streaming provider.
For IFBB Pro competitors, contest registration is handled through the IFBB Pro League membership system. The promoter explains that athletes must register through their member profiles, complete the required competition contract, and receive confirmation following approval.
The promoter also states that professional contest registration closes on the Monday of contest week at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Athletes should check the current registration instructions directly rather than relying on older contest-entry procedures.
Official promoter website
What Makes the 2026 Las Vegas Classic Worth Watching?
The Steve Karr Las Vegas Classic Pro brings together several elements that make a professional bodybuilding event interesting: an established competition history, a diverse six-division lineup, and meaningful qualification opportunities for the next Olympia.The event also has a distinct place within Las Vegas bodybuilding. Rather than being another newly introduced contest, it carries a name associated with decades of competition in the city. With Austin Karr continuing the tradition, the show connects the region's bodybuilding history with the current IFBB Pro League circuit.
The most important unanswered question is the final competitor lineup. Once registered athletes are confirmed, the strongest matchups and potential favorites will become clearer.
For now, the 2026 Steve Karr Las Vegas Classic Pro is scheduled for November 7 at the Alexis Park All Suite Resort in Las Vegas, featuring six professional divisions alongside NPC competition.
