Bigger and better events in 2025 with the IFBB.
The IFBB has been organizing the biggest amateur bodybuilding events since 1946.
Founded by Joe and Ben Weider, in Montreal, Canada, Ben Weider was the first IFBB President.
Ben Weider held the position of president until he stepped down in 2006. Ben suggested that Dr. Rafael Santonja replace him, and Santonja was voted in unanimously as his successor at the 2006 IFBB World Congress, in Ostrava Czech Republic.
Since 2006, Dr. Rafael Santonja has traveled to every corner of the world, just as his mentor, Ben Weider did for the majority of his life, promoting the sport of bodybuilding and fitness.
IFBB President Dr. Rafael Santonja has and continues to build great relationships all over the world, with national federations and government officials, to continue growing and expanding the sport of bodybuilding and fitness.
Bigger and better events in 2025
Athletes from all over the world can look forward to bigger and better bodybuilding and fitness events, organized all over the world.
Thousands of national and international events are organized, giving the opportunity for amateur athletes to step onto the world stage, competing at the highest level, in a competitive and safe environment.
The IFBB has several historic and prestigious events that have been taking place every year, attracting thousands of athletes from hundreds of IFBB-affiliated federations.
IFBB Diamond Cup
The IFBB Diamond Cup series of events have been taking place for over 8 years.
This event is now organized all over the world, providing the opportunity for new and veteran amateur athletes to compete at the highest level.
Every IFBB Diamond Cup event is a pro qualifier, allowing athletes to earn their pro status and compete on the IFBB Pro circuit.
The majority of IFBB Diamond Cup events are open to all IFBB-affiliated federations worldwide.
The 2025 IFBB contest calendar is already jam-packed with IFBB Diamond Cup events, with the first scheduled event to take place in Malta, on 12-13 April 2025. More Diamond Cup events are to be added in the coming months.
IFBB Mr. Universe
The IFBB Universe is one of IFBB’s most prestigious events, with the first event taking place in 1959.
Bodybuilding’s biggest legends have won this event, such as Larry Scott, Harold Poole, Frank Zane, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dave Draper, Sergio Oliva, Franco Columbo, Lou Ferrigno, Albert Beckles, Ed Corney, Ken Waller, Robby Robinson, and many more.
This event was eventually changed to the IFBB World Amateur Championships in 1978. This event is still being organized today, with the best athletes in the world, representing their countries at IFBB’s biggest amateur event.
It must be noted, that the title Mr. Universe is still engraved on the overall trophy.
The IFBB World Championships have also attracted bodybuilding’s biggest stars participate, such as Lee Haney, Lee Labrada, Rich Gaspari, Bob Paris, Mike Christian, Ralf Moeller, and many more. All these athletes went on to have very successful professional bodybuilding careers.
In 2021, after not using the IFBB Mr. Universe name for over 44 years, the IFBB decided to expand its events and include the Mr. Universe series of events on its contest calendar.
IFBB-affiliated federations jumped at the opportunity to organize this prestigious event in their country, and fast forward to 2025, the IFBB Mr. Universe is taking place worldwide. The IFBB Pro Universe has also been included in these events, giving more opportunities to pro athletes to compete on the world stage.
Amateur athletes competing at the IFBB Mr. Universe, also have the opportunity to earn their pro status.
The first IFBB Mr. Universe event will be organized in Iraq, on 22-23 February 2025 and in Liechtenstein, on 28-29 March 2025.
Many more IFBB Mr. Universe, amateur and pro events are already scheduled worldwide, and we can expect more to be added to IFBB’s 2025 contest calendar.
IFBB European Amateur Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships
The IFBB European Championships, is one of IFBB’s most prestigious and longest running events.
The late Ben Weider organized the first IFBB European Championships in 1968. The event took place in Essen, Germany. Back then, the event had a slightly different name, which was IFBB Mr. Europe. The event used this name from 1968 to 1976.
Between 1968 to 1976, several athletes that would become the best bodybuilders in the history of the sport, competed at this event in their amateur years.
Three bodybuilders that stand out between 1967 and 1976 are Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbo, and Albert Beckles. These bodybuilders went on to have very successful bodybuilding careers, with both Arnold and Franco going on to win the Mr. Olympia title. Albert Beckles went on to have one of the longest and most successful professional bodybuilding careers.
In 1977, Ben Weider decided to change the name to IFBB European Championships. The event would continue to be organized under this name till today.
The IFBB added the female divisions to the European Championships in 1981, the event took place in London.
The number of athletes registering to compete at this has increased vastly over the years, making this event one of the biggest amateur events in the world.
The 2025 IFBB European Amateur Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships is scheduled to take place 30 May and 5 April 2025.
The home for the IFBB European Championships is at Santa Susanna, Barcelona, Spain, at the modern Poli Esportiu Parc del Comer, Sports Complex.
The IFBB are expecting over 1,000 athletes to register for the European Championships, making it one of the biggest events of the year.
The event is open to all European National Federations affiliated to the IFBB, attracting the best amateur athletes in the world.
While many believe the goal for every athlete is to earn their pro status, but earning the right to call themselves IFBB European Champion is the biggest award and achievement that some athletes dream dedicate their entire life for.
IFBB World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships
The IFBB World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships is another one of IFBB’s most prestigious and historic events.
Open to all IFBB-affiliated National Federations worldwide, this event attracts the best amateur athletes, with the goal of bringing back a gold medal back to their home country.
Every amateur athlete dreams of winning at the IFBB World Bodybuilding Championships, a victory that gives them the right to call themselves a World Champion.
In 2024, the IFBB organized the World Championships in Iran, with great success. This gave the opportunity to many athletes that are restricted to travel to other countries, the opportunity to compete at the highest level, against the best athletes in the world.
The 2025 IFBB World Amateur Bodybuilding Championships, will be taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 27-30 November 2025.
The competition will be fierce at this event, and the judges will have a very difficult time to pick the winners, with such a balanced lineup of athletes expected.
As with the IFBB European Championships, the IFBB World Championships attracts over 1,000 athletes, from every part of the world. We can expect a great event this year.
Other popular events
The IFBB organizes several other popular events all over the world, Evolutionofbodybuilding.net highlights some of the biggest events to look forward to.
IFBB Wawan Classic at Dubai Muscle Beach, Dubai – 14-17 February 2025
Siberian Power Show in Russia – 28-31 March 2025
IFBB Mr. Universe Events – Iraq, Liechtenstein, Prague, Austria, Rome, Paraguay, Chinese Taipei, Jordan, Thailand, Turkey, Tenerife, Switzerland, Brasil, Portugal. More Mr. Universe events are scheduled to be added in the coming months.
IFBB Diamond Cup events: Malta, Czech Republic, Armenia, Rimini, Hungary, Luxembourg, Prague, Macedonia, Rome. More Diamond Cup events are expected to be scheduled.
Other popular events to look forward this year are the IFBB Balkan Championships, IFBB Southern European Championships, IFBB Roger Boyce Classic, IFBB Presdent Santonja Cup, IFBB International Grand in Romania, Malta, and Miami, IFBB Asian Championships, and many more.
The dates and venue for the Arnold Sports Festival Europe still have to be confirmed.
To view the entire 2025 IFBB contest schedule: Click HERE. Please check back regularly, as the calendar is updated on a regular basis.
