Nagaland will host the 2nd Mr Northeast Bodybuilding & Physique Championship 2026 at the Capital Cultural Hall, Kohima on September 12.
The championship will be organised by the Nagaland Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (NBFA) under the aegis of the Indian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (IBBFF) and the Northeast Bodybuilding Federation (NEBBF).
The announcement was made during a press conference held at D’Cafe, Jail Colony, Kohima, on Saturday, which was moderated by Thejakhrietuo Kire, General Secretary of the Nagaland Bodybuilding and Fitness Association.
The President of the Northeast Bodybuilding Federation said the championship would be an important event for the bodybuilding community in the region and provide a common platform for athletes from across the Northeast. He said the event would mark the second edition of the Northeast championship, following the inaugural edition held in Sikkim.
He informed that athletes from all eight Northeastern states were expected to participate, with around 70 athletes having tentatively indicated their participation. The organisers are expecting between 60 and 80 athletes, with the final number likely to be confirmed after the first week of September, as states including Assam and Manipur are scheduled to conduct their selection trials.
The event will be held from September 11 to 13, with athlete registration and weigh-ins scheduled for September 11, followed by the main championship on September 12.
The competition will feature three major divisions comprising nine categories.
The Men’s Bodybuilding division will have six weight categories: up to and including 55 kg, up to 60 kg, up to 65 kg, up to 70 kg, up to 75 kg, and 80 kg and above.
Men’s Sports Physique will feature two height categories—up to 165 cm and over 165 cm—while Women’s Model Physique will be an open category.
The organisers said the competition would be conducted in accordance with the applicable federation rules and under the supervision of authorised technical officials and judges.
On the judging panel, the NEBBF president said experienced judges from across the eight Northeastern states, including international-level judges, had been invited. Around 14 to 16 judges are expected to officiate, with one or two judges likely to represent each state.
Regarding prizes, he said medals and trophies had already been arranged, while the prize money would be announced at a later stage.
He said the championship would serve as an important stepping stone for athletes aspiring to compete at higher levels. Athletes generally progress from state-level championships to the Northeast championship before advancing to national competitions such as the Federation Cup, Mr India, Senior Nationals and Junior Nationals, and subsequently to international competitions.
The organisers estimated the overall budget for conducting the championship at around Rs 16 lakh. The expenditure will cover the venue, production, hospitality, logistics, awards, manpower, promotion and other operational requirements.
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The Association acknowledged the support extended by various organisations and individuals towards the championship. Its partners and supporters include NV Printing Press, ANTA, D’Cafe, TT Stationaries and Olive Spring, while hospitality support has been extended by 2K Hotel and The Heritage. Elyzian has been associated as the design partner.
Media support has also been acknowledged from Akashvani Kohima, DD Nagaland and Nagaland Post.
However, the association said it was still seeking sponsors and partners to meet the remaining requirements for organising the championship. It invited corporates, businesses, organisations and individuals to associate with the event through financial sponsorship, products, services or other forms of partnership.
The organisers clarified that athlete registration would involve the applicable registration fee through the IBBFF as per the federation process, while entry for the general public would be completely free.
NBBFA president T Chubaonen Ao said the decision to allow free public entry was intended to give people of Nagaland, particularly young people and fitness enthusiasts, an opportunity to witness a major regional bodybuilding championship without an entry barrier.
Explaining the significance of hosting the championship in Kohima, he said the event was about more than bodybuilding and represented an opportunity to demonstrate Nagaland’s potential to host major sporting events.
He said the participation of athletes, coaches and officials from all eight Northeastern states would also create opportunities to promote sports, fitness, youth engagement, hospitality and tourism, while showcasing Kohima and Nagaland as destinations capable of hosting regional-level sporting events.
The Association expressed hope that young people watching the competition would be inspired to take fitness and sport more seriously.
The organisers said their broader objective was to contribute to the development of bodybuilding and fitness in Nagaland and the Northeast by providing athletes with greater exposure, stronger competition and opportunities to progress to higher levels.
They maintained that the championship would highlight the sporting talent available in the Northeast and provide athletes from the region with a larger platform.
The Nagaland Bodybuilding and Fitness Association invited the public to attend the championship at the Capital Cultural Hall on September 12 and witness athletes from across the Northeast compete on a common platform.
