But full pro league at every area show not happening yet
By Gary Chappell
NABBA has announced four pro shows for next season – but now says a full pro league at every area show will not be happening just yet.
In January, NABBA vice-chairman Tim Rosiek told frontdouble.com that the 2025 campaign would serve as a building block for a full pro league next season. That meant pro cards would be being issued at most area shows to help build a pro army for 2026.
What NABBA vice-chairman Tim Rosiek said earlier this year...
But on Wednesday, November 26, NABBA announced on social media that only four shows would carry a pro show next season. These would be the NABBA British Finals on June 13, 2026, the World Championship on June 21, NABBA England on October 25 and the Universe on November 1.
When questioned by frontdouble.com on the absence of a pro show at every area competition, NABBA president Eddie Ellwood said: "I can’t recall that being promised. However, we would like to eventually do that. That is the goal."
In their social media announcement, the federation added: "NABBA PRO LEAGUE 2026 is locked, loaded and ready to redefine the future of bodybuilding.
"This isn’t just another season — this is a call to the elite, the obsessed, the legendary-in-the-making.
"NABBA is where champions are forged. Where history is written in muscle, discipline, and dominance.
"The sport was BUILT on NABBA greatness. Legends like Steve Reeves, Reg Park, Bill Pearl, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, and Boyer Coe carved the path. Icons like Chris Dickerson, Edward Kawak, Lee Priest and Eddy Ellwood carried the torch. Now it’s YOUR turn to rise.
"The 2026 Pro League Season is shaping up to be the most explosive in NABBA history. The energy is back. The prestige is back. NABBA IS BACK."
How much longer can the NABBA Universe rely on its history alone?
The NABBA Universe is one of the most historic titles in bodybuilding but, in a rapidly evolving sport, history alone may no longer be enough. Once considered the pinnacle of physique competition, its place in modern bodybuilding is now open to debate.
COMMENT By the Editor
IT WAS once one of two iconic bodybuilding contests. Most of us saw it studded in white lettering behind the reception of Gold's Gym in the film Pumping Iron. On Sunday, November 3, the NABBA Universe will celebrate its 75th Anniversary.
But does it enjoy the same gravitas as it did in its heyday? Or is it dismissed, overlooked and shunned in favour of any one of the many other more modern, glitzy bodybuilding shows?
The NABBA Universe is still a respected competition, but some might argue that it does not hold the same level of influence as it did during its peak years. Those were particularly during the 1950s through the 1970s. Back then, it was one of the few premier global competitions and attracted some of the biggest names in bodybuilding such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno (below) and Frank Zane.
NABBA had been posting for some months about just how great the 75th edition of the Universe was going to be. But when frontdouble.com asked for details of exactly how it was going to be different from previous incarnations, that very detail was scant.
"People will be travelling from all over the world to compete," came the reply from the federation on social media.
Surely, however, people had been doing just that for years in order to compete at the Universe?
"There is going to be a buffet too, to ensure the party continues," the federation added.
So there you have it. People travelling from far and wide to compete and sandwiches and crisps to boot. This for a competition once spoken about in the same breath as the Olympia.
There is a feeling within those associated in some form or another to NABBA that the federation is, for want of a better explanation, stuck in the dark ages.
Have people run out of patience with the NABBA Universe?
Frontdouble.com interviewed Honorary Life President Jim Charles this month. We put it to him that some critics believe NABBA are trailing rival federations in terms of modernisation. That NABBA is not in the same ball park when it comes to promoting itself on social media. Nowhere can people find full results [frontdouble.com has frequently asked NABBA reps to provide these]. And only class winners are ever posted, if indeed any are.
But Charles insisted that NABBA does have a social media presence. He also appeared all too keen to dampen the enthusiasm shown by some of his reps. "Whoever you are dealing with, it's about trying to get their feet to stay on the ground. A lot of them [NABBA officials] are excited about putting their blazer on and being self important," said Charles in our interview this month. "We are going in the right direction. It's like I told the rest of them [NABBA officials], have a bit of patience."
Frontdouble.com understands it is that very patience that is being tested. To take one rival federation as an example; how many competitors will be at this Sunday's Universe versus how many competed at the recent PCA British Finals? Or perhaps any 2Bros regional qualifier?
How many of the class placings at each category on Sunday will be shown on social media throughout the day, keeping NABBA Universe fans – and bodybuilding fans in general – informed of what is going on at their flagship contest?
One change from previous editions of the Universe that might be regarded as a positive is the link with FitX. That federation will be hosting its British Finals at the NEC in Birmingham on Saturday. And the Expo – with its carnival feel – will spill over to the Sunday. Anyone from FitX deemed good enough will be invited to compete at Sunday's Universe.
But delve deeper and inconsistencies linger. Historically, the top three competitors from the NABBA England have been "deemed good enough" for Universe qualification. This year, however, that rule appeared to have gone out of the window. Why? Well, no one really knows. And therein lies another problem: Communication.
Frontdouble.com is aware of at least one competitor who was interested in competing at the NABBA Worlds in June. But – again to borrow a rival federation's methodology – unlike at the PCA, where you are officially invited to the worlds if deemed good enough, you almost had to be a detective with the calibre of Sherlock Holmes to discover how to compete in the NABBA version.
The competitor in question told frontdouble.com they made several attempts at contacting a number of high-ranking NABBA officials to query how to compete at the worlds. They were met with silence. Eventually a reply was forthcoming. It simply said: "Speak to one of us after you compete at the Britain."
Hardly joined-up thinking of a federation "moving in the right direction". Maybe the competitor should have been patient...
Re-emergence of NABBA Pro division is a positive
One additional positive perhaps, alongside the Expo, is the re-emergence of the NABBA Pro division. However, it was curious to note how there will be no Masters competitors offered pro cards at the Universe, according to NABBA's own running order sheet. This, despite the fact that a Masters athlete was awarded pro status at the NABBA England.
It is undeniable that the NABBA Universe still holds a respected place within parts of the bodybuilding community. But again, this is simply for its history. It has faced difficulties in having to compete in a landscape dominated by federations with bigger platforms and wider appeal.
Cast your mind back to that reception area in Pumping Iron and that studded white lettering. Alongside the countdown to the Universe was also a countdown to another competition: The Mr Olympia. Look at the trajectory of both competitions. One remains the pinnacle of the sport. One is left open to a debate about whether it has lost its shine.
And without doing something more than offering flags and putting posters in gyms, one wonders how much longer the once-mighty NABBA Universe can last on history alone.
Honorary Life President Jim Charles has defended the federation’s future, insisting it is “not going anywhere” despite growing competition and the increasing role of finance in bodybuilding – but tells his young reps to "calm down" because "it's not all about money"
By Gary Chappell
NABBA'S Honorary Life President Jim Charles has defended his federation saying it is going nowhere – much like the Royal family.
In an exclusive interview with frontdouble.com, Charles – who has been with NABBA for 66 years – believes amateur bodybuilding has become 'all about money'. And ahead of the 75th Anniversary of the Mr Universe on November 3, he has revealed how he has extended an invitation to Arnold Schwarzenegger – saying how the bodybuilding icon and actor still owes him 7 shillings and 6 pence.
This Sunday, October 13, marks the final qualifier for the Mr Universe, with the NABBA England taking place at Brierley Hill in Dudley. Charles described entries as 'going crazy' and believes this will translate to the big one at the Birmingham NEC on November 3.
The history of NABBA bodybuilding
Established in 1948, the NABBA Universe was the first major international bodybuilding competition, setting the stage for what would become the modern era of the sport. Over the decades, it has been synonymous with excellence, attracting the world’s top physiques and producing legends that would inspire generations of bodybuilders.
LEGENDS: Arnold and Bill Pearl at the 1967 Mr Universe
The inaugural NABBA Universe competition, held in London, marked the beginning of a tradition that would elevate bodybuilding to new heights. The early years of the competition saw the emergence of iconic figures such as Steve Reeves, Reg Park and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger’s victories in the late 1960s and early 1970s not only cemented his status as a bodybuilding legend, but also brought unprecedented attention to the sport.
For many, winning the NABBA Universe title was seen as the pinnacle of a bodybuilder’s career. The event was a proving ground for the best of the best, showcasing physiques that combined mass, symmetry and aesthetics in a way that defined the golden era of bodybuilding.
NABBA’s place in modern bodybuilding
But many would argue that NABBA's influence and prestige have waned in recent years. The emergence of other bodybuilding federations has fragmented the sport, offering athletes more choices and opportunities. This has not just affected the federation's flagship competition, but NABBA as a whole.
The resurrection of the pro division at the NABBA Universe this year may give the federation some cause for optimism. Many reps were keen to stress earlier in the season that they "must make NABBA relevant again". But when asked to provide results from their shows, some reps said they were "too busy" to do so. It is akin to shooting themselves in the very foot that has just taken one step forward.
Asked where he sees NABBA's future within an increasingly tough market, Charles (above) said: "Basically, NABBA, how can I put it? It’s a bit like the Royal family. It’s there and it’s not going to go away.
"All these people who have bright ideas – in fact quite a lot of them are cancelling their shows. With the PCA, their attitude was to do it [the federation] as a limited company. Whereas we’re an amateur organisation and happy with that and it's what we want to be.
"Look what happens in football. I’m a real football fanatic. This blasted money is coming into it to such an extent, it’s ridiculous. I support Wolves and I've supported them ever since the 1950s when we were absolutely incredible. All we can do now is build a great team and along comes one of the premier sides and buys this player, then somebody buys that player and this player and that player. Until in the end, we’ve lost all our best players. It’s all about money."
Tradition vs money in the sport
Challenged on the slim chance of amateur bodybuilding becoming so extreme in that financial sense, Charles said: "We’re offering expenses now [as prizes], so we’re modernising. Otherwise if we don't do anything... It’s a case of going forward.
"And we've got some young new councillors [area representatives], who are full of great ideas. So we’re trying to combine it. Even I followed the one councillor and I’m going around the gyms with a huge poster, having pictures taken with the guys who run the gyms [in order to promote shows]. And that was because of that new rep we had from Southport, Tim Rosiek (below right).
"He’s all excitable. I said to him, 'Don’t worry, I’m copying you'. When I go, I take a bigger poster. He was taking the A4 poster that he’s handing out at all the gyms. Well, I take the A4 poster, but I also had a really big poster done, so that when the organiser or the guy at the gym holds it, it could be clearly seen [in photographs].
"I’m doing some of the things that these young people want us [NABBA] to do, but I’m trying to calm them down that it ain’t all about money.
"I mean, I had 150 competitors [at the NABBA England] in 2019 and I was frightened to death. I was thinking, 'where am I going to stack them all'? It was more than we had at the Britain. So we were going in the right direction then and then Covid came along [the Government's response was to implement a national lockdown]. And that really gave us a bending. But we're on the way back."
Some critics would argue that this is not the case and that the federation's lack of a serious social media presence is a marketing disaster. One example is rival federation the PCA, who churn out results of their shows in real time on competition days. They also heavily promote shows on social media, the number of sponsors they have and pay for professional athletes to fly to their World Championships.
But Charles said: "We've got a social media [presence] now. We're doing all that. Tim Rosiek's very excited about taking everything on. So as far as I'm concerned we're going that way."
How will the 75th Anniversary of the NABBA Universe differ?
When asked how this 75th Anniversary of the Universe would be different from previous editions, Charles said: "We've got all the countries coming. It’s been non-stop. It’s going crazy. I've got it at the NEC, which is one of the major vendors in the country. We’re in a situation where all the countries can register at the NEC. And it's also very convenient to come by train and plane. I’m hoping that’s a good move.
"But we’re also involved with Fit X and their exhibition. They are holding their British Finals on the Saturday. And if any of the competitors are really good enough, we’ll invite them to have a go in the Universe. It’s going crazy.
"I’ve also dropped a line to Arnold because he’s been there that many times. And I asked him if he could come [to the NABBA Universe] and take a bow because, without the Universe, he wouldn’t be where he is today. I haven’t asked him to reply or anything, I just wanted him to come. I don’t want to use him in any form or advertise him. My friendship’s too important for that.
"I don’t want to use him as a pawn to sell tickets. I’ve been friendly with him since we met when he was 20 years of age. I still tease him that I took him over to the cafe and ordered him baked beans on toast and a black coffee, which cost me seven and six. No – he hasn't paid me back. Every time we have an interview they say to him, 'Jim Charles has said that you still owe him seven and six'. He said, 'Yeah, tell him I’ll be back'."
Charles also spoke of how he tries to keep a tight reign on those working on the shows in which he is directly in charge. He was keen to stress that Master of Ceremonies Nigel Gordon-Rae will be told exactly what he has to do, after he received criticism for telling some competitors at the NABBA South East show in May that "obviously you have won because you are the only competitor in the class".
"I don't see the point in saying that," said Charles. "They'd have known they were the only ones when they were on stage. At the Universe, even though he has sent me an A4 of all his bright ideas, I will be telling him exactly what he's got to do. He's being paid and the rest of us are doing it because we want to, not about payment. Nigel is a good compare and is a nice guy but sometimes he gets a bit excited.
"Sometimes you give a bit of leeway to some people and they go crazy. I mean, I'm the Honorary Life President – which I've got to die to lose. I'm the chairman, I'm the show manager and I'm the general lackey. People in my gym said, 'you're cleaning the lavatory' and I said, 'yeah? It doesn't clean itself'. If the lavatory is blocked, I unblock it.
"Whoever you are dealing with, it's about trying to get their feet to stay on the ground. A lot of them [NABBA officials] are excited about putting their blazer on and being self important. With this Universe, which is going to be a really hard day, I can tell you now that the new reps and all the other reps will be working hard – otherwise they'll get a real bollocking. I won't be pulling any punches.
"We've got to kick off at 9am because we've got to get all of those categories in by 6pm. At 6pm they [the NEC] pull the plug out [stop the electric]. That's the sort of ruling at the NEC. So I have to condense 23 categories into that time. There will no interval, either. So if they [reps/judges] want something to eat and drink, Val [wife and NABBA secretary] will have to arrange someone to bring it to them. Because they won't be stopping and yakking for 40 minutes and coming back late.
"I'm going to be very popular on the day. But I've got a job to do and it's got to be done. And I'm hoping we will have a terrific show."
NABBA has what many federations do not; a strong and rich history and tradition. But is that enough in modern-day bodybuilding? Only time will tell.
Charles, 85, said: "Since Covid we have been gradually building up and all of a sudden it's gone mad. So yes we are going in the right direction. It's like I told the rest of them [NABBA officials], have a bit of patience."
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