Correspondent
KOHIMA, AUG 29 (NPN): Nagaland is set to 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 (NBBFA) under the aegis of the Indian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (IBBFF) and Northeast Bodybuilding Federation (NEBBF). This was announced during a press conference held at D’Cafe, Jail Colony, Kohima, on Saturday.
President of the Northeast Bodybuilding Federation, Pema WD Bhutia, said the championship was an important event for the bodybuilding community in the region and would serve as a platform to bring together athletes from across the Northeast. He said it was the second edition of the Northeast championship, following the inaugural edition held in Sikkim.
He informed that all eight Northeastern states were expected to participate, with around 70 athletes having tentatively indicated their participation. He added that they were expecting between 60 and 80 athletes, with the final number likely to be known after the first week of September as some states, including Assam and Manipur, were 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, while the main championship will be held on September 12.
The competition will feature three major divisions comprising nine categories.
In Men’s Bodybuilding, there will be 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 have two height categories—up to 165 cm and over 165 cm—while Women’s Model Physique will be an open category. He added the competition would be conducted in accordance with applicable federation rules and under the supervision of authorised technical officials and judges. On the judging panel, Bhutia said experienced judges from across the eight Northeastern states had been invited, including international-level judges. He expected around 14 to 16 judges, 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.
Bhutia further said the championship would serve as an important stepping stone for athletes aspiring to compete at higher levels. He explained that athletes generally progress from state-level championships to the Northeast championship before moving on to national competitions such as the Federation Cup, Mr India, Senior Nationals and Junior Nationals, and subsequently to international competitions.
The organisers said the overall estimated budget for conducting the championship was around Rs. 16 lakh. The expenditure would cover the venue, production, hospitality, logistics, awards, manpower, promotion and other operational requirements. 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. The organisers also acknowledged media support from Akashvani Kohima, DD Nagaland and Nagaland Post. At the same time, 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 as partners.
The organisers clarified that athlete registration would involve the applicable registration fee through the IBBFF as per the federation process. However, entry for the general public would be completely free.
The association said 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.