Queensland’s Strongest Man and Woman 2026 (QLDSMW) competition is set to return this month over two days, with athletes from across the state competing in a range of weight and age categories.
The event takes place at Strength Junction in Zillmere on 22-23 August and is open to anyone, regardless of experience level.
Brendan Meade, co-owner of Strength Junction and Australia’s Strongest promoter, said building strength starts as something you do in any gym and “becomes a passion where you want to get stronger”.
“Eventually that turns into testing yourself in this sport,” Brendan said. “There is no real key to it, but the best way for those who want to get stronger is to seek out a strength and conditioning gym.”
Athletes in the competition will range from first-timers to nationally ranked strongmen and strongwomen. Categories include men’s and women’s weight divisions, as well as masters divisions for competitors aged 40 and over.
The competition consists of six events, with three held on Saturday and three on Sunday. Athletes earn points based on their placing in each event, with the overall winners in each division crowned Queensland’s Strongest at the conclusion of the weekend.
This year’s events include deadlift for points, barbell clean and press, cannonball load, farmers’ handles into backwards anchor drag, sandbag toss and sandbag steeplechase.
Several of the events feature unique formats, including the cannonball load, which requires athletes to carry atlas stones before loading them into a custom-built cannon.
Events at The Strength Junction
Spectators can expect to see athletes of varying sizes and strengths compete, from heavyweight men weighing well over 100 kilograms to lightweight women lifting several times their body weight.
Food vendors, coffee carts, and entertainment will also be available throughout the weekend.
QLDSMW has existed in various forms since 2015 and has served as a pathway to Australia’s top strongman competitions. Since 2021, it has been the only Queensland event to provide direct qualification opportunities for Australia’s Strongest, with the top two athletes in each division receiving invitations to compete at the national championship.
There are no qualification requirements to enter QLDSMW beyond registration and membership.
Queensland’s Strongest Man & Woman 2026
- Saturday, 22 August to Sunday, 23 August, 9am-3pm
- The Strength Junction
- 6/260 Zillmere Road, Zillmere
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