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Gladiatiors, are you ready? Regular fans will soon have the chance to try their hand at some of the iconic games from the hit BBC show. Launching at the NEC Birmingham from May 2026, the Gladiators Experience will allow visitors to take on challenges from the Saturday night series including Hang Tough, Duel, The Wall, and the Eliminator. Participants will step into the role of a contender and put their physical abilities to the test in an authentic recreation of the Utility Arena, where the show is filmed, in Sheffield. The day out is said to bring the hit show to life by combining the exhilarating physical challenges with attractions suitable for all ages and abilities. The experience will also offer a look behind the scenes of the show, a Gladiator Training Facility and superstore with merchandise. The large-scale immersive event which will span over 10,000 square metres at the NEC Birmingham. MGM Alternative Television boss Dom Bird said: “We are incredibly proud to see how Gladiators continues to delight huge audiences on BBC One, and thrilled that our 2025 Gladiators Arena Tour sold out in record time. “Now, fans young and old will get one step closer to walking in the footsteps of their heroes, as we announce our brand new Gladiators Experience. Based at the NEC Birmingham, everyone finally has the chance to test their skills on the iconic games - from Duel and Hang Tough, to The Wall, and of course the legendary Travelator. Come and see if you've got what it takes.” The 2024 reboot of Gladiators, with father and son hosts Bradley and Barney Walsh, was a big hit with viewers. A whopping 9.8million viewers watched the launch episode across the first month on BBC1 and iPlayer and the first series averaged around 8 million viewers per episode, making it the biggest entertainment launch for the BBC in seven years. A third run was ordered before the second had even finished airing and BBC bosses also greenlit a celebrity version, which aired on New Year ’s Day and featured Rob Beckett, Joel Dommett , Louise Minchin and Ellie Taylor . Now four more stars have filmed a second outing; Joe Wicks, Sam Thompson , Nicola Adams and Vogue Williams, which is again expected to air over the festive period. Joe said: “Gladiators is one of the most iconic shows of all time, and I’m absolutely buzzing to be taking part. I grew up watching it, so to now step into the arena myself is going to be an incredible experience. I know it’s going to be tough, but I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got.” And Nicola agreed: “It’s such an iconic show and growing up, I loved watching the epic battles and strong personalities. Now, getting the chance to step into that arena myself, it’s a whole new kind of challenge. I may be a champion in the boxing ring, but this is different. But Vogue admitted she had reservations. “This is wild,” she laughed. “I have loved this show since I was little and I’ll be living out my childhood dream just stepping into the arena. But I can’t quite process how I’ll actually face these amazing Gladiators. There is also a live tour, which lasts two hours and features four events being performed by some of the real-life Gladiators. - Register now at www.Gladiators-Experience.com to be the first to receive information about exclusive early access to tickets. Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
