Empro Naturals | 2026
Before the athletes step onto the stage, the competition has already begun in other places: in the stands around the hall, in the warm-up area, in the focused looks, and in those final gestures that almost nobody sees. There, among the tanning, the pumping up, the nerves, and the last-minute advice, is where I most enjoy searching for the story. I had wanted to attend a natural bodybuilding event for some time. I was curious to see the atmosphere, the level, and the staging. This is my brief photographic summary of what I experienced there.
On June 28, 2026, one of those events I had really wanted to get to know from the inside took place in Alicante: the EMPRO Naturals. Under the umbrella of the IFBB Professional League and NPC Worldwide, and with Emilio Martínez behind it, this competition brought together natural athletes with a clear goal: to step onto the stage and fight for the ring that recognizes all the hard work they have put in.
I was able to see first-hand the great growth of this modality and the interest these competitions are generating. Natural athletes have the opportunity to compete on the same stage, with an organization and services similar to those of major events such as the Olympia Amateur or the EMPRO Classic.
The number of teams present and the youth of many participants suggest that natural bodybuilding has a very promising path ahead. Trophies, medals, and the coveted ring are the final goal, but behind each athlete there is much more: months of preparation, sacrifices, excitement, and that touch of uncertainty that always appears before stepping onto the stage.
From the flags at the entrance to the makeup, hair, and tanning areas, everything is designed to make the experience special. Every detail is taken care of, even the possibility of purchasing the official event T-shirt.
The warm-up area, equipped with professional Telju Fitness machinery, allows athletes to finish preparing before going on stage. After the final advice from their coaches, the athlete enters the backstage area. Only concentration remains, the mental review of the poses, the effort to keep the muscles warm, and that curious mixture of suffering and enjoyment that appears in the final moments before stepping out in front of the audience.
For many, that experience will already have been worth it. Because their friends and family have already seen a winner, regardless of the final result. Those who were able to attend witnessed the atmosphere and emotion felt just a few meters from the stage.
Comparisons, routines, tension in the finals, and a lot of emotion in the athletes’ eyes. Everything flows quickly on stage, although behind every second there are months of work.
Attending these events is a wonderful experience for any fitness and bodybuilding enthusiast. The EMPRO Naturals showed that, with people like Emilio Martínez at the helm, a natural competition does not have to be the little brother of any other event. It is an option with its own identity, chosen by many athletes, fans, and followers who have found in natural bodybuilding their own way of living this sport.
Congratulations to all the competitors. And thank you to Emilio Martínez for allowing me to enjoy, once again, what I love most: telling stories through images.
Text and images ©Alberto Durán. All rights reserved.
Alberto Durán
Photographer & Storyteller