It’s finally here; the culmination of our annual Cover Guy search. After over 400 entries, thousands of votes and weeks of deliberation, we’re unveiling the winner in the September/October 2026 new issue of Men’s Health (on shelves, right now). But it’s not just about our front page man; the story is bigger than that. Each of our eight finalists is the definition of the ultimate MH guy. Each embodies the virtues of the mag and will no doubt inspire countless others to pursue their fitness goals with the same steadfast dedication.
And our new issue is stacked with everything you could need to emulate their great feats. From science-backed brain hacks to train your mental fitness to easy-to-follow workouts that’ll help you shed kilos and pile on muscle. Here are a few of our favourite reads in the new issue:
1. Our Best (and Biggest) Fat-Loss Plan Ever
When it comes to losing weight, there are plenty of fads promising instant results. The reality? Shedding the kilos (and keeping them off) requires a bit of hard graft but the rewards are always worth the effort. To help you reach your weight-loss goals before summer rolls around, we’ve compiled our ultimate fat-loss plan with the help of a top PT.
In our new issue, you’ll find the first part of our intense 12-week programme designed to torch calories and unleash a flood of fat-burning hormones that’ll supercharge your metabolism for hours after you’re done. In other words, you’ll make sure your fat-frying furnace runs on a high all day, even when you’re lounging on the couch. The moves aren’t complicated, the blueprint is easy to follow and – provided you never miss a session – the results are a foregone conclusion.
2. Look Sharper (Almost Instantly)
Our annual Grooming Awards are back, and the products are better than ever. We scoured the shelves and tested an endless trove of ointments, oils, balms, lotions, gizmos and gadgets to find those most deserving of a place in your cabinets.
3. Your New Headstrong Library
Book clubs and fiction are exploding in popularity, but is there more to reading on the reg than just pure escapism? Our experts look into the page-turning benefits of a good novel and how reading could help you start a new chapter of mental fitness.
4. The New Scoop on Salt
Long lambasted for its links with hypertension and strokes, salt is making a comeback in the modern age. Advocates claim a dose of the white stuff can boost endurance and mental clarity while nixing headaches. But is there a grain of truth to this new movement? Or should you take it all with a healthy pinch of the proverbial? Our writer investigates.
5. Tune-Up Your Gym Sessions
No one wants to hear each other’s clanks and bangs at the gym. We’ve got you covered: we tested the latest and greatest over-ear headphones on the market to find ones that don’t just cancel the noise but also blast your tunes at the highest quality. Now you can finally train like no one’s watching.
6. Feast on the Forever Nutrient
Fibremaxxing isn’t just a fad, it’s your clear route to better overall health. But hitting your recommended intake can seem like a daunting task. We’ve created the ultimate meal plan to ensure you’re always stacked on this supernutrient so that you’re never leaving any of the health benefits behind.
7. Welcome to the Armageddon
Armwrestling is finally having its breakthrough moment. We travelled to the world champs to meet the personalities and politics driving the sports ascent.
8. The Most Important Health Metric (You’re Not Tracking)
Blood pressure is the MVP that hasn’t been able to get any buzz. Until now. Tech companies have started making it trendy… maybe just in time to save us. In our new issue, find out why it matters, how to get your numbers back into the green and safeguard your ticker in the future.
9. The Willpower Delusion
The ability to exert self-control is variously described as a learned skill and a moral virtue; an attribute some of us are blessed with and others lack. But as science uncovers more about the true driving forces behind our appetites and urges, a new theory has emerged: what if ‘willpower’ doesn’t actually exist at all?
