- Andre Galvao returns to competition at the 2026 IBJJF No-Gi Pan, his first IBJJF appearance in six years, according to the federation’s black belt athlete list.
- The official IBJJF preview lists the Atos founder in the super-heavyweight division, while third-party reports describe a Master 3 heavyweight bracket of 13 athletes.
- The entry comes weeks after Galvao returned to teaching at Atos HQ and amid ongoing fallout from allegations he has called false and retaliatory.
- Appearing on the athlete list does not guarantee he will ultimately compete; the final bracket is due October 1.
The IBJJF published its black belt athlete list for the 2026 Pan No-Gi on September 28, and the headline name is hard to miss. The federation’s preview confirms that Andre Galvao “returns to the IBJJF after six years away,” and it lists the Atos leader as an IBJJF Hall-of-Famer, five-time World champion, and nine-time Pan champion.
Galvao Appears on the 2026 Pan No-Gi Athlete List
The official preview states that Galvao “enlisted in the super-heavyweight division” for the Pan No-Gi. Third-party reports, however, describe a Master 3 heavyweight bracket — one that already held 13 athletes when his name surfaced.
Master 3 is the IBJJF age division for competitors born in 1985 or earlier, so the age classification is consistent across both listings; it is the weight-class label that differs. The live bracket, which the federation schedules for release on October 1, will settle which division Galvao actually sits in.
Registration closed on September 24, and appearing on the athlete list is not the same as competing. A spot is not confirmed until payment is completed, and the IBJJF cannot guarantee an athlete will show up on the day. Galvao’s name on the list is a strong signal of intent — not a lock on his participation.
Andre Galvao Returns to Competition Six Years After His Last IBJJF Appearance
The federation frames the entry as Galvao’s return after six years away from IBJJF competition, crediting elite-level performances “since 2006” and a résumé of five World, nine Pan, and two European titles.
For BJJ readers, the significance is straightforward: a decorated former champion and the founder of one of the sport’s most successful teams stepping back onto a Grand Slam stage. The Pan is one of the IBJJF’s marquee events, and a Galvao appearance there carries weight regardless of the division.
The Timing Comes After Galvao Returned to Teaching at Atos HQ
The competition entry lands in a particular context. In March 2026, Galvao announced he was back teaching at Atos headquarters in San Diego, ending a self-imposed break that followed public allegations of misconduct from former student Alexa Herse. Galvao has described those allegations as false and retaliatory, and he said he cooperated with law enforcement throughout.
I have been fully willing to cooperate with law enforcement and with all Jiu-Jitsu organizations in this matter. In fact, I already reached out to the San Diego Police Department first. They never called me, they never contacted me. And I went there to make sure that they know that I’m very clear on supporting and helping them, and I’m ready to assist in any way possible.
– Andre Galvao, March 2026 social media video –
The allegations led to a San Diego police investigation; no criminal charges were ultimately filed. Galvao’s supporters have cited that outcome, while his critics argue that an absence of charges does not by itself settle the accounts at the center of the controversy.
Atos Has Seen Major Changes Since the Allegations Became Public
The affiliation Galvao leads looks different than it did before the allegations surfaced. Publicly reported departures include Kaynan Duarte, Josh Hinger, Andy Murasaki, and Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa, while Atos Northwest announced it had formally cut ties after more than a decade under the Atos banner. Reports also list Bruno Frazatto, JT Torres, Dom Bell, Lucas Pinheiro, and Gustavo Batista among those who followed with public exits.
In May, former Atos coach Josh Hinger publicly backed the accusers, stating that Alexa Herse and Andressa Simas were telling the truth — a stance that directly contradicted the academy’s own framing of the claims as false narratives and misinformation.
None of this resolves the allegations, and this article makes no judgment about anyone’s legal or moral responsibility. It matters here only as the backdrop against which Galvao’s competition return is landing.
What Galvao’s Return Means for the Pan No-Gi Storyline
Sportingly, the entry is a headline in its own right: an IBJJF Hall-of-Famer returning to a major-event bracket after a six-year absence. The Masters divisions are always a draw, and a Galvao appearance adds a recognizable name to the field.
There is no point predicting a result — the bracket is not out, and registration is not participation; whether this return becomes actual matches will only be clear once the final schedule and divisions are published.
When and Where to Follow the 2026 Pan No-Gi
The 2026 Pan No-Gi runs October 2–4, 2026, at the Meadowlands Exposition Center, 355 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, New Jersey. Note that the IBJJF’s athlete-list article highlights October 2–3, while the official event page lists October 2–4. Registration is closed, and the federation schedules the final schedule and brackets for release on October 1, with FloGrappling streaming the event.
Whether Andre Galvao returns to competition on the mats will be confirmed when that bracket drops. This article will be updated if Galvao withdraws or if IBJJF publishes a final schedule that changes the picture.
