CrossFit Open 2026 Explained

Done the Open before?

Jump straight to “What’s different in 2026” — there are a few important changes compared to last year.

New here?

Perfect. The CrossFit Open is a three-week challenge for everyone, from first-timers to experienced athletes. It’s about showing up, pushing yourself, and having fun together. With scalable workout options, anyone can take part.

3 weeks, 3 workouts

The CrossFit Open runs over three weeks, from February 26 to March 16.

Each week, you can choose from three workout options based on your abilities: Rx’d, Scaled, or Foundations. Simple as that — 3 weeks, 3 workouts, 3 divisions, plus different age groups within each division.

If you’re officially registered, you’ll need to complete the Open workouts at a licensed CrossFit affiliate, or submit a video of your workout following the official video guidelines.

And of course, our in-house CFH Friday Night Lights — you won’t want to miss these events!

Find your level

Here are the divisions you can choose from:

Rx’d
Do the workouts exactly as written. This is the most challenging option — but many athletes move from Scaled to Rx’d over the years as they gain experience and confidence.

Scaled
Not quite ready to go Rx’d? No worries. The Scaled division offers familiar scaling options for common CrossFit movements and lighter weights.

Foundations
New to CrossFit or signing up for your very first Open? Foundations is the perfect place to start and get a feel for the workouts.

On top of that, there are nine age-group divisions, offering both Rx’d and Scaled versions for teenage athletes (ages 14–17) and Masters athletes (35+). But note: only Masters 55+ have an easier version of each workout.

You don’t need to choose your division in advance. Once the workout is released, you can decide which version you want to do. That means you could go Rx’d one week and Scaled the next — for example, if the Rx’d weights are a bit out of reach.

Just keep in mind: switching divisions during the three workouts will affect your official ranking. If you’re not officially registered, there’s no impact at all — just show up and enjoy the Open.

Do I need to register officially?

No. You can fully take part in our in-house Open without official registration — just without the worldwide ranking. Official signup only matters if you’re aiming for Quarterfinals or want the official badge.

Everyone must be on our internal list and complete each workout with a judge and scoresheet. No matter if you are officially registered or not.

How we run the Open at CFH

We’ll host three Friday Night Lights on February 27, March 6, and March 13. One workout per week, followed by community vibes and a beer. Save the dates!

Book your spots via Wodify and make sure to review the workouts description & standards in advance!

Can’t make Friday? Open Gym is always an option — just bring your own judge.

What`s different in 2026

There will be no teams this year — everyone competes individually. Training together is still encouraged, as fellow members and coaches will help with workouts, strategy, and motivation.

We strongly recommend joining Friday Night Lights. If that’s not possible, workouts can also be done during Open Gym — but a judge and official scoresheet are required.

As in 2024, the top 25% worldwide will advance to the Quarterfinals in 2026, which we will host at CFH for our qualifying athletes.

2026 Open Resources

For the first time, CrossFit provides free 4-week training plans (PDF) for several Gymnastics movements, including Double-Unders. Check out the link below!

The Judges Course is not mandatory, but recommended. It helps you better understand CrossFit movement standards and judging criteria.

• CrossFit Games | Overview of the 2026 CrossFit Open
• The 2026 CrossFit Games Season: Dates & Details by Division
• CrossFit Games | 2026 CrossFit Games Rulebook
• CrossFit Games | Training Plans for the 2026 CrossFit Open
• CrossFit | 2026 Judges Course

We’d be thrilled to see as many of you as possible on Friday night.

Your CFH Team