The 2026 CrossFit Open runs from February 26 to March 16, with one workout released each week. Anyone can take part, whether it’s your first Open or you’ve competed for years. There is a version of every workout designed to suit different experience levels, which is why the Open remains one of the most widely participated fitness events in the world.
The 2026 CrossFit Open is a three-week, worldwide competition that marks the start of the CrossFit Games season. One workout is released each week, and athletes of all levels can take part by completing the workouts and submitting their scores online.
The CrossFit Open is an annual, worldwide fitness competition that has taken place every year since 2011. It marks the beginning of the CrossFit Games season and allows athletes to compete virtually from their own affiliate or training space.
Since its launch, the Open has grown into the largest participatory fitness competition in the world, with hundreds of thousands of athletes registering each year across more than 170 countries.
The Open serves three core purposes.
Because the Open includes multiple divisions, athletes at very different stages of training can take part in the same event on the same timeline.
“The Open is a great time to test yourself beyond what you might do in normal training. And, if you train alone most of the time, the Open is a chance to feel like a part of something bigger!” Mat Fraser, 5-time CrossFit Games Champion — HWPO founder
The CrossFit Open is designed for anyone who trains CrossFit, not just competitive athletes.
Because each workout is offered in multiple divisions, athletes can participate regardless of experience level, age, or competitive goals. This includes:
For many participants, the Open is not about leaderboard position. It is used to:
The Open is also commonly used as a reset point in the training year, helping athletes re-focus habits around consistency, recovery, and movement quality.
The CrossFit Open includes adaptive divisions so athletes with permanent physical or intellectual impairments can compete within clearly defined standards.
Adaptive divisions follow the same Open timeline as other athletes, with workouts released weekly and scores submitted online. However, movements, equipment, and standards are adapted to match each classification, allowing athletes to compete fairly within their division.
For the 2026 season, the Adaptive CrossFit Open is run in coordination with WheelWOD, which is responsible for:
Adaptive workouts are designed to preserve the intent of the Open while accounting for different functional abilities. Athletes are ranked only within their specific adaptive division, rather than against non-adaptive categories.
As with all Open divisions, adaptive athletes are expected to:
The 2026 CrossFit Open takes place over three weeks, running from February 26 to March 16, 2026. During this period, one workout is released each week and completed by athletes around the world.
Workouts are released on Thursdays, and athletes have until Monday at 5 p.m. PT to complete the workout and submit their score for that week.
This fixed weekly rhythm allows athletes to plan attempts, recovery, and training around Open workouts, whether they choose to complete the workout once or repeat it later in the week to try to improve their score.
The CrossFit Open is the first stage of the CrossFit Games season. Athletes who finish in the top percentages of their division can progress to later stages of competition throughout the year.
Based on the published 2026 season calendar, the key stages that follow the Open are:
Not every athlete enters the Open with the goal of progressing through the full season. For many, the Open is a standalone event used to benchmark fitness, stay accountable, and train with a clear goal. For others, it marks the beginning of a longer competitive pathway that continues through Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and ultimately the CrossFit Games.
“The Open sets the tone for the entire season. How you take care of your body from the very start through recovery, movement quality, and consistency, makes a real difference as the competition intensifies.” — Jayson Hopper, winner of the CrossFit Games 2025
The CrossFit Open follows a consistent weekly process for all athletes, regardless of division or competitive level. Each workout is completed within a fixed window, giving athletes time to plan attempts, manage recovery, and submit a valid score.
The CrossFit Open is structured around three workouts released over three weeks:
While the structure is consistent year to year, the workouts themselves vary. Each Open typically includes a mix of:
Because there are only three workouts, every result matters. Small differences in execution, movement quality, or recovery between weeks can have a meaningful impact on overall placement.
Sometimes, a workout from previous editions is programmed again, giving those who’ve already done it a great opportunity to measure their progress.
The Open is designed so athletes with different experience levels can take part in the same event. Each workout is typically offered in multiple versions, allowing athletes to compete in the division that best matches their current ability.
Common divisions include:
Athletes are ranked within their chosen division, meaning scores are compared against others completing the same version of the workout.
Yes. Athletes are allowed to repeat an Open workout as many times as they like before the submission deadline, provided each attempt is judged according to the standards.
Some athletes use:
This is one of the reasons recovery, movement quality, and mobility often become more important during Open season than during normal training weeks.
“Your first attempt is about learning the workout. If you retest, it should be because you understand the pacing and can execute better, not just because you feel like you need another go.”— Justin Medeiros, 2x CrossFit Games winner
CrossFit Open scores are based on ranked placement, not accumulated reps or time across workouts.
This ranking system means consistency across all workouts is often more important than a single standout performance.
Each CrossFit Open workout is released publicly through official CrossFit platforms, allowing athletes worldwide to access the workout details at the same time.
Traditionally, each workout is announced live on the CrossFit Games YouTube channel by Dave Castro during a community event where both professional and amateur athletes perform the workout right after the announcement.
Workouts are published on:
Each release includes everything athletes need to complete the workout correctly, including movement standards, equipment requirements, score format, and division-specific variations.
For many affiliates, the workout release has become a shared weekly moment during Open season, with athletes watching together, discussing strategy, and planning attempts as a community.
Each CrossFit Open workout has a fixed submission deadline. Scores must be submitted on time to count toward an athlete’s overall Open ranking.
For the 2026 CrossFit Open:
If an athlete misses a submission deadline, the result is a zero score for that workout, which significantly impacts overall ranking and eligibility for later stages of the CrossFit Games season.
Athletes who repeat workouts during the week are responsible for ensuring their best judged score is submitted before the deadline.
Athletes can view their CrossFit Open scores and rankings on the official CrossFit Games leaderboard once scores have been submitted and validated by CrossFit. .
You can access your results by:
The leaderboard allows athletes to filter rankings by:
Many athletes use leaderboard data during the Open to compare performances against similar athletes, identify strengths and weaknesses, and set realistic goals for future seasons.
Past CrossFit Open scores can be accessed through the official CrossFit Games leaderboard, allowing athletes to review historical results and long-term progress.
To find old Open scores:
Historical leaderboards are commonly used to:
Reviewing past Open results is one of the ways athletes use the competition as a long-term benchmark, even if they are not pursuing later stages of the CrossFit Games season.
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The CrossFit Open is governed by an official rulebook designed to ensure fair competition, athlete safety, and consistent scoring across a worldwide field.
All athletes are expected to follow the same published standards, regardless of location or division. These standards exist to protect athletes and maintain integrity on the leaderboard.
Each Open workout includes clearly defined movement standards, outlining:
All scores must be judged according to these standards. Judging may be completed:
Consistent movement standards are essential during the Open, as small technical differences can affect rankings and overall placement.
Formal appeals and score review processes exist at later stages of the CrossFit Games season. During the Open, athletes are responsible for ensuring scores are accurate at the time of submission.
Once a score is submitted, athletes must confirm:
Final authority on scoring and movement standards remains with CrossFit, as outlined in the official rulebook.
The CrossFit Open places different demands on the body compared to regular training weeks. Repeated high-effort workouts, strict movement standards, and limited recovery windows mean small preparation choices can have a big impact on performance and consistency.
Whether it’s your first Open or you’ve competed for years, the following principles can help you get more out of the three-week competition.
The CrossFit Open is short, intense, and different from a normal training cycle. Because of this, some athletes choose to follow a CrossFit Open training plan in the weeks leading up to the competition.
Open-focused training plans are typically designed to:
Athletes training at an affiliate will often follow programming that naturally accounts for the Open. Others may choose to use a standalone Open preparation plan, particularly if they:
Regardless of approach, the goal during Open prep is usually readiness, not overload. Maintaining movement quality, joint health, and energy levels tends to be more beneficial than a high training volume in the period leading up to the Open.
For many athletes, this also means adjusting mobility, recovery, and accessory work so it supports performance during the three-week Open window rather than competing with it.
During the Open, movement standards matter more than usual. Chasing intensity at the expense of depth, control, or range of motion can lead to:
Spending time before each workout preparing key joints and positions can help you move more confidently under fatigue, especially in common Open movements like squats, overhead work, and gymnastics.
Because workouts are released weekly, athletes have time to plan rather than rush.
Many experienced Open athletes:
Treating recovery days as intentionally as training days can help maintain performance across all three workouts.
The Open often exposes mobility restrictions that may not be obvious during normal training. Limited ankle, hip, shoulder, or thoracic mobility can:
This is why many athletes integrate targeted mobility work throughout Open season, focusing on the positions and ranges demanded by each workout.
To support our users who take part in the CrossFit Open, we also create specific mobility protocols designed to help you activate and recover effectively after each workout announcement. These are tailored every year to the specific movements and you can access them for free directly from the GOWOD App. If you’re not already a member, create a GOWOD account today.
It’s easy to accumulate extra fatigue during the Open by stacking:
Scaling back non-essential volume during the three weeks can help athletes:
For most participants, the Open is not about qualifying for the CrossFit Games. It’s about:
Approaching the Open with this mindset often helps you better handle this very unique time of the year.
“From an athlete perspective, the Open rewards consistency more than anything. But whether you are a first timer or a pro athlete, the most important aspect of it is to spend time with your community. ”— Justin Medeiros, 2x CrossFit Games Champion.
The CrossFit Open is one of the few times each year when the entire CrossFit community comes together around a single shared event. Whether you’re chasing a qualification spot, testing yourself against last year’s scores, or simply showing up for your first workout, the Open is ultimately about participation, progress, and shared effort.
Prepare as well as you can, respect your body across the three weeks, and don’t underestimate the importance of mobility and recovery to perform at your best over these three weeks. Most importantly, enjoy the process. Few events bring this many athletes together worldwide, and that experience is what makes the Open special year after year. Good luck, and have fun out there.
The GOWOD team.
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