The CrossFit Open - Your Annual Fitness Checkpoint

By John, Head Coach at Hypha CrossFit Wellington and Physiotherapist

If you've spent any time in the CrossFit world, you've probably heard the buzz about "the Open." Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just curious about what functional fitness looks like in action, here's everything you need to know about joining the world's largest fitness event.

What is the CrossFit Open?

The CrossFit Open is a three-week global competition running February 26th to March 23rd, 2026. Each Thursday, CrossFit HQ releases a workout. You complete it by Monday and submit your score online. That's it. No travel. No special equipment. Just you, the workout and hundreds of thousands of athletes worldwide doing the exact same thing.

Key dates for your diary:

Week 1: Thursday 26 Feb → Monday 2 Mar

Week 2: Thursday 5 Mar → Monday 9 Mar

Week 3: Thursday 12 Mar → Monday 16 Mar

Finals week: Thursday 19 Mar → Monday 23 Mar

Why Should You Do It?

It's the best fitness benchmark you'll ever have

Open workouts test everything: strength, conditioning, mental toughness, and your ability to move well under fatigue. They expose weaknesses and highlight strengths across all aspects of fitness.

It's YOUR checkpoint

Life changes year to year. Maybe you've had a baby, changed jobs, recovered from injury, or simply got a year older.

The Open gives you an honest snapshot of where your fitness sits right now. No judgment—just data to help plan the year ahead.

You might already be prepared

If you've been doing CrossFit consistently, these workouts won't feel drastically different from your regular training. Classic CrossFit programming prepares you for exactly this.

"But I'm Not Competitive Enough..."

Here's the truth: the Open isn't about qualifying for the CrossFit Games. For most of us, it's about participation, community, and personal challenge.

I've watched members complete scaled workouts and walk away absolutely buzzing—not because they're elite athletes, but because they did something hard, measured it, and now have a baseline to build from.

There's a version of every workout for:

• Beginners and seasoned athletes

• Ages 18 to 65+

• Every fitness level

We scale every workout to meet you where you're at. The only requirement is showing up.

Training for Life, Not Just Competition

The best thing about the Open? It rewards well-rounded fitness, not specialisation.

You don't need to be the strongest or fastest. You need to squat, pull, push, and move for extended periods. It's fitness that translates to real life—picking up kids or mokopuna, staying independent as you age, being a capable human for decades to come.

At Hypha, that's exactly how we train. Our programming prepares you for Open-style workouts year-round, so nothing in those three weeks should feel unfamiliar.

It's Actually Fun (Really)

Open season transforms the gym. The energy shifts. People cheer each other on. Someone finally nails a movement they've worked on for months. You surprise yourself with what you're capable of when it counts.

How to Sign Up

Step 1: Register at games.crossfit.com (~$20 USD)

Step 2: Complete your profile and select your division

Step 3: Find a CrossFit gym to complete and judge your workouts

Do the Open With Us at Hypha

Whether you're already part of our community or looking for a gym to tackle the Open with, we'd love to have you.

Current members - We'll be running Open workouts during our Monday classes. Same time, same place - just with extra energy in the room.

New to Hypha? Drop in for a free trial class and see what we're about. We welcome all fitness levels and will scale every workout to meet you where you're at.

👉 Book a Free Trial | 📧 Get in Touch

Let's make 2026's Open one to remember.

Ngā mihi

John

Head Coach, Hypha CrossFit Wellington