How to Watch the 2026 CrossFit Open Workout 26.1 Reveal — Live Stream, Start Time, Athletes to Watch

Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights
2. Introduction
3. How and where to watch: platforms, timing, and timezone conversions
4. The broadcast format and what the reveal looks like
5. Meet the athletes: who to watch on the broadcast and why their attempts matter
6. What 26.1 means for the Open and the season ahead
7. How to submit a score: deadlines, formats and best practices
8. Judging and movement standards: what to expect and how to prepare
9. Tactical approaches to an unknown workout: pacing, scaling and risk management
10. Training takeaways: short-term adjustments after the reveal
11. Historical context: why the Open reveal matters
12. The community and affiliate angle: hosting watch parties and judged attempts
13. Interpreting the leaderboard: what a strong Open showing actually signals
14. Predictions and scenarios for 26.1: what could decide the workout
15. How to get the most out of watching the reveal as a coach or athlete
16. The remaining Open schedule and how 26.1 fits into the bigger picture
17. Practical checklist for competitors the week of the reveal
18. The spectator experience: how to follow post-reveal coverage and analysis
19. Why the Open still matters for everyday athletes
20. FAQ

Key Highlights

• Workout 26.1 will be unveiled Feb. 26 at Moffett Air National Guard Base and streamed live worldwide at 12 p.m. PT on the CrossFit Games app, CrossFit Games YouTube channel, and games.crossfit.com.
• Elite athletes Jayson Hopper, Dalin Pepper, Colten Mertens and Austin Hatfield will attempt 26.1 on the broadcast; score submissions are due March 2 at 5 p.m. PT via a judged attempt at a licensed affiliate or a working YouTube upload.
• The CrossFit Open sets the season in motion; understanding the broadcast schedule, submission rules, judging expectations and smart preparation helps athletes and spectators get the most out of the event.

Introduction

The CrossFit Open begins with a single reveal: an unannounced workout that instantly becomes a test for millions. The first workout of the 2026 season, Workout 26.1, will be revealed on February 26 at Moffett Air National Guard Base. CrossFit organizers will stream the announcement live and free on the CrossFit Games app, the CrossFit Games YouTube channel, and the CrossFit Games website starting at 12 p.m. Pacific Time.

Broadcast reveals are more than spectacle. They set competitive tone, drive training priorities for the next three weeks, and provide a live laboratory where elite athletes’ strategies are analyzed and adopted by everyday competitors. This year’s showcase features four top athletes — Jayson Hopper, Dalin Pepper, Colten Mertens and Austin Hatfield — who will attempt the workout immediately after the reveal. For competitors planning to post scores, the submission window for 26.1 closes Monday, March 2 at 5 p.m. PT. Performances must either be completed under a judge’s oversight at a licensed CrossFit affiliate in good standing or uploaded to the CrossFit Games website via a working YouTube link.

This article breaks down where to watch the reveal, what to expect on broadcast, who the athletes are, the practical steps for submitting a score, how to read the leaderboard, and how everyday competitors can use the reveal to inform training. Practical tips, historical context and a clear walkthrough of deadlines and rules will help both first-time Open participants and seasoned competitors navigate the event.

How and where to watch: platforms, timing, and timezone conversions

The reveal will be streamed live and free worldwide on three official channels:

• CrossFit Games app (available on major app stores)
• CrossFit Games YouTube channel
• games.crossfit.com

Start time: 12 p.m. Pacific Time on Feb. 26.

For global viewers: convert the start time to local time zones to avoid missing the live action. Typical conversions for the reveal are:

• 12:00 p.m. PT = 3:00 p.m. ET (U.S. East Coast)
• 12:00 p.m. PT = 8:00 p.m. GMT (United Kingdom)
• 12:00 p.m. PT = 9:00 p.m. CET (Central Europe)
• 12:00 p.m. PT = 6:00 a.m. AEST on Feb. 27 (Australia Eastern Standard Time)

Streaming tips

• Install the CrossFit Games app ahead of time and sign in to receive notifications when the live stream is imminent.
• Subscribe to the CrossFit Games YouTube channel and enable notifications to get a reminder.
• If you plan to watch with a group at a gym, test your venue’s internet connection before showtime and have a backup device ready.
• Expect immediate social-media analysis during and after the reveal; official footage will be complemented by athlete interviews and replay breakdowns.

The broadcast format and what the reveal looks like

CrossFit Open reveals are engineered for immediacy. The workout announcement typically includes:

• Full workout description, including rep schemes, movement standards, equipment, and any scaling options.
• Demonstrations and clarifications of movement standards to ensure consistent judging.
• On-site attempts by top athletes, broadcast live to viewers worldwide.

For 26.1 the show will both announce the workout and follow four elite competitors — Hopper, Pepper, Mertens and Hatfield — as they take the first run. The head-to-head format makes the broadcast a source of practical intelligence: how elites break the workout into rounds, how they manage pacing, and what movement standards trip athletes up. Observing those first attempts provides data that athletes at all levels can use when they plan their own attempts during the Open’s submission window.

Expect the show to be tightly edited for replay value after the live event, but also to include step-by-step judge clarifications and Q&A aimed at clarifying how repetitions will be assessed.

Meet the athletes: who to watch on the broadcast and why their attempts matter

The 26.1 live attempts will feature four athletes with distinct competitive profiles. Each brings a different skill mix and strategy to the reveal, offering viewers contrasting models to study.

Jayson Hopper Jayson Hopper arrives at the 2026 Open as the reigning Fittest Man on Earth, having won the 2025 CrossFit Games. His strengths are breadth and consistency across domains. Hopper’s performance at the reveal will gauge how offseason training translated into early-season readiness. When elite athletes tackle a new piece of programming, they reveal both tactical choices — whether to sprint or grind, when to break sets — and the limits of certain strategies under surprise conditions.

Dalin Pepper Dalin Pepper has demonstrated consistent contention at the Games, producing a runner-up finish in 2024 followed by a fourth-place finish in 2025. That track record points to a competitor who thrives in high-pressure competitive settings and whose pacing choices are often conservative and calculated. Watching Pepper’s approach provides lessons in race management and the value of minimizing costly mistakes in judged workouts.

Colten Mertens Colten Mertens won the 2025 CrossFit Open men’s overall title, topping the leaderboard after the season’s three scored workouts with two wins and a second place. Mertens’ past Open performances show a capacity to dominate the varied scoring demands of the Open. His technique, transitions and choice of exchanges on composite movements will be instructive to athletes seeking to replicate efficient movement patterns.

Austin Hatfield Austin Hatfield represents a rising generation. Since breaking onto the scene with a top-five Games finish, he has continued to build momentum. Up-and-coming competitors often bring unconventional pacing and fearlessness to an Open reveal. Observing Hatfield can highlight the ways in which emerging athletes exploit new programming and how innovations in strategy can unsettle established methods.

Why watching elites matters The broadcast does more than provide spectacle. It documents a playbook. Is an athlete double-unders unbroken or in long sets? Do they choose heavy loads early in a chipper or spread the work evenly? Which athletes accept small time losses to secure flawless reps versus those who push for raw speed? Each reveals a decision tree other competitors can emulate or avoid.

What 26.1 means for the Open and the season ahead

The CrossFit Open functions as the opening stage of the season, a global qualifier that invites anyone to test themselves. Although the Open itself does not crown a champion in the same way the Games do, it is decisive for athletes seeking leaderboard positions, qualification steps and momentum.

Momentum from the Open serves multiple purposes:

• It provides a competitive baseline for athletes and coaches to adjust programming for the coming months.
• It identifies strengths and weaknesses under pressure and unknown variables.
• It affects selection processes for subsequent competitive stages.

Colten Mertens’ 2025 Open victory illustrated how consistent finishes across the Open workouts translate to an overall win. That pattern shows the strategic value of treating the Open as a mini-series: consistency often beats the high-risk, high-reward approach unless an athlete is exceptionally suited to a given workout.

How to submit a score: deadlines, formats and best practices

Official window for 26.1 scoring

• Submission deadline: Monday, March 2 at 5 p.m. PT.

Two submission methods:

1. Complete the workout under the supervision of a judge at a licensed CrossFit affiliate in good standing and submit the judged score via the CrossFit Games website.
2. Upload a working YouTube link showing your attempt and submit that link through the CrossFit Games website before the deadline.

Best practices for recording and submitting a video

• Record the entire workout, including pre-workout setup, movement demonstrations (if any), and the judge’s verbal confirmation of standards.
• Ensure the camera angle shows the athlete, the equipment used, and the judge clearly. Judges must be visible and identifiable to validate calls.
• Use high-resolution recording and stable framing; shaky footage can cast doubt on rep standards and may cause a score rejection.
• Include a view that verifies prescribed weights or distances, especially for movements involving a barbell, kettle bell, or measured event.
• Ensure the YouTube link is unlisted or public and that privacy settings allow CrossFit staff to view the video.
• Avoid edits. CrossFit typically requires unedited footage to validate attempt legitimacy.

What “licensed CrossFit affiliate in good standing” implies A licensed CrossFit affiliate is an official CrossFit gym that maintains its affiliation status with CrossFit headquarters. Affiliates in good standing follow CrossFit’s policies and are authorized to host judged Open attempts. Judges at these affiliates are usually staff, coaches or owners familiar with CrossFit standards. If you plan to attempt 26.1 at an affiliate, contact the gym in advance to confirm judge availability and reserve a slot within the submission window.

Common reasons for score rejection

• Missing or unclear footage of the judge.
• Edited video that obscures portions of the attempt.
• Failure to follow movement standards as clarified in the workout announcement.
• Late submission past the deadline.

Reserve time for retakes and technical checks Allow a buffer for video uploads and playback verification before the submission deadline. Large files and upload speeds can create last-minute obstacles. If recording on a phone, ensure adequate battery and storage.

Judging and movement standards: what to expect and how to prepare

Movement standard clarity The reveal will include detailed movement standards. These clarifications matter because they eliminate ambiguity and set a common baseline for judging. Pay attention to:

• Range of motion specifications for gymnastics movements.
• Barbell touch-and-go rules versus full stops.
• What constitutes a completed repetition for complex movements like clean and jerks or snatch variants.
• Time cap clarifications, if any.

Judge calls you’ll hear and what they mean Judges typically call for:

• Open/close of repetitions.
• Clear demonstration of depth in squats and range in muscle-ups.
• Feet/positioning confirmations during carries or runs.

Preparing to meet standards

• Train the exact movement and practice under judge-like scrutiny. If a ring muscle-up is in the workout, simulate the movement under an observer who enforces strict standards.
• Practice transitions and movement changes that are likely to be contested; many Open failures come from inefficient transitions rather than failed reps.
• Record your practice sessions and watch them to spot technical flaws that a judge would penalize.

Tactical approaches to an unknown workout: pacing, scaling and risk management

Open workouts demand both physical readiness and tactical decision-making. The reveal forces athletes to choose between several competing priorities: pace, rep strategy, and whether to accept scaling.

Pacing and rep strategy

• Break early or turn sets into manageable chunks. An early break buys control but costs time; unbroken sets save time if sustainable.
• Use movement-specific strengths. If double-unders are a weakness, consider strategies that limit their volume per round but keep effort manageable.
• Watch the elites for cues. If Hopper or Mertens opens with a fast pace in a particular movement, ask whether that pace is realistic given your capacity.

Scaling choices

• Choose a scale that preserves competition integrity but avoids catastrophic failure. Scaling down often secures a higher-quality score.
• If the workout offers prescribed and scaled options, prioritize standards that allow you to finish confidently under a good judge’s eye.

Risk management

• Avoid trying to chase elites’ splits unless you have proven that pace in training.
• Minimize penalties by practicing transitions and receiving judge feedback before your official attempt.
• Decide before stepping onto the floor exactly how you will manage missed reps, racked bars, or failed movements.

Practical example If the workout includes a heavy barbell and a long row, an athlete with strong rowing capacity but weaker Olympic lifting might:

• Accept a reduced bar weight or alternate to a scaled movement.
• Use quick, efficient transitions to offset slower barbell cycles.
• Aim for consistent sets rather than single maximal attempts on the bar.

Training takeaways: short-term adjustments after the reveal

After watching the reveal and elite attempts, athletes can implement immediate training adjustments:

• Drill the specific movement standard: if the workout requires a peculiar depth for squats, practice that depth under strict supervision.
• Build tolerance for likely combinations: combine the movements from 26.1 into short hybrid metcons to develop pacing.
• Simulate rep schemes: practice the same rounds or rep ranges to understand where you will fatigue.

Sample three-day microcycle following a reveal Day 1: Technique and verification

• Focus on movement standards and technique work at low to moderate intensity.
• Perform skill sets with a judge or peer to recreate scrutiny.

Day 2: Threshold work

• Do a high-intensity piece replicating the work-to-rest ratios suggested by the reveal. Keep intensity near the race pace you intend to use.

Day 3: Active recovery and rehearsal

• Conduct a rehearsal attempt under judge-like conditions to test pacing and video setup.
• Perform mobility and recovery protocols to ensure readiness for an official attempt.

Historical context: why the Open reveal matters

Since 2007 the CrossFit Games and its Open stage have shaped athlete careers and gym communities. Early reveals have been decisive in seasons where an athlete’s ability to adapt on the fly revealed competitive advantages. The Open functions as a cultural event: gyms host watch parties, athletes compare strategies, and newcomers engage with a global fitness community.

Looking back at champions listed over the years — from early winners like James FitzGerald and Jason Khalipa to repeat champions such as Rich Froning Jr. and Mathew Fraser, and the recent dominance of Tia-Clair Toomey on the women’s side — the Open has continually served as the opening measure of the field. Colten Mertens’ 2025 Open victory demonstrated that consistent, strategically sound performances across multiple unknown workouts remain one of the most reliable routes to topping the leaderboard.

The location of the reveal also carries symbolic weight. Hosting the announcement at Moffett Air National Guard Base creates a larger-than-life stage that underscores CrossFit’s status as a spectator sport while maintaining the Open’s open-door ethos for community-driven participation.

The community and affiliate angle: hosting watch parties and judged attempts

CrossFit gyms are the social nucleus of Open season. Affiliates often:

• Host watch-parties for the reveal with live stream viewing and commentary.
• Run scheduled judged attempts across the submission window.
• Offer coaching clinics to help athletes prepare their attempts and record video properly.

How affiliates can maximize the Open experience

• Publish a schedule for judged attempts and reserve slots to prevent congestion.
• Provide a dedicated filming area with a clear judge view and stable camera setup.
• Assign experienced staff to confirm movement standards and practice judge calls during warm-ups.

Community stories: practical examples

• A mid-sized affiliate in Denver runs an Open reveal night that includes live-stream viewing, a quick skills clinic on the movements, and a rotating schedule of athlete attempts, ensuring that each participant gets a judged slot within the submission window.
• A community gym in Oslo partnered with local videographers to teach athletes how to frame their attempts and produce YouTube uploads that meet CrossFit’s visibility requirements.

The affiliate model supports both grassroots competition and high-level validation of scores. It also fosters community resilience by bringing athletes together to learn from elite televised attempts.

Interpreting the leaderboard: what a strong Open showing actually signals

A top position on an Open workout leaderboard indicates readiness, but it should be contextualized:

• Open leaderboards reflect one-off performance across a small sample of workouts.
• Top finishes expose current form and specific strengths but do not guarantee long-term dominance across a full Games season.
• Consistent top finishes across the Open’s workouts are more predictive of success in later stages than a single explosive result.

Colten Mertens’ 2025 Open result illustrates how low cumulative points across multiple scored workouts produce an overall win. Athletes who prioritize consistent scoring often wind up better positioned for the season than those who rely on singular outstanding performances.

Use leaderboard positions to:

• Identify where the field’s strengths lie (for example, if many athletes excelled on a barbell-heavy 26.1 variant, expect future programming to probe different weaknesses).
• Benchmark training priorities against the most successful athletes in your division or region.
• Adjust expectations for qualifying pathways and overall season objectives.

Predictions and scenarios for 26.1: what could decide the workout

Predicting the nature of a single Open workout is speculative, but some patterns recur:

• Workouts that combine high-skill gymnastics with heavy barbell work create large separations between athletes who specialize in one domain versus those who possess balanced capacity.
• Chipper-style workouts that accumulate volume favor athletes with pacing discipline and aerobic robustness.
• Short, intense sprint pieces reward athletes with explosive power and anaerobic capacity.

Athlete-specific scenarios

• If 26.1 features repeated heavy cleans or snatches, Hopper’s all-around strength could give him an edge.
• A gymnastics-heavy piece may favor Pepper’s consistency and technical proficiency.
• Mertens’ Open success suggests he handles varied schemes; a mixed workout with alternating modalities could play to his strengths.
• Hatfield’s rise indicates that a novel combination of movements might produce an upset if it aligns with his particular skill set.

These scenarios are not predictions of outcomes but rather frameworks for what types of programming emphasize particular athlete attributes.

How to get the most out of watching the reveal as a coach or athlete

• Observe elite attempts for pacing patterns and transitions, not raw finishing time alone. How they distribute effort across rounds is often more teachable than a final number.
• Note where athletes accept small technical compromises in favor of speed, and whether those compromises create late penalties.
• Record the replay and break it into segments for technical review with athletes. Use slow-motion to analyze movement standards.
• After the broadcast, run controlled simulations to test different pacing strategies under judge-like conditions.

Coaching checklist after the reveal

• Confirm movement standards and clarify judge calls for athletes.
• Run a scaled rehearsal for beginners to validate their plan.
• Create a chosen strategy for each athlete based on strengths, weaknesses and risk tolerance.
• Set video requirements and plan upload logistics for those submitting with a YouTube link.

The remaining Open schedule and how 26.1 fits into the bigger picture

The CrossFit Open comprises three scored workouts in 2026:

• Open Workout 26.1: Reveal Feb. 26, submission window closes March 2 at 5 p.m. PT.
• Open Workout 26.2: Available March 5 at 12 p.m. PT through March 9 at 5 p.m. PT.
• Open Workout 26.3: Available March 12 at 12 p.m. PT through March 16 at 5 p.m. PT.

Athletes should view 26.1 as the opening gambit. Treat it as data collection for subsequent workouts. The second and third workouts frequently exploit weaknesses exposed in earlier events, and the cumulative strategy for the Open awards steady, repeatable performance over volatility.

Practical checklist for competitors the week of the reveal

• Mark the reveal and submission deadlines in local time and set calendar reminders.
• Reserve a judged slot at a local affiliate or arrange a filming plan for a YouTube submission.
• Prepare all equipment and load testing weights onto your filming device the day before.
• Run one judged rehearsal under strict movement standards to remove uncertainty.
• Plan nutrition and recovery around the day of the attempt to allow for warm-up and peak performance.

The spectator experience: how to follow post-reveal coverage and analysis

After the reveal the CrossFit community shifts into rapid analysis mode. Expect the following:

• Replays and highlights with expert commentary on technique and strategy.
• Athlete interviews and behind-the-scenes insights that reveal training rationales.
• Social media breakdowns, including split times, pacing charts and movement-by-movement analysis.
• Affiliate-hosted recap sessions that translate the broadcast into practical coaching tips.

Make use of official and reliable sources for rules and clarifications — the CrossFit Games app and official website publish exact movement standards and judging clarifications. Social media can be useful for perspective but verify questionable claims against primary sources.

Why the Open still matters for everyday athletes

The Open democratizes competition. Athletes of all ability levels can measure progress against a global community. The Open’s format emphasizes a mix of skill, strength and metabolic capacity, encouraging comprehensive training rather than specialization. Whether an athlete’s goal is to climb a local leaderboard or to refine pacing for an upcoming competition, the Open provides a clear, measurable challenge.

Practical benefits for everyday athletes

• A structured, short-term goal that motivates consistency in training.
• The chance to practice competition-day logistics, including judge interactions and filmed attempts.
• A shared communal challenge that increases retention and gym engagement.

FAQ

Q: When and where will the Workout 26.1 reveal be streamed? A: The reveal will be streamed live on Feb. 26 at 12 p.m. Pacific Time on the CrossFit Games app, the CrossFit Games YouTube channel, and games.crossfit.com.

Q: Who will attempt the workout on the live broadcast? A: Jayson Hopper, Dalin Pepper, Colten Mertens and Austin Hatfield will attempt Workout 26.1 immediately after the reveal.

Q: How do I submit my score for 26.1? A: Scores for 26.1 must be submitted by Monday, March 2 at 5 p.m. PT, either via a judged attempt at a licensed CrossFit affiliate in good standing or by uploading a working YouTube video link to the CrossFit Games website.

Q: What should I include in my video if I submit via YouTube? A: Record the entire attempt unedited. Ensure the judge is visible, movement standards and equipment are clearly shown, and audio or on-screen judge confirmation is captured. Use an unlisted or public YouTube link that allows CrossFit staff to view the footage.

Q: What are common pitfalls that cause score rejections? A: Edited footage, missing judge confirmation, obscured equipment or rep visibility, and late submissions are frequent causes for rejection.

Q: How long will the Open last and what are the dates for remaining workouts? A: The 26.1 participation window closes March 2. Open Workout 26.2 will be available March 5 at 12 p.m. PT through March 9 at 5 p.m. PT. Open Workout 26.3 will be available March 12 at 12 p.m. PT through March 16 at 5 p.m. PT.

Q: Do I need to be a member of a CrossFit affiliate to compete? A: No. The Open is open to anyone worldwide. You can either do your attempt at a licensed CrossFit affiliate with a judge or submit a valid YouTube video link directly to the CrossFit Games website.

Q: How should I plan my strategy after watching the reveal? A: Identify your strongest and weakest movements relative to the workout. Choose a sustainable pacing strategy, practice transitions under judged conditions, and decide on scaling if necessary to secure a high-quality score.

Q: Where can I find official clarifications on movement standards? A: The CrossFit Games website and the CrossFit Games app publish official movement standards and clarifications after the reveal. Use those resources for definitive guidance.

Q: Will the broadcast provide judge clarifications? A: Yes. The reveal show typically includes explicit movement standard clarifications and demonstrations to minimize ambiguity for judges and competitors.

Q: How do I convert the reveal time to my local time? A: The reveal starts at 12 p.m. PT. Typical conversions include 3 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. GMT, 9 p.m. CET, and 6 a.m. AEST the following day. Verify local daylight savings adjustments if applicable.

Q: What should coaches do immediately after the reveal? A: Clarify movement standards for athletes, schedule judged attempts or filming slots, run technique drills that address potential judging pitfalls, and set athlete-specific strategies based on strengths and risk tolerance.

Q: How does a strong Open showing translate to later stages? A: Strong Open results indicate current form and can build momentum, but they reflect a small sample of performances. Consistency across Open workouts is the most direct predictor of favorable positioning for later stages.

Q: Is it beneficial to watch elite attempts closely? A: Yes. Elite attempts offer practical insights into pacing, rep schemes and transitions. Use their performances as models, but adapt strategies to your capacity.

Q: Can I watch the reveal after it goes live? A: Yes. The CrossFit Games app, YouTube channel and website typically provide replay videos and highlight packages following the live reveal.

Q: Where can I get help with video uploading or judge questions? A: Contact your local affiliate for assistance with judge procedures and video recording. For technical support with uploads and website submissions, consult the CrossFit Games help resources on the official website.

The 2026 CrossFit Open’s 26.1 reveal is more than a single broadcast; it is the season’s opening data release and a practical test that generates strategy, coaching decisions and community activity. Whether you are watching to glean pacing strategies from Hopper, Pepper, Mertens and Hatfield, preparing to submit a scored attempt, or organizing affiliate events, the reveal sets the immediate competitive agenda. Mark the time, prepare your filming plan, and approach the Open with a mix of tactical self-knowledge and measured ambition.