HYROX 2026 World Championships Set for Stockholm
HYROX has officially selected Stockholm as the host city for its 2026 World Championships following a global bidding process. After a huge event in Chicago in June 2025, "The Fitness Competition for Every Body" heads to Europe for a competition that promises to be its biggest yet.
Growth You Can’t Ignore
HYROX has called 2025 "a breakout year", which has seen unprecedented growth for a fitness event.
- Events in 11 countries with many more planned
- Over 650,000 participants
- Revenue hitting over $140 million
Moritz Fürste, former Olympian and HYROX co‑founder, publicly declared ambitions to make fitness racing an Olympic sport.
Why Stockholm?
The event will be staged in one of Sweden’s largest indoor arenas, capable of hosting HYROX’s signature circuit of 8km running + 8 functional stations. The event will bring a big tourist boom to the city, as athletes and spectators will fly in from all over the world.
Spotting the opportunity for economic benefits, other global cities are vying for the opportunity to host a race, but certain criteria, such as a large enough venue, are crucial to getting the green light from HYROX.
Brief History of a Fitness Phenomenon
HYROX was launched in Hamburg, Germany in 2017 by Fürste and Christian Toetzke, starting its journey as a hybrid of strength, endurance and functional fitness
After piloting in Hamburg, by 2019 HYROX staged its first World Championship and held events globally, including Miami and Chicago.
The next few years saw rapid growthh: 24,000 participants in London (2023) and 65 global events that year.
HYROW recently reported a network of 5,000+ affiliated gyms, classified into Performance Centers and Training Clubs. However, they are now nearing the 8,000 affiliate mark, making it a major fitness industry player that, in terms of numbers, is close to rivaling Crossfit.
Olympic Ambitions
Co-founder Moritz Fürste envisions HYROX becoming an Olympic sport - but if that happens, the Olympic version might need to drop the “HYROX” brand. The sport would still include the runs and functional stations but presented under a neutral name. The push for Olympic inclusion aligns with the bid for global recognition