As reported last week, the structure of the 2026 CrossFit Games season has been announced. In a short video published on Instagram, CrossFit has laid out a high-level calendar of next year.
In that, Quarterfinals are back along with Semifinals. It does appear that there will still be a path to qualify via online Semifinals, but those details have yet to be announced.
The overall season timing is very similar to that of prior years (2021-2024) where it was Open -> Quarterfinals -> Semifinals -> CrossFit Games.
Here’s a look at each of the stages of the 2026 CrossFit Games season…
2026 CrossFit Open
The 2026 CrossFit Open will remain three weeks. The Open is essentially the same three weeks as the past two years. In 2026, it will begin on Thursday, February 26 and run through Monday, March 16.
All divisions start here.
Quarterfinals Return
After removing the Quarterfinals this year, they are back in 2026. Individuals and age-group athletes will take on this online stage March 26-30.
INDIVIDUALS & AGE GROUPS
The top 25% men and women will advance from the Open to Quarterfinals in the individual division. The same 25% will advance within each age group for teens and masters divisions.
Any athlete who qualifies for both the individual and age group Quarterfinals will only pay one registration fee.
Semifinals In, In-Person Qualifying Events Out
The IPQE’s are no longer and Semifinals are back…kinda. The “In-Person Qualifying Event” lingo is gone and replaced by Semifinals.
The 2026 Semifinals stage will include both in-person competitions and an online competition.
INDIVIDUALS
The top 2,000 men and women from Quarterfinals will have the opportunity to compete at Semifinals or the Online Semifinals.
While not called IPQE’s, the 2026 in-person Semifinals will be run by outside organizers similar to last year. The list of Semifinals, dates* and qualifying spots from each will be announced at a later date.
*Semifinals will be hosted in April, May and June.
TEAMS
All teams who completed the Open are eligible to compete in the online Semifinals, similar to this past season.
But unlike last year, teams will get the opportunity to compete in-person to qualify for the CrossFit Games. Some of the Semifinals will also host teams who are looking to qualify to the Games.
AGE GROUPS
The top 400 age-group athletes in the 35-54 year-old divisions and top 300 in the 14-17 year-old and 55+ year-old divisions will advance to the Semifinals stage.
In addition to the online Semifinals, select Semifinals will also host age group divisions to qualify athletes to the Teenage or Masters CrossFit Games.
ADAPTIVE
The top 20 in each division from the Open will advance to the online WheelWOD Adaptive Semifinals.
ONLINE SEMIFINALS DATES
Age Groups: May 7-11
Teams: June 4-8
Individuals: June 11-15
Adaptive: TBA (the adaptive division will only have an online Semifinals stage)
CrossFit Games
As for crowning the Fittest on Earth, individuals and teams will once again be paired together. The 2026 CrossFit Games will be in July…exact dates to be announced later.
The Age Group CrossFit Games and Adaptive CrossFit Games dates are not yet ready to be announced, but it does not appear they will coincide with the main event again this year.
FIELD SIZE
Individuals: 30 men & 30 women
Teams: 20
Adaptive: Top 10 from each division
Age Groups
14-15: 20 boys & 20 girls
16-17: 20 boys & 20 girls
35-39: 30 men & 30 women
40-44: 30 men & 30 women
45-49: 20 men & 20 women
50-54: 20 men & 20 women
55-59: 15 men & 15 women
60-64: 15 men & 15 women
65-69: 15 men & 15 women
70+: 10 men & 10 women
Now What?
Dave Castro will now meet with athletes competing in the TYR Cup tomorrow night (Thursday) to answer any questions they may have regarding the upcoming season. My guess is those questions will focus around the number of Semifinals, how Quarterfinals will work and what the path is qualify for the CrossFit Games.
