CrossFit 26.2: New Workout Announced for the 2026 Open
The CrossFit Open 26.2 workout has been officially announced, set to take place on March 5, 2026, at CrossFit Black Edition in Cascais, Portugal. This year’s workout promises to challenge athletes with a combination of strength and skill-based movements, designed to test their limits.
Workout 26.2 consists of three rounds featuring overhead walking lunges, alternating dumbbell snatches, and gymnastics movements. The time cap for this workout is 15 minutes, pushing competitors to perform efficiently under pressure. In the first round, athletes will tackle 80 feet of overhead walking lunges, 20 alternating dumbbell snatches, and 20 pull-ups. The second round escalates the challenge with chest-to-bar pull-ups, while the third round introduces ring muscle-ups.
For athletes competing in the Rx division, the dumbbell weight is set at 22.5 kg (50 lb) for men and 15 kg (35 lb) for women. Meanwhile, the Scaled division will utilize a 15 kg (35 lb) dumbbell for men and a 10 kg (20 lb) dumbbell for women. In the Foundations division, modifications will be made, substituting bent-over rows, ring rows, and jumping pull-ups for the higher skill movements.
Rich Froning, a notable figure in the CrossFit community, shared insights on the workout, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an unbroken overhead walking lunge. He noted that athletes should switch arms halfway through to avoid overexerting one shoulder and tricep too early. Froning also advised that the first set of pull-ups should ideally be unbroken for stronger athletes, suggesting that the chest-to-bar set may be the point where they can afford to break.
The deadline for video submissions for Workout 26.2 is set for March 9th at 5 p.m. PT. Athletes are encouraged to submit their performances to qualify for the next stage of the competition. Notably, the top 25% of performers across the three Open workouts will advance to the Quarterfinals, heightening the stakes for participants.
As the CrossFit Open is an annual competition featuring multiple workouts over several weeks, Workout 26.2 is just one part of a larger series that tests athletes’ capabilities. The anticipation surrounding this year’s event is palpable, especially with Workout 26.3 scheduled to be announced on March 12th, keeping competitors on their toes.
In a statement from the Mayhem team, they advised athletes to approach the ring muscle-ups with caution, recommending smaller, sustainable sets rather than attempting a single heroic effort followed by a slow-motion collapse. This reflects the strategic mindset required to excel in the Open.
As excitement builds for the CrossFit Open 26.2, athletes and fans alike are eager to see how competitors will tackle the challenges presented in this year’s workouts. With a blend of strength, endurance, and skill, the event promises to showcase the best of CrossFit talent.
