HYROX is rolling out a brand-new qualification framework for Elite racing, moving away from the long-standing time-based model to a percentile-based, fixed points system. The change affects both Elite 15 Singles and Doubles and will shape how athletes qualify from the 2026/27 season onwards.
This article breaks down how the new system works, why HYROX made the change, and what it means for athletes aiming to compete at the highest level.
Why HYROX Changed the Elite Qualification System
The shift away from time-based qualification was driven by three clear problems…
First, comparing times across global race venues has become increasingly unreliable. Temperature, humidity, altitude, venue layout, and even carpet length all influences finishing times. A 60-minute race in one city is not the same effort as a 60-minute race in another.
Second, the old system offered a blurry progression pathway from Open to Pro and from Pro to Elite. Athletes often struggled to understand where they stood or what was required to move up.
Third, time-based qualification unintentionally encouraged athletes to chase “fast courses” and back off once podium contention was gone. HYROX wanted a system that rewards effort from start to finish, in every race.
As Mat Lock explained on the Rox Lyfe podcast, the goal was to “democratise race courses globally” and reward athletes for how they perform relative to the field they race against, not just the clock.
When the New System Takes Effect
The new points-based framework officially begins after the 2026 HYROX World Championships in Stockholm.
From July 2026 onwards, all races count toward Elite qualification using the new system.
However, HYROX has already been tracking so-called “ghost points.” Any athlete holding a HYROX Athlete Licence has been accruing points from races competed in since 1 September 2025. These points will roll straight into the first qualifying window of the 2026/27 season.
The Core Concept: Points and Percentiles
Instead of qualifying via average race times, athletes now earn points based on:
- Their finishing position
- How close they finish to the race winner
- The tier of the race
Your best results across a rolling 365-day window determine your qualification standing.
Elite Singles Qualification Explained
For Elite Singles, your best five races within the last 365 days count toward your total score.
Points are awarded using a percentile system. The winner sets the benchmark time, and other athletes earn points only if they finish within a defined percentage of that winning time.
This removes venue bias and prevents inflated points from weak fields.
Race Tiers and Maximum Points
Each race tier has a different maximum point value:
- Standard Pro race: 105 points for the winner
- Regional Elite race: 108 points
- Major race: 110 points
- World Championship: 115 points
Higher-tier races naturally reward stronger performances without needing auto-qualification.
Time Percentage Thresholds
Points are only awarded if athletes finish within set percentage limits of the winner’s time.
For example, in a Standard Pro race:
- 2nd place must finish within 10% of the winner
- 3rd within 12.5%
- 4th within 15%
- Points extend down to 8th place
Regional Elite races award points down to 12th, while Majors and Worlds extend scoring to 15th place.
If you fall outside the allowed percentage, you score zero points regardless of placing.
Athlete Licence Requirement
To earn any qualification points, you must hold a valid HYROX Athlete Licence at the time you race.
No licence means no points. This applies to Singles and Doubles.
The licence also underpins Elite eligibility, wave-one Pro starts, and HYROX’s anti-doping framework.
Check this article on the Elite HYROX Athlete License for more information.
Tie-Breakers: Strength of Field
If athletes finish the season tied on points, HYROX applies a Strength of Field tie-breaker.
Strength of Field is calculated by summing the qualification points of all licensed starters in each race you counted toward your total.
If your best results came from deeper, more competitive fields, you rank higher.
If a tie somehow remains, HYROX compares finishing positions race by race until it is resolved. The likelihood of reaching this stage is extremely low.
Elite Doubles Qualification Explained
Doubles qualification follows the same philosophy, with one key adjustment.
For the 2026/27 season, Elite Doubles qualification is based on your best three races within a rolling 365-day period.
HYROX recognises that racing five or more times with the same partner is still unrealistic for many teams.
Points are calculated using the same percentile method as Singles, and the three highest scores are added together.
Nationality Rule for Elite Doubles
From next season, Elite Doubles partners must share the same nationality, defined strictly by passport.
If you hold multiple passports, the nationality you first earn points under within the rolling 365-day window becomes your fixed nationality for that period.
The aim is clearer leaderboards, cleaner roll-downs, and stronger spectator connection.
Doubles Tie-Breakers
If Doubles teams tie on points, Strength of Field applies, based only on Doubles races.
If required, HYROX again resolves ties by comparing finishing positions sequentially.
Auto-Qualification Is Retired
With race tiers now weighted by point value, HYROX has removed auto-qualification entirely.
Podium finishes at Majors, Regional Elite races, and Worlds already deliver higher points, making automatic entry unnecessary.
What This Means for Athletes
Expect more racing, clearer progression, and fewer arguments about fast courses.
Athletes who want to qualify for Elite 15 will likely race six to seven times per season to secure five strong results. Consistency now matters more than chasing a single perfect race.
As Mat Lock put it on the Rox Lyfe podcast, the system incentivises athletes to push hard “from the beginning to the end” of every race.
Where to Learn More
HYROX will publish live points leaderboards during 2026, with ghost point leaderboards appearing earlier.
For official documentation, explainer videos, and licence applications, visit elites.hyrox.com.
This new framework represents a major step in HYROX’s evolution as a global professional sport, and it fundamentally changes how Elite racing is earned.
For more information check out the discussion with Mat Lock on the Rox Lyfe podcast.
