CrossFit GamesCrossFit OpenRulesOctober 28, 2026

CrossFit Adds Pairs Competition to 2027 Open: Two Athletes, One Score, Separate Leaderboard

By Heat ClockPublished Oct 28, 2026, 7:58 PM3 min read

Summary

CrossFit will add a Pairs Competition to the 2027 Open, in which two athletes split the reps of each Open workout and are ranked on a separate leaderboard, running on the same dates as the individual Open (Feb. 17–March 8, 2027).

Key facts

Pairs split the reps of the same Open workouts however they like and get their own leaderboard.
Athletes can enter as an individual, as a pair, or both; registration opens 2027-01-07.
A mixed-age pair is ranked in the age group of its younger member; each athlete can join only one pair in 2027.
According to Adrian Bozman, athletes already registered as individuals can add a pair for $10 for both partners.
Workouts drop on Wednesdays at 20:00 UTC (21:00 CET), starting with 27.1 on 2027-02-17.

CrossFit will run a Pairs Competition alongside the 2027 CrossFit Open, it announced on 2026-10-28 at its Affiliate Town Hall. Two athletes complete each Open workout together, split the reps however they like and are ranked on a separate leaderboard. The official 2027 season guide describes it as "Same dates, same workouts, different competition and leaderboard."

Competition director Adrian Bozman explained the details on The Sport of Fitness podcast, Ep. 56 "Updates to the 2027 Open", which aired on the CrossFit Games YouTube channel at 19:02 UTC (20:02 CET) the same day, hosted by Chase Ingraham.

How the Pairs Competition works

The workouts do not change: a pair does the same 27.1, 27.2 and 27.3 as individual athletes and divides the reps any way it wants, with one athlete working at a time, Bozman said.
Each partner uses their own standard. In Bozman's example, if the workout were Fran, a man would use a 95-lb barbell and a woman a 65-lb barbell.
Pairs can be two men, two women or a man and a woman.
Partners can be from different age groups. The pair is placed in the age group of its younger member, so a 43-year-old paired with a 25-year-old is ranked in the open (non-masters) category.
Each athlete can join only one pair in 2027. Bozman called this season "kind of a proof of concept year" and said CrossFit could allow more pairs per athlete in future seasons if the format is popular.
At the end of each week, pairs can see how they rank against other pairs in the same age group and gender, according to the guide.

Registration and how many times you do each workout

Pairs registration is separate from the individual Open. Athletes can sign up as an individual, as a pair, or both. Bozman said athletes who register as individuals first get the pairs entry at half price: $10 for both partners. Registration for the 2027 Open opens on 2027-01-07.

An individual score also counts for that athlete's affiliate team, so no extra attempt is needed for the team. To appear on the pairs leaderboard, the pair must complete a separate pairs version of the workout. An athlete entered in both competitions therefore does each workout at most twice, Bozman said.

There are no plans for now to extend pairs to Quarterfinals or Semifinals. Bozman said CrossFit would consider that for future seasons if participation is strong.

2027 Open dates

Registration: opens 2027-01-07
27.1: Feb. 17–22
27.2: Feb. 24–March 1
27.3: March 3–8

According to CrossFit, each workout is released on Wednesday at 12 p.m. Pacific Time, which is 20:00 UTC (21:00 CET), and scores are due by Monday at 5 p.m. PT, which is 01:00 UTC (02:00 CET) on Tuesday. These conversions use Pacific Standard Time (UTC−8), which applies through 2027-03-14.

Also announced: an intramurals tool for affiliates

CrossFit also presented a free intramurals tool for affiliates at the Town Hall, to help gyms run in-house Open competitions with teams and points. Chase Ingraham said it will be explained in detail on the CrossFit Podcast on Thursday, 2026-10-29.

Sources

New in 2027CrossFit Open Pairs CompetitionSame dates and workouts as the individual Open, done as a pair.2027 season calendarEvery date of the CrossFit Games and WFP season in one table.

FAQ

What is the 2027 CrossFit Open Pairs Competition?

A new competition in which two athletes do each 2027 Open workout together, split the reps however they like and are ranked on a separate pairs leaderboard. It runs on the same dates as the individual Open.

Can I do the 2027 Open as an individual and as a pair?

Yes. You can register as an individual, as a pair, or both. To appear on both leaderboards you do each workout twice: once alone and once with your partner.

How much does pairs registration cost?

Adrian Bozman said athletes who are already registered as individuals can add a pair for $10 for both partners. CrossFit has not yet published the full price list. Registration opens on 2027-01-07.

Can a man and a woman, or athletes of different ages, form a pair?

Yes. Pairs can be two men, two women or mixed. A pair with different ages is ranked in the age group of its younger member.

When does the 2027 CrossFit Open start?

Workout 27.1 is released on 2027-02-17 at 12 p.m. PT, which is 20:00 UTC (21:00 CET). The Open ends on March 8, 2027.