FM Coaching · HYROX News & Results
HYROX Youngstars Birmingham 2026: Provisional Race Times, M42 Closures and Guardian Rules
HYROX Youngstars Birmingham takes place at the NEC on 31 October–1 November 2026. Families should check an inconsistent provisional timetable and confirmed M42 closures, plus important guardian requirements.
Families heading to HYROX Youngstars Birmingham on Saturday 31 October or Sunday 1 November 2026 face two practical questions: which provisional start-time list should they trust, and how will weekend M42 closures affect the journey to the NEC? The official race page lists eight boys’ and girls’ categories for children aged 8–15, but its Saturday timetable includes an apparently inconsistent time entry. Separately, National Highways has confirmed a major motorway closure during the exact weekend of the event. These are important details for parents travelling to Hall 4 of the NEC.
FM Coaching independent event report · Information checked 27 October 2026 · Timetables and roadworks can change. Always use the event organiser’s individual athlete communications and live travel notices for final decisions.
This article brings together the official Youngstars race instructions, the NEC venue listing and National Highways roadworks notice. It also explains why some early third-party schedules should not be used as the final authority. FM Coaching is not affiliated with HYROX or the NEC.
Illustrative archive photograph of adult HYROX racing at Grand Palais, Paris (April 2025); NOT HYROX Youngstars Birmingham 2026. Photograph: Mathieu Improvisato / Unsplash, Unsplash Licence. Existing FM Coaching website image.
The news: motorway works and competing timetables ahead of race weekend
Youngstars takes place alongside the larger HYROX Birmingham meeting, which runs from 27 October to 1 November. The children’s event is scheduled specifically for 31 October and 1 November. Its published timetable is provisional, and individual athlete information is expected close to race day. Parents should not confuse a broad division window with the time their child must report for mandatory warm-up.
The current HYROX event page displays the boys aged 8–9 division as “11:40pm – 12:50pm” on Saturday. Those times are internally inconsistent and sit between late-morning and early-afternoon categories. It would be unsafe to treat the first time as either a confirmed morning or evening start without direct confirmation. Check the personalised athlete start information in the HYROX account or ask the organiser to clarify.
A July article from HYROSOCKS lists a different set of windows for several categories. That page may reflect an earlier provisional programme. Neither an older third-party timetable nor an inferred correction should override the latest personalised communication from HYROX.
The second concern is road access: National Highways says the M42 will be fully closed on the affected sections from 9pm Friday 30 October to 5am Monday 2 November 2026. The NEC has issued its own travel alert advising visitors to allow more time.
HYROX Youngstars Birmingham 2026 at a glance
| Detail | Confirmed or published information |
|---|---|
| Event dates | Saturday 31 October–Sunday 1 November 2026 |
| Venue | Hall 4, NEC, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT |
| Age range | 8–15 years; four age brackets for boys and girls |
| Saturday registration | 7:30am–1:30pm, subject to organiser updates |
| Sunday registration | 7:30am–4:00pm, subject to organiser updates |
| Warm-up | Mandatory 25-minute organised warm-up |
| Guardian | Registered parent or legal guardian must accompany and collect the child |
| Official event details | HYROX Birmingham Youngstars |
| Major travel notice | M42 closures overnight Friday through early Monday |
Times above are the organiser’s published race-day registration windows, not a guarantee that any particular athlete can arrive at any point within them. Follow the child’s own assigned start and check-in instructions.
Provisional age-group race schedule: Saturday and Sunday
The following division windows were shown on the official HYROX Youngstars Birmingham page when checked on 27 October 2026. They are subject to change.
Saturday 31 October 2026
| Division | Published provisional window |
|---|---|
| Boys aged 10–11 | 8:35am–9:40am |
| Girls aged 10–11 | 10:00am–11:10am |
| Boys aged 8–9 | 11:40pm–12:50pm — published AM/PM inconsistency; verify directly |
| Girls aged 8–9 | 1:10pm–2:05pm |
Sunday 1 November 2026
| Division | Published provisional window |
|---|---|
| Girls aged 12–13 | 8:35am–10:05am |
| Boys aged 12–13 | 10:35am–12:35pm |
| Girls aged 14–15 | 12:55pm–2:25pm |
| Boys aged 14–15 | 2:55pm–4:15pm |
Important distinction: The organiser says the individual start time provided near the competition is the child’s report time for mandatory warm-up, not the moment the race begins. HYROX asks families to arrive at the venue at least 60 minutes before that assigned time. The event page also states that start-time changes are not permitted. Do not plan your journey solely from these broad division windows.
M42 closure: which roads are affected and what should families do?
The National Highways HS2 works notice lists a full weekend closure affecting the M42 northbound between junctions 6 and 9 and southbound between junctions 9 and 7, plus specified connecting links, beginning Friday 30 October at 9pm and ending Monday 2 November at 5am. National Highways says signed diversions will be in place.
The NEC travel updates page independently warns of the same weekend disruption. Because traffic conditions and diversions depend on the direction of travel, there is no single alternative route that would suit everyone. Use a live journey planner and check the NEC’s latest official travel notices on the day.
- Allow additional time for the final approach to the NEC; do not aim to arrive at the last possible check-in moment.
- If travelling by train, check Birmingham International services and the route from the station to your assigned event hall.
- If driving, confirm your parking arrangements and follow official diversion signs rather than relying on a saved route.
- Account for the child’s mandatory warm-up, registration, and guardian identification checks when planning your arrival.
These are practical planning recommendations, not a prediction of queue lengths or actual journey times. The closure is especially relevant because the children’s race takes place on both weekend days.
Which NEC hall should parents go to?
The dedicated Youngstars organiser page and the NEC’s Youngstars listing identify Hall 4 at the NEC, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT. This is important because the broader adult HYROX Birmingham event has its own listings and spectator information. Follow signs and ticket instructions for HYROX Youngstars, not just for the adult race.
The NEC lists indicative Youngstars admission prices of £40–£60, but those are a venue listing, not a live inventory of specific age-group tickets. Confirm available tickets, any fees and the correct day directly through the official race page before making a booking. Spectator tickets for the Birmingham HYROX and Youngstars events are described by the organiser as cross-valid for the relevant purchased event day.
What to bring: guardian identity and child check-in rules
The organiser requires each participating child to attend with the parent or legal guardian recorded during booking. If the registered adult changes, the organiser directs families to update the guardian details in their HYROX account before arrival.
| Bring or check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Guardian identification | Identity is checked against the recorded responsible adult |
| Child identification | Needed for the organiser’s athlete check-in verification |
| Ticket QR code | Used for ticket and check-in validation |
| Correct guardian details in the HYROX account | A different adult cannot simply collect the child without prior updates |
| Comfortable sportswear and suitable footwear | For a supervised running and functional-fitness competition |
| Small bag only | Youngstars guidance permits a bag no larger than cabin size |
Race-day check-in takes place on the day the child competes. HYROX says a child must be collected promptly from the finish zone by an authorised guardian, with QR code, race number and guardian identity checks. Adults cannot enter secure athlete-only areas. The guardian ticket included in a Youngstars entry is not permission to run alongside the child on the race floor.
How HYROX Youngstars differs from the adult race
Illustrative adult sled-training photograph, NOT a HYROX Youngstars race, participant or official station specification. Photograph: Geni Hoka / Pexels, Pexels Licence. Existing FM Coaching website image.
The adult HYROX format uses eight 1km runs and eight functional stations, but Youngstars is not simply an adult race with smaller equipment. HYROX publishes age-adapted distances and movements. The children’s event separates competitors into ages 8–9, 10–11, 12–13 and 14–15. An athlete’s age on the day of the competition determines the correct bracket.
According to the official HYROX Youngstars overview, the adapted competition combines running with age-appropriate versions of the SkiErg, sled push and pull, jumping or burpee movements, rowing, carries, lunges and squat or wall-ball movements. For example, the youngest group uses frogger-style jumps where older categories have burpee broad jumps. Equipment, movement standards and lap instructions differ between brackets.
The organiser provides the full rules and child-friendly rulebooks by age group. Families should review the correct version together rather than assuming adult weights, lap distances, movement counts or penalties apply. HYROX describes each running lap as approximately 200–275m depending on the layout, not a standard adult 1km lap.
The mandatory warm-up and race-day sequence
HYROX says each Youngstars competitor joins a mandatory 25-minute warm-up, including supervised instruction. That changes how families should interpret a start list: the time assigned to a child is a warm-up reporting time, and the actual race follows the warm-up sequence.
- Before leaving home: verify the personalised start listing, guardian registration, route and travel notices.
- At the NEC: go to the Youngstars registration area in Hall 4 with the child’s identification and ticket QR code.
- Before the race: leave enough time for the mandatory group warm-up and staff directions.
- During the race: watch from authorised spectator areas, respecting the secure athlete boundary.
- After the finish: collect the child from the designated zone and complete the required identity check.
The goal is to avoid preventable confusion, particularly for families racing at a large venue for the first time. There is no need to imitate an adult competitor’s pre-race routine or attempt last-minute intense training for a children’s event.
Age-group ceremonies: when are the awards listed?
HYROX currently lists the following provisional age-group ceremony times on the main ceremony stage, shared with the adult event.
| Saturday 31 October | Time |
|---|---|
| Boys 10–11 | 10:45am |
| Girls 10–11 | 12:15pm |
| Boys 8–9 | 2:00pm |
| Girls 8–9 | 3:15pm |
| Sunday 1 November | Time |
|---|---|
| Girls 12–13 | 11:15am |
| Boys 12–13 | 1:45pm |
| Girls 14–15 | 3:30pm |
| Boys 14–15 | 5:30pm |
Award times are not athlete start times. Confirm the current ceremony programme with the organiser, especially if the race schedule changes.
What parents should know about tickets, transfers and refunds
The official Youngstars Birmingham event page says an entry includes one legal guardian ticket. It also indicates no refunds for Youngstars in its published policy. Under the listed Lite Flex option, a name change may be requested for another child of the same gender and age until 7:59am one day before race day, while other division or event changes are not permitted. Without that add-on, the published policy does not allow those name changes.
Ticket products and terms can change. Read the exact purchase terms in the official booking flow before paying; this article is not a ticket seller and cannot confirm current inventory.
Where to find Youngstars Birmingham 2026 results
The official event page directs competitors to the HYROX results service after the competition, selecting “2026 Birmingham – Youngstars” as the event and then the appropriate age-group division. Results and individual station splits should not be reported as confirmed until the official timing source publishes them.
As of this article’s 27 October preparation date, the children’s races had not yet taken place. No finishing positions, winner names or participation totals have been assumed. FM Coaching can update this same URL after the competition with verified results and links rather than publishing a near-duplicate page.
FM Coaching analysis: the information families need most
This weekend’s best service to readers is not a generic explanation of HYROX. It is a clear distinction between confirmed facts, provisional timetables and matters requiring an organiser’s reply. The venue, dates, age groups, mandatory warm-up and motorway closure are published. The inconsistent Saturday AM/PM entry remains unresolved in the publicly displayed schedule.
For the most reliable preparation, prioritise the child’s comfort, an appropriate level of activity, sufficient rest and official event instructions. HYROX itself provides age-specific rules and a free training resource on its Youngstars information page. Families should not apply adult competition loads or restrictive dieting advice to children.
Readers interested in adult events can explore the independent FM Coaching HYROX Hub for UK race coverage. This Youngstars report is independent news reporting, not a claim that FM Coaching is the organiser or an official children’s coaching provider.
Official sources and updates
- HYROX Youngstars Birmingham — official event details, timings and guardian instructions
- HYROX Youngstars — age-specific competition rules and guidance
- NEC Birmingham — event location and visitor listing
- NEC — live travel updates
- National Highways — HS2-related M42 closures
- HYROSOCKS — earlier published Youngstars timetable, used for comparison
Editorial verification: 27 October 2026. The Saturday boys 8–9 AM/PM discrepancy is intentionally reported rather than silently corrected. Confirm all assigned waves and travel conditions with official sources before departing.
HYROX Youngstars Birmingham 2026 — frequently asked questions
When is HYROX Youngstars Birmingham 2026?
Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2026. The broader adult HYROX Birmingham event begins on 27 October, but the Youngstars races take place over the weekend.
Which hall at the NEC is Youngstars in?
HYROX and the NEC list Hall 4 at the National Exhibition Centre, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT.
What ages can race at HYROX Youngstars?
Children aged 8–15 are separated into 8–9, 10–11, 12–13 and 14–15 categories for boys and girls. The child’s age on race day determines the class.
Is the boys 8–9 Saturday start at 11:40am or 11:40pm?
The organiser’s provisional online page displays 11:40pm–12:50pm, an internally inconsistent window. We cannot independently confirm the intended first time. Parents should use their personalised start information and contact HYROX for clarification.
Does the published start time mean the race begins then?
Not necessarily. HYROX says the assigned athlete start time is the reporting time for the mandatory warm-up, not the actual race start.
How early should families arrive?
The organiser advises arriving at the NEC at least 60 minutes before the child’s assigned start time, while allowing extra travel time because of the weekend motorway closures.
Is the M42 closed for HYROX Youngstars Birmingham?
National Highways lists closures on specified M42 sections and connecting links from 9pm Friday 30 October to 5am Monday 2 November 2026. Check current road and rail conditions before departure.
Does a parent need a separate guardian ticket?
The organiser says one legal guardian ticket is included with each Youngstars entry. Check the exact booking terms and which day the ticket covers.
Can a grandparent or another adult collect the child?
Only a correctly registered and verified legal guardian or authorised adult under the organiser’s procedures can collect the child. If details need changing, update them through the HYROX account in advance.
Can a parent run alongside a Youngstars competitor?
No. Parents must remain in authorised spectator areas and cannot enter secure athlete-only zones or accompany the child around the course.
Is the Youngstars course eight 1km runs like adult HYROX?
No. Youngstars has shorter, age-adapted running and station requirements. Use the official age-group rulebook rather than the adult race format.
What ID is needed for check-in?
The official event instructions ask families to bring the guardian’s identification, the child’s identification and the ticket QR code.
Where will HYROX Youngstars Birmingham 2026 results appear?
HYROX directs families to its official results service after the race, selecting “2026 Birmingham – Youngstars” and the relevant age-group division.
Can I change my child’s race entry or get a refund?
The event page says there are no refunds for Youngstars. A limited same-age and same-gender name change may be possible with the specified Flex add-on before its published deadline. Confirm the terms in your original ticket.
Image credits
- Adult competitors running on an indoor HYROX race course in Paris in April 2025, shown as a general illustration — Mathieu Improvisato / Unsplash · Unsplash Licence · Image source · Licence
- An adult athlete practising a weighted sled push in a gym, illustrating strength training rather than the Youngstars competition course — Geni Hoka / Pexels · Pexels Licence · Image source · Licence
Sources and verification
- https://hyrox.com/event/hyrox-youngstars-birmingham/
- https://hyrox.com/hyrox-youngstars/
- https://www.thenec.co.uk/events/hyrox-youngstars-birmingham/
- https://www.thenec.co.uk/visitors/travel-updates/
- https://nationalhighways.co.uk/roads-and-travel/road-projects/west-midlands/high-speed-2-hs2-works-on-national-highways-network/
- https://hyrosocks.com/blogs/event/hyrox-youngstars-birmingham-2026