HYROX Youngstars London 2026: Age Groups, Start Times and Guardian Rules

HYROX Youngstars London ExCeL is scheduled for Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, bringing the youth race format for eight- to 15-year-olds to East London. HYROX has published a provisional timetable covering each age and gender group, alongside detailed instructions for parents and legal guardians. That information is already useful for families organising travel, but it must not be mistaken for an individual athlete's final race start time.

The event takes place at ExCeL London, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL. The child's age on race day determines their category. HYROX states that individual start times will normally be linked around three days before the event, so parents should check the official Youngstars London event page again closer to the weekend.

When is HYROX Youngstars London 2026?

Youngstars races are listed for 5–6 December 2026, within the wider HYROX London ExCeL event taking place from 2–6 December. The younger divisions race on Sunday, while the 12–15-year-old divisions are currently scheduled for Saturday. HYROX describes these time blocks as provisional, and the published start list remains the authority for an individual's assigned check-in.

What are the HYROX Youngstars London 2026 start times?

HYROX's official page gives the following provisional division windows. These are planning windows, not a guaranteed start time for any named child:

Day	Division	Provisional window (UK time)
Saturday 5 December	Girls 12–13	09:35–11:25
Saturday 5 December	Boys 12–13	11:55–13:45
Saturday 5 December	Girls 14–15	14:05–15:35
Saturday 5 December	Boys 14–15	16:05–17:35
Sunday 6 December	Boys 10–11	07:35–09:55
Sunday 6 December	Girls 10–11	10:15–12:25
Sunday 6 December	Boys 8–9	12:55–15:35
Sunday 6 December	Girls 8–9	15:55–18:05

The race page explicitly says that start-time changes are not permitted. That matters if a parent also plans to compete in an adult race: compare both schedules before booking, rather than assuming organisers can move either athlete.

What age groups can compete in HYROX Youngstars?

Youngstars is organised around four age bands: 8–9, 10–11, 12–13 and 14–15 years, with boys' and girls' divisions appearing separately in the London schedule. Age is determined on the event date, not at the time a ticket was purchased. Race demands and movement standards are adapted by age; a child should read the specific official rulebook for their group instead of practising an adult HYROX workout unchanged.

What exercises are in the HYROX Youngstars race?

The official format combines running with eight functional stations: SkiErg, sled push, sled pull, burpee broad jumps or frogger jumps, rowing, farmer's carry, lunges and wall balls or squats. The exercise details are age dependent. For example, the event page describes frogger-style jumps for eight- and nine-year-olds and wall-ball throws for ages 12 and over. Running patterns, equipment and repetitions also change by age group.

HYROX offers age-specific rules and a free training resource on its Youngstars information page. Parents should use those materials to understand the actual movement standards; they should not assume a child's course is simply a lighter version of a full adult race.

How early should families arrive at ExCeL for HYROX Youngstars?

HYROX instructs families to arrive at least 60 minutes before the child's assigned start time. The warm-up is mandatory and is led by event staff for 25 minutes. Importantly, HYROX explains that the time listed for a Youngstar on the start list is the mandatory warm-up check-in time, not the actual race start. Treat it as a hard arrival target and leave extra time for London transport disruption.

The published race-day registration hours are Saturday 08:30–17:00 and Sunday 06:30–17:30. Registration takes place on the day of competition. HYROX lists an athlete bag-drop facility and permits one bag no larger than cabin-bag size per participant. The venue address above should be used for journey planning rather than assuming the nearest entrance will be the race entrance.

Does a parent or guardian have to attend HYROX Youngstars?

Yes. Every child must attend with the parent or legal guardian named in the booking. If a different responsible adult needs to attend, HYROX asks that the legal-guardian details be updated through the athlete's HYROX Account. Parents cannot check in under somebody else's name. At collection, staff verify the guardian against the QR code, start number and name; no child is released to an unverified adult.

The official checklist asks families to bring the guardian's ID, the child's ID and the ticket QR code. A guardian ticket is included in the child's entry fee. That ticket is about safeguarding and access, not permission for a guardian to accompany their child onto the course: secure athlete areas are restricted.

Do HYROX Youngstars London spectators need a separate ticket?

HYROX says standard spectator tickets for the Youngstars London event also include access to London ExCeL age-group racing, and vice versa; a second ticket for those two areas is not necessary. However, the adult Elite 15 and Challenger 15 races on Thursday and Friday have separate upgrade-ticket requirements. Check the correct ticket type before paying, particularly if the family wants to watch elite racing as well as Youngstars.

Can you change a HYROX Youngstars booking or get a refund?

The event's published terms say Youngstars tickets do not offer a refund. A limited Flex add-on may allow a name change to a different child of the same gender and age up to the stated deadline; the page does not permit changing to another age group or event. These conditions can depend on the ticket purchased, so rely on the booking details and current official policy rather than a general rule remembered from another HYROX race.

What should families check before HYROX Youngstars London?

• Confirm the age division using the child's age on race day.
• Recheck the official start list near the event date; division windows may move.
• Plan arrival for the mandatory warm-up check-in, at least an hour before the assigned time.
• Bring both IDs and the relevant QR code; check the correct guardian name in the HYROX account.
• Read the child's age-specific rulebook and check any exercise adaptations.
• Check ticket access separately if you want to watch the Elite Series.

For the wider UK race calendar, see FM Coaching's HYROX event calendar. For comparisons with the earlier youth event, see HYROX Youngstars Birmingham 2026. FM Coaching is reporting on this event independently; registration, start lists, safety rules and changes are controlled by HYROX, not FM Coaching.

Official sources for HYROX Youngstars London 2026

• HYROX — London Youngstars official event page: dates, provisional windows, check-in, safeguarding and ticket terms.
• HYROX — Youngstars format and age-group rulebooks.
• HYROX — main London ExCeL event: the wider event and elite-race spectator arrangements.

Information checked against official organiser pages on 7 November 2026. Provisional times and operational details can change. No results or named entries are claimed in this pre-event report.

Sources and verification

• HYROX — Youngstars London ExCeL official race page (schedule, entry and guardian instructions)
• HYROX — Youngstars format, age categories and official rules
• HYROX — London ExCeL race and spectator access