Body & Mind

Is HYROX the new festivals?

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Is HYROX the new festivals?

Last weekend I was at the Amsterdam Rai with my son Dean for HYROX (Youngstars). The entire Rai exploded with energy, and not like I used to experience during dance festivals like Innercity or Thunderdome.

No, a sports event with the size and coziness of a festival. There were booths and fun activities everywhere, coffee bars, and halls full of adults and young people who could participate in HYROX. Friends who came to watch and cheered en masse. Is this the new trend? Is sports the new nightlife? That would be a wonderful development, I write as a mother.

What is Hyrox?

And not just any sport, but Hyrox. This is an intensive fitness competition that is rapidly taking over the social lives of younger and adults. HYROX is a fitness competition that is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. It combines different forms of functional training and is designed for both beginners and experienced athletes. What makes it so special is that it is a globally standardized event. This means that the competition is held in the same way in cities around the world, allowing participants to compare their performances with others worldwide.

The format of a HYROX Event

A HYROX competition for adults consists of an indoor course of 8 kilometers, divided into 8 different stations. Each station combines running with a functional exercise. The stations are designed to test a wide range of physical skills, including strength, endurance, speed, and technique. The exercises vary from burpees, sled pushes, ski ergometers, to rowing machines and more.

The 8 Stations of HYROX:

  • 1000m SkiErg
  • 50m Sled Push
  • 50m Sled Pull
  • 80m Burpee Broad Jumps
  • 1000m Rowing
  • 200m Farmers Carry
  • 100m Sandbag Lunges
  • 100x Wall Balls
  • 8 x 1 km running between all stations

Each participant must complete these 8 kilometers, moving from station to station while also running. The goal is to set the fastest possible time.

The Trend: Are young people trading the bar for the gym?

The trend is clear: more and more young adults are choosing the gym over the bar. Studies from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) show that young people, especially under 35, are increasingly spending their time in gyms and on the fitness course of events like Hyrox, instead of on the dance floor of a club or with a drink in hand at the bar. What is going on? Why are these young people choosing a healthy, active lifestyle instead of nightlife?

Health and Well-being: the new status symbol?

Is good health and well-being the new status symbol? Is ‘a night out’ actually being replaced by ‘a morning workout’? Is sober really the new norm, and is this all being reinforced by social media and the wellness culture that increasingly highlights discipline and a healthy routine?

Sporting challenges replace festivals

Where we used to go to festivals together to dance, we now see that young people are taking to the streets in large numbers for sporting challenges: paddle, fitness, rowing, squash. All sweating to break their personal records.

Mental and physical shift

The shift is therefore not only physical but now also mental. The focus is no longer just on avoiding the ‘sober’ weekdays, but also on improving your fitness and achieving a new goal, time and time again. The new pressure to be the ‘best version of yourself’ comes from a culture that now values performance in fitness and well-being higher than the party scenes that used to do so well.

Hyrox as a festival without the hangover

Hyrox really has something festival-like. The excitement I also experienced yesterday as a spectator drew me into the world of HYROX. Loud music, cheering on your beloved participants. Everything was delightful. From competition, the sense of community, the shared euphoria after crossing the finish line: it really is that same atmosphere we know from summer festivals, but without the hangover.

New way of being social

And it seems that young people who love fitness are not only looking for a place to measure their performance but also a new way to be social with friends and like-minded people. So many fun friends of Dean were standing on the sidelines to support him. All bought a ticket, for 5 euros, to cheer him on.

The new social event: Hyrox

So, while cool bars at Leidseplein seem to be getting emptier, a new kind of social activity is thriving: Hyrox. It is not just sport; it is a social event for the generation that wants to be healthy, both physically and mentally, all with the energy of a festival, but without the alcohol.

Have I excited you? Check here if you also want to join once.
Or just like me, for your child, check here.

These are the locations for HYROX in 2026.

Image: lisagardeslen
Source: International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA)