Crossfit Open 2026 Preview: Castro Drops Buffalo-Eye Hint as Workout 26.1 Announcement Heads to Moffett Air National Guard Base
Two days out from the start of the crossfit open 2026, Dave Castro released a brief visual hint for Workout 26. 1 — a three-second reel that appears to feature a statue of what might be a buffalo, with the clip focusing tightly on the eye. That tease arrives as the season’s first-stage announcement is set for a live ceremony at Moffett Air National Guard Base, a kickoff many fans and competitors will watch closely because it launches the path to later qualifying rounds.
What to Expect from Crossfit Open 2026
The 2026 CrossFit Open is positioned as the first stage of the season and is described as embracing hundreds of thousands of competitors and fans from around the world while giving everyone an equal opportunity to qualify for later portions of the season. The opening portion will be Workout 26. 1, the first test athletes will face in this cycle.
Dave Castro's 26. 1 Hint: the Buffalo-Eye Reel
Just two days before the start of the event, Dave Castro shared a short, three-second reel that appears to show a statue that might be a buffalo. The clip focuses on the statue’s eye. The brief nature of the teaser and the unusual subject — a statue and a close-up on the eye — is the only creative detail released in the provided context; further interpretation of the hint is unclear in the provided context.
How to Watch the Workout 26. 1 Announcement
The full announcement ceremony for Workout 26. 1 will be broadcast live and will be free of charge, allowing anyone to tune in to the prepared show. The announcement will take place on February 26th at Moffett Air National Guard Base and the livestream will begin at 12 p. m. PT. During the ceremony, the organizers will reveal the exact set of exercises that make up Workout 26. 1 and will then have athletes perform the challenge live.
Who Will Show First: The Four Announcement Athletes
Four elite athletes are slated to perform Workout 26. 1 as part of the announcement presentation. The participants named in the provided context are:
- Jayson Hopper — identified as the reigning Fittest Man On Earth.
- Dalin Pepper — spelling appears in the provided context also as Dallin Pepper; name spelling unclear in the provided context.
- Colten Mertens — noted as the winner of last year’s CrossFit Open, having placed first in two out of three workouts.
- Austin Hatfield — described as a quick-rising athlete who made his first appearance at the Games in 2024 and placed fifth at the final stage in 2025.
The live demonstration by these athletes is highlighted as a broadcast highlight, offering insight into how top competitors approach the workout and setting an early benchmark for the season.
Submission Deadline and Rules Overview for Workout 26. 1
The deadline for submission of scores for Workout 26. 1 is Monday, March 2nd, until 5 p. m. PT. The rulebook states that there are two ways for athletes to submit their scores; the provided context names the existence of both submission methods but does not detail what those two methods are. Competitors should note the stated deadline as the cutoff for this first Open workout.
What Comes Next and What Remains Unclear
The announcement ceremony promises the reveal of the exercises and the live performances that typically define the opening of the season. Beyond the teaser reel and the scheduled broadcast logistics, additional details about Workout 26. 1’s movements, scaled options, judging specifics, and the two score-submission methods are unclear in the provided context and may be clarified during the live broadcast or in official materials released at the ceremony.
Fans and competitors planning to follow the start of the season should note the 12 p. m. PT livestream time and the March 2nd, 5 p. m. PT submission deadline for Workout 26. 1, and watch for the full reveal at Moffett Air National Guard Base.
