Hyrox, the sweat machine, is setting up shop at the Grand Palais

In Paris, the Hyrox has found its home: the Grand Palais. From Thursday until April 27, 2026, 22,000 competitors are expected under the glass roof, compared to "only" 12,000 last year. The concept itself remains unchanged, and that's also reassuring: 8 kilometers divided into eight one-kilometer loops, each followed by the same strength training session, identical from one city to the next, like a well-oiled sporting ritual.

Born in Germany in 2017 and arriving in France in 2023, the format has reached impressive cruising speed in just a few seasons. In 2025, 100,000 participants gathered at events related to the discipline, a 42% increase year-on-year. A sign of the times, the enthusiasm is overflowing: the waiting list climbed to 100,000 people this year, proof that Hyrox ticks a rare box: that of an accessible, structured competition with a personal challenge that resonates with everyone.

A race number, a business deal, and the temptation to go too fast

A race bib, a business, and the temptation to go too fast. This boom is based on a very concrete network: 1,300 partner gyms in France, which sell Hyrox like a weekly appointment—structured, measurable, and sometimes using very Anglo-Saxon terminology. Training sessions alternate between sprints and workshops with catchy names like "wall ball," "farmer carry," and "sled push," with workouts designed to mimic the competition. As a result, an ecosystem is taking shape, encompassing coaching, dedicated programs, and registrations that sell out quickly.

Behind the performances and sweaty selfies, the economy follows suit: revenue generated in France is estimated at between 15 and 20 million euros in 2025, boosted by race bibs and everything surrounding them. But there's another, less glamorous side to the story: intensity attracts, intensity can sometimes be damaging, and progress can't be ordered like concert tickets. Hyrox continues to grow, with this unspoken question hanging over the mats and kettlebells: how far will the body ultimately go in keeping up with the pace?