Houston, United States | October 17, 2026
One week after Miami, ATHX heads to Texas. ATHX Houston 2026 takes place on October 17 at Reliant Park, the complex now known as NRG Park, one of Houston's major sports and events venues. A full day of competition as part of the ATHX expansion across the United States.
Key event details
Venue:
Reliant Park (NRG Park), 3 NRG Parkway, Houston, Texas, United States, 77054
Date:
October 17, 2026. Heats run from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and you pick yours when you enter.
How to get there
- Airports: from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), about 40-50 minutes by car (roughly 28 miles). From William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), about 20-25 minutes.
- By car: access from I-610 (South Loop) via Kirby Drive or Fannin Street. The complex has extensive surface and structured parking with cashless payment.
- Uber and Lyft: dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones inside the complex.
- Light rail: the METRORail Red Line stops right at NRG Park Station, with trains from downtown Houston and the Texas Medical Center.
- Bus: several METRO bus routes serve the area.
The ATHX format
2.5 hours of continuous competition across six zones: Warm-Up (30 min), Strength (20 min), Refuel (10 min), Endurance (30 min), Recovery (30 min) and MetCon X (30 min). The three workouts are the same at every event of the 2026 season, so you can train them well in advance.
This season's three workouts
- Strength (20 min): 1RM Strict Press (minutes 0-6), 3RM Back Squat (minutes 6-12) and 5RM Deadlift (minutes 12-20). Your score is the total weight lifted.
- Endurance (22-minute time cap): alternating running and rowing. Individual athletes switch every 750 m in ATHX and every 1,000 m in Pro. Your score is the total distance covered.
- MetCon X (25-minute time cap): Ski-Erg, dumbbell Ground to Overhead, Sandbag Carry, Box Jump Overs, dumbbell Walking Lunges, Burpee Broad Jumps and a final Ski-Erg block. Your score is your finish time. In Lite, Box Jump Overs become Step-Overs and the lunges are bodyweight.
Categories and pricing
ATHX Houston offers three competition levels, ATHX Lite, ATHX and ATHX Pro, in Individual and Pairs format (male, female and mixed).
- Individual entry: $149
- Pairs entry: $269
Spectator tickets are also available for anyone who'd rather watch from the stands, and the organization is looking for volunteers on the day.
Get ready for Houston with Velites
First, check what gear is allowed. The official ATHX 2026 movement standards do not allow lifting straps or hand grips of any kind during competition. Wrist wraps, a single pair of knee sleeves, a weightlifting belt, weightlifting shoes and your own chalk are all allowed in the strength zone.
For competition day:
- Knee sleeves, for the 3RM Back Squat and the Walking Lunges, where your back knee has to touch the floor on every step.
- Wrist wraps, to keep your wrists stable on the 1RM Strict Press and every Ground to Overhead rep.
- Hybrid 1.0 and Minimal 1.0 shoes, built to move between running, strength and metcon without changing footwear.
For your training block: Quad Ultra hand grips and weightlifting straps help you build barbell and pulling volume without tearing up your hands. Use them in the box and leave them in your bag on event day.
Houston: more than just fitness
- Museum District and Hermann Park: a few METRORail stops from the venue, with museums, gardens and green space for a recovery walk.
- Space Center Houston: the visitor center of NASA's Johnson Space Center, a must if you stay an extra day in the city.
- Buffalo Bayou Park: the big riverside park in downtown Houston, with trails for an easy walk or ride after competing.
Frequently asked questions
Where does ATHX Houston 2026 take place?
At Reliant Park, 3 NRG Parkway, Houston, Texas. Check the information the organization sends to registered athletes to confirm the exact hall within the complex.
Are Reliant Park and NRG Park the same place?
Yes. Reliant Park is the former name of the complex, now called NRG Park. The light rail station and the street address already use the current name.
How do I get from the airport to the venue?
From Hobby (HOU) it's about 20-25 minutes by car, and from Intercontinental (IAH) about 40-50 minutes. Uber and Lyft have dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones inside the complex.
Can I use hand grips or lifting straps during the competition?
No. The ATHX 2026 movement standards ban lifting straps in the strength zone and hand grips of any kind during competition. You can wear wrist wraps, one pair of knee sleeves, a weightlifting belt and weightlifting shoes. If you want to compete in gloves, check with the organization first, since they are not on the list of allowed gear.
Are there more ATHX events in the United States in 2026?
Yes. ATHX Miami takes place one week earlier (October 10, Miami Beach Convention Center), and ATHX Los Angeles follows on November 7 at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.
Conclusion: see you in Texas
ATHX Houston 2026 brings the six-zone format to one of the biggest sports complexes in Texas. Train the three workouts, check what gear you can bring, and show up ready to compete.
See you in Houston!
