MALAYSIA is set to join the global Hyrox circuit, with Kuala Lumpur expected to host its first Hyrox event in December 2026, marking the country’s debut in the international fitness racing series.
The announcement comes as part of the 2026 Hyrox calendar, which will see AirAsia step in as Title and Regional Partner for two flagship events in the region - AirAsia Hyrox Jakarta and AirAsia Hyrox Kuala Lumpur.
Both cities will debut as host locations, welcoming thousands of athletes and spectators and turning race weekends into full-blown, fitness-led travel experiences.
The move positions Southeast Asia more prominently on Hyrox’s expanding global map, which already includes major cities across Europe, North America and Australia.
“Hyrox is more than a race, it is a lifestyle and sport built around community, consistency and shared ambition. Partnering with AirAsia allows us to better support our athletes and fans by making travel across the region more accessible, while strengthening Hyrox’s presence in key markets," he said in a press statement.
Meanwhile, AirAsia X Chief Commercial Officer Amanda Woo said sports has always been a huge part of AirAsia’s DNA as it upholds its ‘Dare to Dream’ value.
"Since our inception, we have partnered with renowned global sporting platforms, from Asean football to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and our very own AirAsia RedRun which we introduced last year.
"Our partnership with Hyrox comes at the right time, as fitness becomes a global lifestyle movement. Through this partnership with Hyrox, we look forward to continuing our mission to bring communities together," she said.
Excitement around Hyrox Malaysia began circulating online after a video was uploaded on Threads by Raeiz Hamed, featuring Hyrox APAC Managing Director Gary Wan announcing the arrival of Hyrox in Kuala Lumpur.
Threads users flooded the comments section with excitement, with many saying they had been waiting for Hyrox to land in Malaysia and were already thinking about training plans.
What is Hyrox?
Hyrox is an indoor fitness competition that combines endurance running with functional strength workouts. Each participant completes the same race format: eight one-kilometre runs, each followed by a workout station.
These stations include exercises such as sled pushes and pulls, rowing, lunges, farmer’s carries and wall balls.
Unlike obstacle races, Hyrox events are standardised worldwide, allowing athletes to compare results across different countries.
The competition is open to a wide range of participants, with divisions for individuals, professionals, doubles and relay teams, making it accessible to both recreational gym-goers and elite competitors.
Why it matters to fitness enthusiasts?
The appeal of Hyrox lies in its hybrid format, which tests both cardiovascular endurance and functional strength.
Traditional running races focus largely on stamina, while gym-based competitions prioritise power. Hyrox combines both elements into a single, structured event.
For many fitness enthusiasts, the race provides a clear training goal that goes beyond aesthetics. Athletes prepare over several months, developing running capacity alongside strength and conditioning and can benchmark their performance against global standards.
With a Kuala Lumpur event, Malaysian athletes will have the opportunity to compete on home ground rather than travelling overseas, helping to grow the local competitive fitness scene.
The announcement is also expected to have a knock-on effect across Malaysia’s fitness industry, particularly in gyms and training studios.
The arrival of Hyrox reflects the steady growth of Malaysia’s fitness culture.
Hosting a globally recognised race introduces international standards and visibility to the local scene.
It also broadens participation in organised fitness, encouraging more people to train with performance-based goals rather than purely recreational ones.
As Kuala Lumpur prepares for its Hyrox debut in 2026, Malaysia joins a growing list of countries embracing competitive, community-driven fitness on a global stage.