Fitness racing brand DEKA has announced its inaugural EMEA Championship, bringing athletes from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa together for three days of championship racing on May 28–30, 2027.
The location for the event remains under wraps, with the venue due to be revealed when general registration opens at 09:00 BST on August 27, 2026.
The event will bring three DEKA formats – DEKA FIT, DEKA MILE and DEKA STRONG – together for the first time on one championship programme. The schedule will feature Individual and Team competition across all levels, alongside Ruck heats in each format for the Individual category.
Created by leading OCR event business Spartan, the DEKA FIT concept combines running with 10 functional fitness zones, while DEKA MILE delivers the functional challenge in a shorter format. DEKA STRONG removes the running to focus on functional strength and conditioning, and DEKA FIT Ruck adds a weighted load to the DEKA FIT course.
Entry to Age Group categories in the EMEA Championship requires no qualification, with the goal of making the start line accessible to first-time championship racers and experienced competitors. For Elite competition, DEKA’s performance standards apply. Elite Individual DEKA FIT competitors must have completed an Elite Individual DEKA FIT race within the previous 12 months, while Elite DEKA MILE and DEKA STRONG athletes require an official time recorded on the DEKA Global Leaderboard.
The top 15 ranked Elite and Age Group athletes in each category will be seeded into the first wave based on the DEKA Global Leaderboard, with limited wildcard entries available at the discretion of DEKA HQ.
While open to athletes internationally, participants must hold citizenship or nationality of a country within Europe, the Middle East or Africa to compete for the EMEA podium, regional awards, prize money and the title of DEKA EMEA Champion.
Emily leRoux, Vice President at DEKA International, said “The inaugural DEKA EMEA Championship marks an incredibly exciting moment for DEKA. We’ve watched our community across Europe, the Middle East and Africa grow into a truly connected movement, and this Championship gives that community a stage of its own.
“We’re bringing the full DEKA experience together for three huge days of racing, and we’re particularly excited about where we’re taking it. We can’t reveal the location just yet, but we know it will provide an incredible backdrop for the first DEKA EMEA Championship.
“What makes this Championship special is that it’s within reach of everyone. Whether you’re an experienced Elite athlete chasing a regional title or entering your first Age Group Championship, you can be part of this moment. The first EMEA Champions will have the chance to make history – and we can’t wait to see who makes their mark.”
