Bloc Party 2026: City Bloc’s annual bouldering competition in Leeds
Climb for fun or chase the £3,500 Gold Diggaz potPrizes in every category, U13 to 60+
Saturday 21 November
Our annual big comp
Old school comp vibes with flashy new school blocs, all in one day. Everyone climbs the qualifiers. Some are in it for fun, some for the kudos and the podiums, and some of the UK’s best climbers are chasing the cash in the Spotlight Final. Guest setters Jack Busato and Loïc Pirotte are joining our setting team, so expect bangers in the qualifiers and the final. There are 15 categories, from U13 to 60+, Para and Open. Gold Diggaz compete for the £3,500 pot, and Grafters and Youth have their own podiums and prizes in every category.
There’s a fancy dress prize for the best dressed climber. If we can run a serious comp that looks like a group from the Otley Run accidentally stumbled in and joined, our work here is done.
At 6pm we turn the big lights off, the spotlights come on, and Louis “Captain Cutloose” Parkinson takes the mic for the Spotlight Final (everyone’s invited to watch for free). DJs all day, loads of freebies and a free drink at the final.
- £3,500Gold Diggaz pot
- 15Categories, prizes for all podiums
- 2Qualifier sessions
- FreeTo watch the final
Categories
Everyone climbs the same 20 shared blocs, plus 5 more for their group: 5 easier blocs for Grafters and Youth, 5 harder blocs for Gold Diggaz. Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in every category.
Qualifiers only
Grafters
A more relaxed comp, still plenty to win. Open to anyone 15 and over.
- Open
- Male / Female
- 45+ Male / Female
- 60+ Male / Female
- Para Male / Female
Qualifiers only
Youth
For under 15s. If you’re 15 or over, you compete in the adult Male / Female categories. Under 18s need a supervising adult or a signed-off junior assessment.
- U13 Male / Female
- U15 Male / Female
Qualifiers + Spotlight Final
Gold Diggaz
For advanced climbers. The top 8 women and top 8 men go through to the Spotlight Final for the £3,500 pot.
- Male / Female
Scoring
Hunt the Ooshie
A Bloc Party classic. We hide Ooshies all over the centre. Find one between climbs and swap it for a prize from our event partners.
Fancy dress
The bigger and dafter, the better. Last years winner was Jack who came as a giant Makita drill, completely homemade.
£100 shopping voucher for the best costume. The most important prize of the day.
Schedule
Pick a morning or afternoon session. The finals bar opens at 5pm, Qualifier Podiums at 5.45 and the final starts around 6pm. Free to watch.
- Doors open
- Session 1, until 1:30pm
- Session 2, until 5pm
- Finals bar opens
- Grafters and Youth podiums
- Gold Diggaz podium
From around
Top 8 women and top 8 men on four problems each, with Louis “Captain Cutloose” Parkinson on the mic. Free to watch. Every spectator gets a free beer courtesy of Northern Monk (non-alcoholic options available).
The Bloc Party tee
New for 2026. Three colourways, small logo on the front and the big print on the back.
Adult and kids’ sizes. Tees are a separate pre-order this year, which keeps ticket prices down and means you get the colour and size you want.
Adults £20 · Kids £15
Buy a tee →Pre-order by 31 OctoberTickets
150 places across two sessions. It sells out every year, so book early. Members, message us on socials or email for the secret discount code.
Free on the day
- North Star filter coffee
- Tenzing
- A beer at the final, courtesy of Northern Monk
- Ooshie scavenger hunt with prizes
- Prizes in every category
- Watching the Spotlight Final
Tickets on sale soon. Both sessions climb the same blocs; the final is open to everyone to watch.
Useful info
How does scoring work?
10 points for a flash, 7 on your second go, 4 on your third, 2 for four or more goes, and 1 for reaching the zone.
Do I need to register?
Yes. Everyone competing must be able to climb without supervision and complete a City Bloc registration before the day. The link is in your booking email. If you haven’t climbed with us since August 2023, you’ll need to re-register.
Under 18s
Under 18s need a supervising adult, unless they’ve passed a junior assessment. One adult can supervise up to two under 18s and must stay for the whole event. Supervising adults who aren’t competing don’t pay. If a supervising adult is also competing, they need to complete both the adult and under 18 registration forms.
Junior assessments
14 to 17 year olds can take a junior assessment so they can compete without a supervising adult. It must be signed off before the day. Ask at reception or email [email protected].
Is there a minimum age?
No strict minimum, younger climbers are welcome, but there aren’t any problems set specially for younger children.
Bringing a group?
External coaches bringing a group are welcome. Please read our guidelines for external coaches before you book.
Drinks
Free North Star filter coffee and Tenzing all day. The finals bar opens at 5pm. Every spectator gets a free beer courtesy of Northern Monk (non-alcoholic options available).
Can I come and watch?
Yes, and please do. The more people, the better the atmosphere. Watching is free. If you want to climb, you’ll need a ticket and a registration. If it gets very busy we may limit the number of spectators for safety.
Can I book for someone else?
Yes. Fill in the first section of the booking with the competitor’s details, not your own.
Can I change my booking?
Yes. Email [email protected] to swap sessions or change competitor details.
Can I get a refund?
Full refunds if you cancel at least 48 hours before the event. After that we can’t refund, including cancellations on the day. The comp runs on tight margins and doesn’t make a profit.
Do tickets sell out?
Usually, yes. We don’t have a waiting list, but if spaces come up we’ll post on our socials. We can’t promise places on the day, so please book ahead.
Member discount
Unlimited monthly and annual passholders get a discounted ticket. Message us on socials or email [email protected] for the secret discount code.
Sponsored by
Bloc Party happens because of our event partners. Prizes, freebies and the bar at the final all come from this lot.
