THE FLATPACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WERE BACK FOR 2026
Curious to see who conquered flatpack furniture under pressure?
The Flatpack World Championships returned to Grand Designs Live London 2026 and launched a global search for the quickest, steadiest and most skilful DIY-ers out there.
After a show-stopping debut year, reigning champion Hayley McAuley was back to defend her crown — and she did just that, winning the title once again with another standout performance under pressure. The previous year, she had stunned the crowd by assembling a bedside table in just 9 minutes and 33 seconds, and this year she proved her consistency, combining speed, precision and skill to secure back-to-back victories.
On Friday 1st May at 10:30am, spectators came to watch a fast-paced build-off, where contestants raced against the clock to create something impressive under intense time pressure.
How it worked
On Friday 1st May at Grand Designs Live, eight contestants took to the Grand Designs Live stage.
Round One:
hosted by Kunle barker, two groups of four raced to assemble a Billy bookcase in record time. The fastest two from each group going through to the grand final.
The Grand Final:
The final four faced the ultimate showdown, building a bedside table at speed, in front of a live audience, for the title of Flatpack World Champion 2026.
There was drama, tension and at least one person questioning the instructions.
With an impressive time of just 8 minutes and 20 seconds, Hayley McAuley successfully defended her title, securing her place as Flatpack World Champion for the second year in a row!
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