25 fitness trends for 2026

Get a rundown of 25 of the top fitness trends that you need to know about in 2026. From wearable tech to wellbeing, and everything in-between! Plus, find out how your gym business can make the most of the opportunities that these gym trends present.

The fitness industry is always evolving. Adapting to changing consumer demands, new technologies, business models, and more. 2026 is set to be another exciting year of change for the industry.

So, what trends can we expect to impact the fitness industry in 2026?

In alphabetical order, we’ve compiled 25 of the hottest fitness trends. All are set to shape and continue to shape the industry in 2026 and beyond.

Let’s get stuck in!

What are the latest fitness trends?

The fitness industry never stands still. As each year passes the industry evolves. And adapts to the ever-changing needs and preferences of gymgoers.

In 2026, this evolution will continue to be influenced by a shift in how we view health and fitness. As well as the growing opportunities that technology presents.

At Xplor Gym, we’re lucky enough to work with the most innovative and successful gyms. And collaborate with the top industry experts and suppliers.

So, we know what’s happening in the industry. And we’ve created a comprehensive list of the latest trends in the fitness industry to watch.

Check out this quick overview of 25 fitness trends you need to know about (in alphabetical order!). Or scroll down⬇️ to find out about each fitness industry trend in more detail:

25 fitness trends shaping the future of the gym industry

Let’s explore the continuing and new fitness trends that will shape the future of the gym industry.

Fitness trend #1: 24/7 gyms

Moving to 24/7 opening and unmanned access control🔓

The fitness market is competitive. Cost pressures have increased. And so, we’re seeing more and more gyms move towards offering 24/7 access to members. As well as putting in place access control solutions making unmanned access possible.

The Leisure DB State of the UK Fitness Industry Report 2025 found that 35% of all private gyms and fitness clubs are now open 24/7. Jumping on this gym trend and going 24/7 and/or becoming unmanned can benefit both owners and members.

It can reduce the strain of running a gym for owners:

Meanwhile, for members this set up can offer ultimate convenience.

24/7 opening lets members workout on their own schedule – perfect for shift workers and night owls! And it’s a reason to stick with their independent rather than choosing a big-name chain.

Curious about switching to 24-hour opening?

Go deeper

Check out this article for pros and cons. Plus, tips on making the transition.

Read now

Fitness trend #2: Community

Looking for connection through fitness🙌

Gymgoers of all ages are looking to meet new people and feel part of a community by joining a gym. This is an important fitness industry trend for gyms to pay attention to.

Research shows 3.1 million people in England feel lonely always or often. People aged under 34 are the loneliest group.

Connection is an essential need. Fitness businesses can create strong communities and forge meaningful connections amongst members.

Gyms are evolving to become social spaces and community hubs, uniting likeminded members. Research from Nuffield Health shows that an increasing number of Brits use fitness as an important part of their social life:

Find ways to build lasting connections between members. And you’ll be able to make the most of the business opportunity this presents.

Creating social experiences & building communities

More than 1,000 independent health & fitness clubs have opened since 2019 in high streets, shopping centres, and retail parks across the UK. These clubs are supporting local living. And providing social, community-focused workout options in convenient locations.

From small group training to buddy schemes, there are many opportunities to foster social connections between members and build a community. One that’s growing in popularity is putting on fitness events for members.

With the broader rise of competitive fitness events like HYROX, more gyms are using their own fitness events to get members together an interacting. For example:

Focusing on the community fitness trend in 2026 can help you create a sticky experience. One that’ll keep members coming back for more.

13 fitness event ideas to boost business

Go deeper

Learn the basics of event planning and get 13 fitness event ideas.

Read now

Fitness trend #3: Data-powered growth

Using data to power growth📈

Competition is high 75% of UK gym operators say that they face local competition. And 58% of these operators say members are switching to competitors and/or targeting the same demographics.

Plus, 82% report challenges retaining members. Many are struggling to motivate members and get them into the habit of visiting.

To tackle this challenge, many operators are getting savvy to creatively use data within their businesses. At Elevate 2025, James Barter from Xplor Gym joined Technogym’s Tim Clayton to discuss this fitness industry trend.

By embracing data, operators can retain a larger membership base and increase average member lifetime value.

Where to start with this fitness industry trend

Compared to businesses that don’t use data, data-driven businesses are:

To start, use data to power your marketing. Look in your gym management software. Identify where, when, and how you market your business. Send personalised, targeted emails and texts to prospects (and members).

Next, use data to refine your offering:

Using your data in this way can help you win more new members with an expanded, improved offering.

Start small to make it manageable. Then, review on a regular basis, for example quarterly or even monthly.

When you’ve won members, use data to create personalised onboarding journeys. Send targeted, tailored communications at key times. Focus on getting members into the habit of visiting 4-12 times a month.

Give as many new members as possible an induction of some type. Using body composition tools (like the ones from Technogym) can help you gather data at the start of a journey. Track improvements for each member based on their goals.

Your access control set up should automatically track visits. Set your system up to identify when visit habits change and members stop showing up. Re-engage these at-risk members with a personalised approach using the data from your CRM and other systems.

Finally, when members leave, record reasons why in your gym management software. You could additionally use detailed exit surveys. Review this data and find ways to rectify addressable issues.

Fitness trend #4: Exercise for mental health

Greater recognition that a workout benefits the mind AND body🧠

More people are exercising and joining gyms with the intention of improving and managing mental health.

Many researchers have explored the topic. And findings show regular exercise can boost mood and reduce the symptoms of depression. Especially when used alongside other treatments such as anti-depressants and counselling.

According to research in the British Medical Journal particularly effective exercise options include:

Every year, the ACSM Health & Fitness Journal publishes its worldwide survey of trends as voted for by fitness professionals. The 2026 ACSM worldwide trends survey placed exercise for mental health as the 6th biggest trend to watch. This is up from 8th place in 2025 and 2024.

Likewise, ukactive research, highlighted in the Gym Membership Sales Report, found 79% of gym members joined to improve mental health & wellbeing.

How can you tap into this trend as a gym operator? Highlight the positive impact that being active can have in your gym marketing. Plus, look to adapt your timetable and offering to build in more mindful exercise options. For example, yoga.

Fitness trend #5: Experience, experience, experience

Members expect outstanding experiences, even on a budget😍

Competition is growing. Operating costs have risen. And consumers are accustomed to high value experiences, even when they’re paying a low cost. Gyms and fitness clubs are being challenged to double down on member experience.

Members anticipate a consistent, easy experience that meets their expectations every time – both in-person and online.

With over 300 locations across the UK, low-cost chain PureGym knows how to create consistent experiences at scale. Speaking at the HCM Summit 2025, PureGym COO Rebecca Passmore shared valuable insights into doing this even when operating costs keep growing.

By continuously refining their model and looking for new ways to use tech to enable and support a low-cost business model, PureGym deliver experiences that attract and retain members.

Tech powers consistently high value experiences

Whether you’re operating a low-cost gym or luxury health club, experience matters. And strategically using tech can help you create experiences that are memorable for all the right reasons.

Your gym management software should adapt to your business needs to deliver joined-up member experiences. Make the most of the integrations and partnerships your software offers to create your signature member experience.

For example, the Xplor Gym and Club Perks integration makes it easy for operators to enhance their member experience. How? With access to a highly curated selection of relevant perks and discounts directly within the member app.

Fitness trend #6: Fitness as an investment

Shifting mindsets to view memberships as an investment🪴

In many ways, the future of the gym industry will be (and is being) influenced by this next trend.

People often judge gyms purely on price. A membership fee is a cost to be paid for a commodity and gymgoers are watching for bargain deals.

This has kept prices low. And that’s impacting your ability to build a profitable business and invest in future improvements and innovations.

Increasing prices can improve profitability

Fact

76% of UK gym operators who’ve put up prices report improved profitability.

Get more insights

With operating costs rising, gym operators across the UK are recognising the need to take prospective and current members on a journey.

A journey that shifts mindsets away from viewing a membership as a commodity. Towards viewing a membership as an investment. An investment in their future health. An investment that’s worth paying a little extra for.

Take your members on this journey to viewing fitness as an investment

Price is a barrier to joining gyms. A consumer poll conducted for the Gym Membership Sales Report research found that:

And price is a reason for quitting. The Gym Operator Insights Report 2025 found that in the UK (where leaving reasons are recorded at least occasionally):

How do you overcome price as a barrier to joining and staying? You need to convince your prospects and members that a membership is a worthwhile investment.

You need to sell the value you provide to prospective and existing members. To be successful in doing this you need to:

How to increase gym membership prices (and keep members)

Go deeper

Nervous about increasing prices? Want to maximise retention and minimise attrition? We’ve got you covered!

Get stuck in!

Fitness trend #7: Fitness events

Everyone is in training for something🏃‍♂️

From the phenomenon that is HYROX to the ever-popular Park Run, fitness event participation in the UK is booming. And this is set to continue in 2026 and beyond.

For many gymgoers, fitness events are a social opportunity. A chance to train towards a common goal with others and even to travel together to compete. This is reflected earlier in our fitness industry trends list with gyms putting on their own community-led events.

HYROX and beyond

Of course in 2026, HYROX will continue to dominate social media feeds. Google Ads keyword data shows that in the year to end-September 2025, people in the UK were Googling a range of HYROX terms:

Plus, Google Trends data shows that searches for ‘HYROX’ have increased in recent years:

Beyond HYROX, other fitness events are growing in popularity. For example, Google Ads keyword data shows that in the year to end-October 2025 people were searching for events including:

Running races and marathons are also booming:

Supporting members in training for fitness events

Fitness events give your members a way to train with purpose – a motivating goal to work towards. And an opportunity for you to engage and support them on their journey to success.

You could:

If you have large numbers of members interested in specific events, look at becoming affiliated. For example, HYROX runs a gym affiliate scheme to help you integrate HYROX into your programming.

The likes of The Gym Group, PureGym, and Village Gyms already offer HYROX classes and training programmes.

Copyright caution

Tip

Much like CrossFit, HYROX is a copyrighted term. So, to use the term when promoting classes or training programmes, you must be affiliated.

Fitness trend #8: Gen Z

Everyone continues to talk about Gen Z!👀

The future of the fitness industry will be driven by the changing needs of our aging population. And the preferences of the youngest gymgoers too. So, once again for 2026, we expect much focus to be on Gen Z.

Good news! Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z see the importance of keeping fit. The Gym Group found that 44% rank fitness as their first or second spending priority. And on average monthly spend on fitness is up 17% year-on-year to £48.81.

The low-cost chain also found:

In the UK, Gen Z make up an increasing proportion of first-time gym members aged 18+. Recent gym membership sales research clearly shows this:

The percentage is expected to grow in coming years – by 2030 every Gen Z gym member will be aged 18+. The research also indicates that this will present a growing challenge to gym owners and operators.

14.8% of Gen Z gym members have had their first agreement terminated within 90 days of it beginning. And of this group, 56% cancel without telling clubs why. Most simply fail to keep up with membership payments.

Meet Gen Z gymgoers where they’re at

If you’re targeting Gen Z, there’s a lot you can do to make the most of the opportunity this generation presents. And minimise the risk. Top tips include:

8 ways to win & keep Gen Z gym members

Go deeper

Get full insights into first time Gen Z gym members. And get tips to attract, win, and keep these young gymgoers.

Read now

Fitness trend #9: Group fitness

Maximising the power of classes👋

Some of the gym trends listed here can be effectively delivered to gymgoers via group fitness classes.

Group fitness classes made it back on to the ACSM’s Fitness Trends list for 2026. Coming in at position 13, it’s the first time since 2019 that classes made the list.

Les Mills research has shown that members who do 2 group fitness classes a week will stay longer than those who don’t. And a longer length of stay equals a greater member life time value. So, boosting gym profitability.

There are so many different types of class you could run. But not everyone feels comfortable going to classes. However, at Elevate 2025, Guy Griffiths (GGFit) and Mark Bagnall (Future Fit) shared a fantastic tip for increasing uptake.

The pair explained that running group training sessions on the gym floor at quieter times of day can help draw in members who normally train alone. How? By letting them see the class in action without having to go out of their way to watch.

Making group fitness classes more profitable

In 2026, there’ll be renewed focus on running group fitness in a profitable way. Try:

Fitness trend #10: Marginal gains

Tiny improvements stack up🤏

For the first time since 2019, commercial/multipurpose big box gyms made the ACSM Health & Fitness trends list for 2026. Landing in position 19, this reflects a growing appreciation for larger scale gyms offering a mix of facilities and services.

With competition remaining fierce and member expectations continuing to rise, it’s no surprise that marginal gains are emerging as a key focus for gym operators in 2026.

The idea, made famous by the British Cycling success story, is simple. Find small, 1% improvements across multiple areas of your business. Then watch them add up to big results.

Keep looking for small changes to make

For gyms, that might mean:

Each change alone may feel minor. But together they deliver significant long-term gains in member satisfaction, retention, and revenue.

The aggregation of marginal gains has in part helped PureGym achieve impressive growth over the last decade.

The good news is that making marginal gains is something every gym operator can do. No matter how small or large your business is, there are always improvements that can be made with a test and see approach.

In 2026, the most successful gyms won’t rely on one big idea. Instead, they’ll focus on continuous improvement across every part of their operations.

Fitness trend #11: Mobile apps

Powering better member experiences📱

A gym member app is nothing new. But even so, mobile apps have earned their place on the list of the latest fitness trends for 2026.

Consumers are demanding apps from businesses. Research has found that 64% of consumers prefer to use an app rather than visiting a website through a mobile browser.

And building on this preference for apps, the most recent ACSM worldwide health & fitness trends survey placed mobile exercise apps at #4 in the top 10 list.

January is the most popular month to download a mobile fitness or workout app. Globally, over 25 million app downloads were recorded in January 2025 (compares to roughly 23.33 million in January 2024). Impressive!

Make your app the go-to for members

Gymgoers are looking to you for an app. One that does everything they need to get the most out of their membership – and more.

Make the most of this opportunity. Choose a gym membership app that includes handy integrations, so members don’t need to keep switching apps.

For example, integrations that make it easy to offer tailored exercise and nutrition support. Help them make the most of their training sessions with relevant workouts to follow. And even provide them with nutrition support to enhance the results of those workouts.

Elevate your digital fitness journey

Tip

Engage your members with a custom branded gym member app. Members can use your app to manage memberships, book classes, access your club, and more.

Learn more

Fitness trend #12: Padel

Padel is gaining serious ground🎾

With fitness becoming a staple part of an active social life for many Brits, this new fitness trend offers a fun, social way to work up a sweat. Padel has exploded in popularity and looks set to keep growing in 2026 as more courts open.

Padel has been played for decades. It’s a fast-paced racquet sport that’s a mix between tennis and squash and played in doubles. Padel has really grown in popularity in the UK since 2020.

And those growth statistics are impressive! LTA Padel reports:

Search data from Google backs this up. Over the period to end-September 2025, Google Ads shows a 23% increase year-on-year in search volumes for ‘padel’. On average, there are 90.5k searches for ‘padel’ each month.

Meanwhile, over the same period searches for ‘padel near me’ have increased by 124% with an average of 18.1k searches every month.

Google Trends also shows how interest has grown over time – especially in 2025.

Tapping into the power of padel

This trend is not one that will suit all gyms. If you have space (or are looking at new locations) you could add indoor or outdoor courts.

Other ideas to help you ride the padel wave, even if you don’t have space for courts, include:

Fitness trend #13: People management skills

Focus on your skills to keep talented team members longer🤝

70% of UK gym operators who have full and/or part-time staff report some sort of challenge.

Beyond unworkable salary demands, low employee engagement, difficulty training people to the right standard, and inability to fulfil career goals are common staffing challenges.

The people you employ can make or break your business. From engaging members to driving marginal gains, a strong team is a strong business. Finding, developing, and retaining the right people is a must.

Upskill your people managers

To engage staff and build loyalty, first you need to focus on the skills and mindset of the leaders in your business – and yourself. Having the right people management skills is essential.

Follow these tips to help you on the road to levelling up your people management skills:

Fitness trend #14: Personal training

Elevated personal training experiences🤩

Each year personal training features in the ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal® worldwide survey of fitness trends. So much so, that it’s been in the top 10 since the first survey back in 2007! For 2025 it came in 16^th place – the first time it’s not been in the top 10.

For 2026 it dropped out of the top 20, but it’s still a gym trend to watch.

At Elevate 2025 many sessions talked to the overwhelming scale at which inaccurate health and fitness info is proliferated online. Fuelled by social networks, search engine, and AI engine algorithms.

Operators and specialist practitioners can set the record straight.

Your personal trainers can play a big part in getting the right info out there. So, educating consumers with the facts and providing personalised guidance based on individual member circumstances.

Make personal training work for your business

Exactly how gyms work with personal trainers (PTs) differs business-to-business. Some directly employ PTs. Others charge PTs rent to train clients. And others will take a % of the revenue PTs earn training clients at their gym.

Each different approach comes with pros and cons. There are no rights or wrongs. You need to do what suits your business. What’s clear are the benefits that personal training can bring to your gym business.

Offering personal training to members will help them follow a structured programme to achieve their goals. And enjoy expert guidance along the way to avoid injury.

Fitness trend #15: Personalisation

Using tech to engage & deliver personalised experiences at scale😊

Another top fitness industry trend for 2026 is the increased need to use technology to engage members. And deliver the levels of personalisation members demand, consistently and at scale.

Recent research has found that 81% of consumers prefer personalised experiences. In the UK, the hyper-personalised fitness market is growing at a 6.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025 to 2035.

And brands that do well at personalisation are outperforming peers, these brands are:

So, embracing personalisation in 2026 will really set you ahead of the competition. And could even improve performance and profitability.

Power personalised experiences at scale

Operators have a wealth of data available today. And this data can be used to create personalised, engaging member experiences. Inspiring and encouraging members to visit more often.

For many independent gyms, there are massive gains to be had from embracing tech in new ways. Tech, like gym management software, can help you deliver consistent experiences at scale. This in turn makes retention easier.

Similarly, you can use tech to power gamification which boosts engagement. Gym challenges are an easy entry point into gamification.

The power of personalised digital fitness experiences

Go deeper

Ready to find new ways to harness the power of tech to create a highly personalised fitness experience for members?

Get stuck in!

Fitness trend #16: Pilates & reformer Pilates

Demand for this low-impact workout has grown💪

One of the training modalities to make it into our list of the top fitness trends for 2026 is Pilates. Pilates is by no means a new trend. But interest in Pilates in the UK has been peaking recently.

Google Ads keyword data shows that in the year to end-September 2025, in the UK people were Googling Pilates-related terms:

Likewise, Google Trends data shows that searches for ‘Pilates’ have increased in recent years. And interest over time reached new highs in 2025:

And, as you’d expect given the year-on-year increase in searches, interest over time in ‘reformer Pilates’ also grew in 2025:

Gyms can cater to this demand

Since its inception in the 1920s, a whole industry has grown around Pilates. And that includes qualifications, equipment, and studios.

Pilates combines breath awareness and proper alignment, with deep core strength and flexibility. So, with an increased focus on longevity, it’s clear to see why interest in this training modality has grown in the UK.

Historically, many Pilates participants have been women. More men are recognising the benefits of Pilates inspired by professional athletes.

As a gym operator, you can make the most of this opportunity by:

Recurring class memberships

Tip

Adding Pilates to your timetable? Consider using your gym software to offer a series of recurring classes available on a membership subscription basis. Automatically book members onto all classes included when they sign up.

See this in action – book a demo

Fitness trend #17: Revenue diversification & growth

Diversify & grow revenue – even in unpredictable times💷

In 2026 and beyond, you’ll need to think outside the box. Thinking differently will help you adapt to ever changing demands. And build a thriving business.

90% of UK gym operators say that the cost of running facilities has increased year-on-year. Costs have risen across the board for employers particularly with changes to National Insurance contributions and increases in minimum/living wage rates.

That’s forcing operators to get creative and explore new ways to attract revenue. You need to make the most of every opportunity that presents itself.

Traditionally gym memberships have been subscription-based. And that’s great for:

Building predictability in unpredictable times

Go deeper

Find new ways to grow recurring revenue and accurately forecast financial performance.

Get stuck in!

Increasingly, gymgoers are seeking more flexibility from clubs. So, more fitness businesses are going beyond subscriptions to offer other membership and access options.

Common alternatives include:

6 ideas to help you build loyalty and desirability

Go deeper

Explore the benefits of diversifying beyond subscriptions. And build predictability with practical tips to help you attract and keep casual members coming back.

Read now

Jumping on opportunities that exist

Also, think about other ways you can attract different sources of revenue into your business. At PerformX Live, premium London fitness club ONE LDN shared a creative example.

The high-end club attracts many fitness professionals and influencers. Many use the space to film videos. ONE LDN makes the most of this by charging for filming. And at the same time, the videos show case the fantastic facilities on offer.

Fitness trend #18: Run clubs

Tapping into the desire for community & growth of outdoor exercise👟

Another key fitness trend for 2026 that gyms should pay attention to is the growth in run clubs.

Google Trends shows that interest in run clubs has really taken off in recent years and months:

Plus, the 2026 ACSM Survey of Fitness Trends placed adult recreation and sports clubs at position 9. This includes community-based fitness groups like run clubs.

This growth in interest can be tied to the community aspect that run clubs offer participants. And the popularity of running (and other outdoor fitness activities) coming out of the pandemic.

Set up your own club

Ready to take advantage of this fitness industry trend? Launch a run club affiliated to your gym. You could make this open to members or to everyone within your local area to reach new people.

Consider hiring a specialist running coach to lead your club. Add class options to help runners boost their performance and prevent injury. And think about ways you can make your events more social – for example, post-run coffee mornings or social drinks.

There are lots of resources available to help you set up your run club. Organisations like RunTogether can help you build a community focused run club.

You could also look at setting up walking or cycling clubs. Walking clubs can be particularly beneficial in helping you reach new demographics. And can offer members the opportunity to chat along the way.

Fitness trend #19: Sleep

Increased understanding of the role of sleep in health & fitness💤

Wellbeing has been a hot topic in the health & fitness industry over recent years. Traditionally, the industry has been very focused on physical activity.

That’s changing fast. Gymgoers are becoming more focused on total wellbeing and wellness. So, you have the opportunity to empower gymgoers to move, eat, and recover well.

This year, we’re seeing many wellbeing-related trends in our gyms trends list for 2026. And one is sleep.

There have been many headlines about the important role that getting adequate sleep plays in:

At the same time, smart watches have stepped up sleep tracking capabilities. And so, gymgoers are gaining a greater understanding of the impact a good night’s rest can have on their progress in the gym.

Educate members on the importance of sleep

Look at how you can help bring this trend to life for members. And support them in building healthy sleep habits.

While you can’t put your members to bed each night, you can help them understand that good sleep habits will enhance their performance and results in the gym.

At PerformX Live 2025, Kristen Holmes Global Head of Human Performance for WHOOP, explained that sleep could have the biggest impact on the wellbeing and health of gymgoers.

Kristen talked to the importance of consistency when it comes to sleep. Consistently going to bed and waking up at about the same time each day (even weekends!). This is something members can easily track too.

Fitness trend #20: Small group training

Working towards goals together📣

Next up is a gym trend that many clubs across the UK are jumping on. And in fact, some gyms are dedicated to it. That is – small group training.

Google Ads shows UK searches for ‘small group personal training’ grew. Increasing by 85% year-on-year in the period to end-September 2025.

Plus, searches for ‘group personal training’ grew by 85%. And searches for ‘SGPT gym’ grew by 67%.

Adding small group personal training to your offering

Small group training is also known as small group personal training. It involves a coach taking 3-10 people through a personal training session.

Usually, small group training classes will run for a set number of weeks. And the same group will attend each session. You can build groups around specific goals, types of training, and fitness levels.

This type of training offers the benefits of personal training without the high price point. And the benefits of group fitness creating accountability, motivation, and social connections.

Use your gym management software to offer a series of small group training sessions paid for on a membership basis.

Members should automatically be booked onto all sessions covered by their membership at the time of signing up. Even give members access to a choice of timings.

Upsell this type of membership to existing members. And promote it to new members interested specifically in small group personal training.

Fitness trend #21: Strength training

More people in the UK seek out strength training🏋️

Strength training with free weights includes the use of barbells, dumbbells and kettlebells. So, muscular fitness is improved and maintained. Strength training in general can also include the use of strength training machines.

The most recent worldwide survey put traditional strength training with free weights at position 8. This enduring fitness trend looks set to continue into 2026.

Google Trends shows that interest over time reached a peak in 2025:

Google Ads keywords data shows that in the UK, interest in strength training is high. Over the year to end-September 2025, searches for specific terms particularly increased:

More people want to reap the rewards of getting stronger

So, it’s clear, gymgoers have grown more aware of the benefits that strength training offers. Research continues to show the positive impact it can have on:

Strength training is most effective when executed with proper form. You can help your members reap the rewards of strength training with proper form through:

Fitness trend #22: Tech choices

Operators get serious about selecting tech🌐

Tech adoption is by no means a new fitness industry trend. Yet it’s been a topic of renewed interest in 2025 and into 2026.

From AI to software and everything in between, many fitness industry events and tradeshows are adding more tech-focused talks and panels to their line ups. It was a much-discussed topic at Elevate 2025.

82% of UK gym operators face some sort of tech-related challenge.

Many of these challenges can be overcome by slowing down when selecting and introducing new solutions.

Take it slow when introducing new tech solutions

How do you make sure you invest your attention, time, and money into the right tech solution for your business? Start by taking a step back.

Think about your end goal. Where do you want your business to be in 5 years? The tech you choose should help you get towards that goal. And it needs to have the longevity to meet your needs as your business and the market evolves.

Set aside time to do your research. Look for solutions that are complementary to existing systems. And streamline where possible.

A new tech solution can give you the chance to start over. Work with suppliers to find new ways of doing things optimising processes and even solving problems you don’t know you have!

Chris Wood from Namix Performance Centre emphasised the importance of taking it slow. Give yourself extra time when rolling out a new solution to really nail the detail.

Set aside time for everyone in your team to learn the software and take part in training. Test everything and find out how to use your solutions effectively before go live.

Fitness trend #23: Wearable tech

Wearable tech continues to dominate⌚

The next fitness industry trend in our list is one that’s dominated for the best part of the last decade! Wearable tech topped the 2026 ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal® worldwide survey of trends again. It’s been in the top 3 since 2016.

Wearable tech includes smartwatches, heart rate monitors, GPS tracking devices, and more. Any fitness and activity tracker monitoring heart rate, calories, steps, sleep, and more, is wearable tech.

2025 research from YouGov into wearables adoption found that almost half of Brits use a wearable device:

Cost is a barrier – 59% of Brits say wearable tech is too expensive. Adoption is highest amongst those aged 18-34 where cost is less of a concern.

Use wearable data to engage and motivate members

New innovations are arming everyday athletes (aka gymgoers!) with access to even more performance and recovery data. Think blood pressure, oxygen saturation, body temperature, respiratory rate, and more.

How can you help members make sense of the data wearable devices collect? And how can you do that at scale? That was a subject discussed at PerformX Live 2025.

WHOOP’s Kristen Holmes emphasised the importance of heart rate variability (HRV) – explaining that HRV best indicates the health of an individual. Measure impact on HRV to understand how your offering is impacting member health.

Personal trainers and coaches should be well educated in the data and use it in training sessions. Data like recovery scores can help your PTs adapt training sessions to meet members where they are at.

With the right permissions (48% of Brits are concerned about companies using wearables data to learn about their lifestyles), you have the power to bring the wealth of data wearables offer to life for members.

Fitness trend #24: Wellbeing & Health

Mindfully seek opportunity in wellbeing & health🧘

Over the last 5 years or so, gymgoers have become more knowledgeable about wellbeing and health than ever before. The business of wellbeing and health has been a hot topic in the fitness industry too.

And that’s why it’s a fitness trend to pay attention to in 2026. One thing is clear, as Oliver Patrick (Future Practice) said at PerformX Live 2025, it’s time to stop waiting and start acting.

Where to start with the wellbeing opportunity

Wellbeing is not a golden ticket. You need to start by mastering the fundamentals of fitness – retaining members with services that solve their needs. Then you’re ready to workout which protocols and services make sense for your business.

Recovery is often a starting point. Author and consultant, Casey Conrad, who has successfully helped fitness operators add wellness offerings spoke at Leisure DB Evolve 2025.

Casey shared that there are 8 modalities that tend to work well for gyms and fitness clubs:

But where do you start with choosing the best modality for your business? Look at:

How do you get members to commit? Structured programmes tend to work well.

4-week programmes, for example, as this timeframe is doable for the average person. The price point is normally affordable. And it’s enough time to start building relationships and having an impact.

With the right approach adding wellness to your offering will help you attract more members, increase average transaction value, and encourage more frequent spending.

Recovery can be a retention engine and revenue driver (not just a buzzword!)

Go deeper

Namix Performance Centre is leading the charge when it comes to recovery – they shared how they make it work with gym operators at the Independent Gyms Conference.

Get a taste of what these leaders said

Fitness trend #25: Women’s gyms

Helping women overcome barriers to fitness♀️

The last in our run down of the latest fitness trends for 2026 is one that’s come back around. With less than 1 in 4 women in the UK hitting the recommended weekly exercise target, but almost half expressing the desire to do so, gyms are finding ways to help.

Research commissioned by Vitality found that a major barrier holding women back from being physically active is a fear of judgement around physical ability or body image (62%).

Women are searching online for terms relating to women’s gyms and fitness. For example, Google Ads data for the year ending September 2025 shows impressive year-on-year growth:

Creating welcoming spaces

In 2025 big name gym brands got serious about helping women overcome barriers to fitness. In 2026 this gym trend will continue.

Big box gym chain, Total Fitness, chose to make a location women only.  The brand invests in extensive audience research and identified the need for a space just for women. A space where women’s fitness is taken seriously and normalised.

Other operators are carving out space for women in existing locations. PureGym now has some clubs that offer women’s workout spaces. To date, these have proven popular and are attracting in more women.

Meanwhile, The Gym Group partnered with The Well HQ to create the Female First programme.

This equips gym staff with specialist female fitness knowledge and the skills to translate this on to the gym floor. Beyond this, The Gym Group runs female-only Weights For Women training sessions.

Whether you’re opening a women’s only club, creating a dedicated area for women, or introducing classes just for women, there are many opportunities to play your part in this trend. And ultimately, help women feel comfortable in a gym environment.

The wrap up…

There you have it! 25 fitness industry trends for 2026 (in alphabetical order) that gyms need to pay attention to.

If you can keep on top of these fitness trends, you’ll be set up for success in 2026 and beyond.

Choose gym management software that will help set your fitness business up for success.