Discover the 2026 fitness trends for studios, gyms & trainers

Still running your gym like it’s 2019?

Here’s the problem: the fitness industry moves fast. What worked two years ago is already outdated.

What’s trendy today will be standard tomorrow. And if you’re not paying attention, you’re not just falling behind, you’re actively losing members to competitors who are.

2026 isn’t about gimmicks or viral TikTok workouts. It’s about real shifts in how people train, what they expect from their gym, and where they’re willing to spend their money.

We’re talking AI-powered coaching, hybrid memberships that actually work, recovery-focused programming, and technology that makes your life easier (not more complicated). These aren’t just “nice to have” additions, they’re becoming table stakes for staying competitive.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to adopt every trend. But you do need to know what’s coming so you can decide which opportunities fit your business model and which ones are just noise.

In this guide, we’re breaking down the 10 fitness trends that will dominate 2026, and more importantly, how you can leverage them to grow your gym, retain members, and stay ahead of the curve.

Let’s get into it.

ACSM Top 10 Fitness Trends

The American College of Sports Medicine conducts annual research on global fitness trends.

We’ve listed the most important trends from the top 10 for 2025 here for you:

Fitness Trend 1. Wearable Technology

**Still the undisputed champion of the world.**🏆 Fitness trackers, smartwatches, heart rate monitors, and GPS devices have dominated the #1 spot since 2016, with only brief exceptions in 2018 and 2021.

We’re talking about devices that collect real-time health data, heart rate, steps, speed, distance, but also advanced biosensors capturing fall detection, heart rhythm, blood pressure, blood glucose, and skin temperature.

Here’s the scale we’re dealing with: roughly 36-44% of adults now own wearable technology, and the global market is projected to hit 186 billion by 2030. These aren’t just gadgets anymore; they’re behavior change tools.

No longer a simple step counter, but a personal health monitor

The biggest misconception is still that wearables are popular because they “track how much you move.” But that couldn’t be further from the truth. 😠

We’re not wearing toys on our wrists anymore, we’re wearing a mini health lab.

The latest wearables are packed with advanced biosensors that give continuous insights into how your body is really doing: heart rate, HRV, blood pressure, temperature, stress, recovery… everything in real time, everything hyper-personal.

❌ Wearables are not step counters anymore.

✅ They’ve become physiological dashboards.

It’s no longer about what you did, but what that data means for your health, your recovery, and your future behavior. Wearables are the backbone of hybrid training. ⌚

Connect your members’ wearable data directly to Virtuagym

Let members sync their wearable data with Virtuagym so their sleep, steps, heart rate, and recovery stats automatically flow into their profile.

This gives you, as a trainer, a complete picture of their load capacity, recovery, and energy levels, allowing you to coach with far more precision. Heavy sessions on high-recovery days, and technique or low-intensity work on low-HRV days.

Fitness Trend 2. Exercise Programs for Older Adults

This isn’t just a trend. It’s a demographic reality. The baby boomer generation includes 73 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964, and all of them will be over age 65 by 2030. 🤯🤯

According to the 2023 IHRSA report, adults 65 and older now visit gyms and studios more often than any other age group.

Let that sink in.

This trend focuses on addressing the unique physiological changes that come with aging: maintaining or improving balance, preserving muscle mass and strength, and enhancing mobility.

We’re talking about evidence-based programming that keeps people independent, reduces fall risk, and maintains quality of life.

From senior fitness to active aging

One thing that really stood out in the research is how huge the impact is of how you position these programs. Classes labeled “senior fitness” consistently attract fewer participants than programs using terms like “functional,” “active aging,” or “low-intensity.” 💡

And If you want to attract more 55+ members, your wording has to evolve too. Avoid terms like seniors, elderly, 65+, or take-it-easy, they backfire more than you think.

Use language like Active Aging, Functional Strength, Strong & Mobile, Fit for Life, or Pain-Free Movement.

Older adults don’t want to feel “old.” They want to feel capable, strong, and independent.
Update your class names, website copy, and intake questions accordingly and you’ll see attendance and retention rise immediately. 🚀

Fitness Trend 3. Exercise for Weight Management

This fitness trend jumped to its highest position ever at #3, and there’s a reason: 42.4% of U.S. adults are affected by obesity, and approximately 49% report actively trying to manage their weight.

Most do this through exercise, dietary changes, or medications like GLP-1 receptor agonists (think Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro).

As these medications become more common, structured exercise remains essential for long-term success.

Medication alone doesn’t preserve lean mass, improve metabolic health, or enhance physical function the way exercise does. The research is clear on this.

The survey updated the name from “weight loss” to “weight management” to reflect a broader range of goals, loss, maintenance, and gain.

That linguistic shift matters because it acknowledges that not everyone’s goal is the same number on the scale.

How to integrate this new “weight management” approach into your offer

The shift from Weight Loss to Weight Management doesn’t require a completely new business model. it’s about smarter positioning, broader communication, and training that focuses on muscle preservation, health, and long-term sustainability.

With a few targeted adjustments, you can immediately respond to what people truly need in 2026.

Create an 8-week Weight Management Program focused on muscle preservation

Start with an eight-week program where members train strength twice per week and add one low-intensity zone-2 cardio session.

This is the golden combination:
Strength training protects muscle mass (crucial for anyone using GLP-1 medication), while zone-2 supports fat oxidation and stable energy without overloading the body.

Shift all communication from “weight loss” to “weight management”

“Weight loss” only speaks to one type of client. “Weight management” speaks to four: those who want to lose weight, maintain, gain weight in a healthy way, or who are on GLP-1 medication.

It’s inclusive, modern, and medically aligned — and it immediately broadens your reach.

Design a dedicated GLP-1 Weight Management Program

GLP-1 often leads to rapid weight reduction, but also a dramatic loss of muscle and a drop in metabolic health. That’s exactly where your expertise becomes essential.

By providing safe strength training, prioritizing muscle retention, and respecting fluctuating energy levels, you become the place where GLP-1 users don’t just become lighter, they become stronger, healthier, and more functional.

Fitness Trend 4. Mobile Exercise Apps

This fitness trends went down from #2 in 2025 but still holding strong at #4. Mobile exercise apps deliver on-demand, scheduled, live-streamed, or recorded workouts, giving users the flexibility to exercise anytime, anywhere.

In 2024, more than 345 million people used fitness apps, generating over 850 million downloads. 📱

Here’s the interesting part: while usage and downloads peaked during the pandemic (2021-2022), revenue has continued to rise as users maintain subscriptions.

App users tend to be younger, female, college-educated, and urban-dwelling, with lower adoption among older adults and those with limited digital literacy.

Smart digital technology and the power of integrated data

The real strength of fitness apps lies in how they work together with wearables (spoiler: fitness trend #1) and data-driven training (fitness trend #8).

Apps are no longer just platforms with workouts, they’ve become the central hub where all data comes together. Think heart rate, HRV, sleep, recovery, VO₂max, and stress levels, all automatically synced into one dashboard.

Fitness apps aren’t looking at what you did anymore. They’re looking at what your body can handle.

A great example is Virtuagym’s intelligent AI Coach. With the MAX AI Coach, you can create fully personalized training programs in under 20 seconds using artificial intelligence. 🤖

Artificial intelligence as a standout trend

What the ACSM report makes very clear is this: fitness apps and AI don’t replace trainers or business owners, they enhance them.

• ✔️ They make your coaching consistent.
• ✔️ They make your business scalable.
• ✔️ They make your brand feel more personal, because you’re present in your clients’ daily lives.
• ✔️ And clients finally get insight, structure, and support outside the gym.

For fitness entrepreneurs who want to grow in the coming years, fitness apps are no longer a “nice extra”, they’re the new standard.

You’re no longer just the place where someone trains; you become the partner who supports them throughout their entire week. That’s exactly why Mobile Exercise Apps remain firmly in the top 5.

Start today with your own award-winning, fully personalized fitness app from Virtuagym. 📱

Fitness Trend 5. Balance, Flow, and Core Strength

This category includes yoga, Pilates, barre, and mobility-focused programming designed to improve core stability, muscular endurance, coordination, and motor control.

Participation in these formats rose 27% between 2022 and 2024, driven largely by suburban boutique studios.

What we’re seeing here is the convergence of fitness and wellness. People aren’t just chasing PRs and six-packs anymore; they want physical function, emotional well-being, social connection, and mindfulness. These modalities deliver all of that in one package.

Previously, core training, yoga, and Pilates were listed separately in the survey and consistently ranked in the top 10 from 2007 to 2020.

Combining them reflects how the industry views these as interconnected elements of holistic programming rather than isolated trends.

Fitness Trend 6. Exercise for Mental Health

Moving up from #8 in 2025 to #6 in 2026: exercise for mental health. The evidence is robust: physical activity has a significant positive impact on mental health, including improvements in mood, stress resilience, and body image.

Both aerobic and resistance training reduce depressive symptoms, with the greatest benefits seen in individuals with mild to moderate symptoms.

Here’s the reality: more than one in five U.S. adults report experiencing mental illness each year.

While exercise isn’t a replacement for clinical treatment like cognitive behavioral therapy, it offers a practical, scalable, and accessible approach to improving mental health in both preventive and adjunctive contexts.

This trend ranked in the top three for gym owners, program managers, and athletic trainers, reflecting broad recognition across professions that mental health is a priority, not an afterthought.

A massive mental-wellbeing shift the fitness industry keeps ignoring

According to the trend report, 78% of exercisers say mental well-being is their main reason for working out, ranking above aesthetics, strength, or fat loss.

And yet… the fitness industry barely communicates the mental benefits.

Which is wild, because the ACSM literally states in their report that mental benefits are rarely highlighted, even though it’s exactly what people today are looking for. 🤦‍♂️

Most gyms still communicate:

• ❌ losing weight
• ❌ getting leaner
• ❌ getting stronger
• ❌ burning calories

But today’s fitness consumer chooses:

• ✅ less stress
• ✅ more calm
• ✅ feeling mentally stronger
• ✅ better sleep
• ✅ less chaos in their head
• ✅ more stability

This is a massive marketing mismatch. ⚠️ The gap between what gyms say and what people actually need has never been bigger and that means huge opportunities for anyone willing to shift their message.

Fitness Trend 7. Strength Training with Free Weights

Traditional strength training using barbells, dumbbells, and kettlebells to improve muscular strength, endurance, and function.

This fitness trend has ranked in the top 10 for 17 of the past 20 years; it’s a foundational pillar of fitness programming and a key element of federal physical activity guidelines.

Strength training plays a critical role in maintaining bone density, metabolic health, and mobility across the lifespan.

Despite these benefits, fewer than 30% of U.S. adults meet the recommended guidelines for muscle-strengthening activity. That gap represents a massive opportunity for education and programming.

In 2026, this trend ranked in the top three among exercise physiologists and among professionals with 21 or more years of experience. The people who’ve seen trends come and go know that free weights aren’t going anywhere.

Back to basics: the rise of functional free-weight training

ACSM names three key reasons why free weights continue to dominate:

• Greater movement freedom → more muscle activation
• Better translation to ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)
• Higher levels of progressive overload without added complexity

Modern technology makes free weights even more powerful

Free weights give trainers the space to actually coach, technique, motor control, stability, and progression, and they’re the perfect foundation for data-driven training.

Barbell and dumbbell exercises are measurable, scalable, and predictable, which allows AI and tracking tools to do what they’re best at: building smarter progressions, linking recovery to training load, and translating physiological data into daily training decisions.

Free weights continue to win and modern technology only makes them stronger. 💥

With our newest innovation, Virtuagym Connect, you can even turn all your strength machines into smart equipment. Automate progress tracking, improve coaching, and deliver a modern gym experience without the high costs.

Fitness Trend 8. Data-Driven Technology

This trend focuses on using real-time physiological data to individualize training, monitor recovery, and support long-term health.

We’re talking about metrics like heart rate variability (HRV), VO₂ max, sleep quality, and glucose levels, and more importantly, how that data is interpreted and applied to guide programming decisions.

These insights allow fitness professionals to adapt exercise programs based on metabolic and nervous system responses.

In 2024, more than 70% of wearable users reported applying their output data to inform exercise or recovery strategies.

This trend earned a top-three rank among strength and conditioning coaches, personal trainers, and respondents under age 45, showing that younger professionals and those working in performance settings are leading the charge.

The secret isn’t the data, it’s the interpretation 🔎

Data is both the biggest challenge and greatest opportunity for fitness professionals in 2026. People are collecting absurd amounts of data these days, HRV, sleep, steps, resting heart rate, stress scores, VO₂max, recovery index, but 90% have no idea what any of it means.

They walk into the gym with their Oura Ring, Garmin, NEO Health tracker, Apple Watch, or Whoop strap with one big question:“What does this mean… and what should I train today?”

And that is the real shift in 2026: people want proof. They want data. And they expect you to translate it into decisions that make sense.

They don’t want to “just do something” anymore. No guessing. No generic programs.

They want to know why they’re doing something. Why you’re adjusting their program. Why their recovery is lagging. Why, why, why.

In 2026, you’re not just the trainer who writes a program, you become the expert who:

• explains data
• justifies every choice
• prevents overload
• personalizes training based on real physiology

For the first time, coaching becomes scientifically informed on a daily basis.

And trainers who embrace this automatically become more valuable, because they offer something no app, AI, or template can ever provide: context, interpretation, and human intelligence. 🧡

Data-driven decision-making for fitness clubs & studios

This shift to data isn’t just happening on your members’ wrists, it’s shaping the way fitness entrepreneurs run their businesses.

The industry has undergone a complete transformation:

• clubs are collecting more data than ever (attendance, class usage, churn patterns)
• data is finally being used for strategic decisions
• schedules are optimized based on real popularity
• memberships become more personalized
• clubs can predict churn before it happens
• retention programs get smarter
• marketing becomes more effective

The era of “managing by gut feeling” is over.

Successful clubs use their data not only to solve problems, but to prevent them.

They know exactly who their members are, what they need, and where the business is heading. And that makes them agile, profitable, and relevant in a market that moves faster than ever.🔥

Virtuagym brings all your data together in one system

Virtuagym unifies all the scattered data streams you’d normally have spread across ten different apps into one single system.

And that’s not just your member data (workouts, progress, recovery, check-ins, programs, wearable data), but also your business data (churn signals, class occupancy, payment behavior, class popularity, revenue streams).

This gives you a complete, real-time picture of what’s happening inside your club: who’s progressing, who’s falling behind, which classes are overcrowded, which trainers are excelling, which members are at risk of cancelling, and where your business is leaving opportunities on the table.

How fitness entrepreneurs can start using data-driven training & club insights today

• Use Virtuagym data to optimize your class schedule: Check your business statistics every month to see which classes are consistently full and which ones are half-empty. Cut weak time slots and place your best instructors on the peak-hour classes.
• ALWAYS track attendance → spot churn before it happens: Virtuagym’s Retention Planner automatically flags members who haven’t visited in a while. This is the cheapest and most effective retention strategy in the industry.
• Use Fitzone to coach your members with real data: Virtuagym Fitzone shows exactly how hard someone is training (heart rate zones) and how much effort they’re delivering per minute. This allows you to adjust coaching in real time during the workout.
• Connect nutrition + training in Virtuagym for real, measurable progress: Don’t just let members log their workouts, have them track their nutrition directly in Virtuagym as well. Once both are connected, trainers get one complete progress overview.
• Use Virtuagym Challenges + Leaderboards to make data fun, visible, and motivating: Launch one simple challenge each month. The leaderboard does the rest: members see their ranking daily, feel a gentle competitive push, and train more often to climb the board.

In other words: Virtuagym turns raw data into a powerful dashboard that guides your coaching and your business.

Book a demo and discover what data-driven decisions can do for your fitness business. 🚀

Fitness Trend 9. Adult Recreation and Sport Clubs

New to the top 20 in 2026, this trend includes community-based fitness groups like running clubs, cycling crews, and recreational leagues for sports like basketball, soccer, and pickleball.

These formats offer structured, social opportunities to be active outside traditional gym settings.

This trend ranked especially high among clinical exercise physiologists and medical professionals, suggesting expanding recognition of its value beyond traditional fitness audiences.

It’s not just about exercise, it’s about community, fun, flexibility, and social connection. 🧡

The key drivers behind this new fitness trend

• Adults are missing real social interaction: We live digitally, work hybrid, move too little, and gyms offer an easy, low-barrier way to meet people face-to-face again.
• Adults want to belong to something: Gyms and studios don’t just offer workouts, they satisfy a psychological need: belonging.
• Fitness events are more popular than ever: Community races, HYROX teams, club competitions, padel courts, all accessible, community-driven, and flexible.
• Competition motivates more than discipline: People stay active longer in team settings than when training alone. (Consistency skyrockets.)
• A growing need for structure: After years of “training whenever,” people are craving appointments, accountability, and routines again.

How to tap into recreational sports clubs inside your own gym

• Launch a monthly “Adults Only Game Night”: Think: circuit battles, mini-games, team challenges, obstacle courses.
• Create a HYROX/Fitness Race Team within your gym: A fixed group that trains together, matching shirts, weekly sessions, and 2–3 events per year.
• Introduce a Padel Prep Workout: Many members play padel → you offer 30–40 minutes of strength, rotation, and agility. Super relevant and unique.
• Start a weekly Running Club from your gym: Free for members, low barrier, strong community vibes.
• Build an internal Fitness League: 4–6 weeks, teams of 3–5 people, weekly mini-challenges, points per team, a ranking, and prizes for fun and effort — not just performance.
• Add “Sport Skills Clinics” to your schedule (1× per month): Agility, sprint technique, jumping, landing mechanics, functional movement. Feels like “training for athletes,” not just fitness.
• Create a Team vs. Team Workout Format: Red team vs. blue team. Fixed structure: 3 rounds, 3 challenges, winner gets a photo + wall-of-fame spot.
• Host 2–3 recreational events per year: Examples: Summer Games, Winter Throwdown, Padel & Power Day, Run & Strength Meetup.

Fitness Trend 10. Functional Fitness Training

Up from #12 in 2025, functional fitness training includes strength, power, mobility, and endurance movements designed to improve physical performance in real-world activities.

This modality enhances balance, coordination, and overall movement efficiency through compound, multiplanar movements like squats, lunges, carries, and crawls.

It’s appropriate for youth, adults, and older populations alike because the movements transfer directly to daily life or sport.

This trend has appeared in the top 20 every year since 2007, reflecting long-term relevance that transcends fitness fads.

Functional fitness is a massive opportunity for fitness entrepreneurs

Functional training hits the exact sweet spot where all major fitness trends come together in 2026 making it one of the most profitable and strategic directions for gym owners to lean into. 🚀

The rise of fitness competitions has created a new generation of “hybrid athletes”: people who don’t just want to be strong, but also mobile, fast, explosive, and injury-resistant. Functional training is the foundation of that complete athletic profile.

At the same time, it aligns perfectly with the growing demand for longevity programs, where adults and 50+ members want to improve mobility, balance, and core stability to stay pain-free and independent.

The flow & core trend strengthens this even further; functional training is the practical translation of everything people are learning about posture, control, stability, and movement efficiency.

For entrepreneurs, this opens the door to endless formats: community-based competition teams, Learn to Lift programs, specialty workshops, technique classes, small-group functional training, corporate vitality programs, or 50+ movement tracks.

More Valuable Fitness Trends Beyond the ACSM Top 10

The ACSM survey gives us the industry’s official roadmap, but there are additional emerging trends that deserve your attention, especially if you want to stay ahead of the curve and differentiate your gym in 2026.

These aren’t just buzzwords. They’re legitimate shifts in how people approach fitness, backed by consumer demand, early adopter success stories, and real revenue opportunities.

AI-Powered Personalized Coaching

Most gyms still offer the same workout to everyone in a class or follow cookie-cutter templates for personal training clients. But members expect Netflix-level personalization now, and AI is making that scalable.

What AI coaching actually does:

Modern AI platforms analyze movement patterns, heart rate, sleep quality, stress levels, and recovery data to adjust programming in real time.

This isn’t replacing human coaches, it’s amplifying them. AI handles the data analysis and program adjustments while you focus on motivation, form correction, and relationship building.

Why this matters for your business:

The hyper-personalized fitness market is projected to hit $26.16 billion by 2035. Early studies show up to 40% improvement in training results with AI-personalized plans versus static programs. Members who see faster results stay longer.

Calculation example:

You have 100 personal training clients paying €200/month. You add AI-powered programming tools like Virtuagym’s Max AI that let you handle 150 clients at the same service quality. That’s 50 additional clients × €200 = €10,000 extra monthly revenue for a small investment.

How to implement this:

Start small. Use AI tools like ChatGPT with proper prompts to create initial workout templates. Analyze member data from wearables to inform programming decisions. Implement AI-powered form correction tools during sessions. Position yourself as the coach who combines human expertise with cutting-edge technology.

Recovery-Focused Revenue Streams

Most gyms treat recovery like an afterthought, maybe a foam roller in the corner. Smart gyms are turning recovery into a premium revenue center.

What recovery services include:

• Cryotherapy chambers (2-3 minutes at -110°C to -140°C)
• Infrared saunas (20-30 minute sessions at 110-115°F)
• Cold plunge pools and contrast therapy stations
• Compression therapy (pneumatic boots that enhance circulation)
• Red light therapy panels
• Percussion massage tools (Theragun-style equipment)
• Float tanks for sensory deprivation

Research shows infrared sauna sessions immediately post-training lead to a 20% greater reduction in muscle soreness and 42-60% improved neurological recovery compared to passive recovery. The global sauna market alone is projected to reach $1.27 billion by 2030.

Why this matters for your business:

Recovery offerings attract members who can’t handle constant high-intensity work, older adults, professionals with stressful jobs, and athletes preventing injury. It also creates premium upsell opportunities without requiring more coaching hours.

How to implement this:

Don’t install everything at once. Start with one modality based on your space and budget:

• Tight on space? Add compression therapy boots and red light panels (low footprint)
• Have a corner available? Install a cold plunge or infrared sauna
• Limited budget? Partner with mobile cryotherapy services for monthly pop-ups

Educate members through recovery workshops, post-workout protocols, and social content showing the science behind each modality.

Nutrition App Integration & Meal Plan Sales

Most gyms ignore nutrition entirely or offer vague advice like “eat more protein.” But nutrition coaching can become a significant revenue stream, especially when you leverage technology like nutriton apps.

What this looks like:

Integrate a nutrition app (like Virtuagym) where you can:

• Create customized meal plans for members
• Track their food intake and macros
• Sell ready-made meal plans they can follow independently
• Offer monthly or one-time nutrition programs

You’re not replacing registered dietitians; you’re providing practical guidance that supports their training results.

Why this matters for your business:

Members who don’t see results quit. Poor nutrition is usually the reason, but they’ll blame your programming. Offering nutrition support = better results = higher retention.

Plus, nutrition coaching scales better than personal training (less time-intensive once systems are built).

How to implement this:

Choose a nutrition platform that integrates with your existing gym management software. Create 3-5 template meal plans for common goals.

Launch with a “Nutrition Challenge” where members follow the plan for 4 weeks and track results. Use success stories as social proof to sell to others.

Premium Personal Training + Nutrition Packages

Selling personal training sessions one at a time is leaving money on the table. The real value is in bundled transformation packages like personal training and nutrition.

What premium packages include:

A complete results program that combines:

• Set the number of PT sessions per week (2-3 sessions)
• Personalized nutrition plan and ongoing support
• Body composition tracking and progress reports
• Supplement recommendations (with affiliate revenue)
• Accountability check-ins via app
• Priority booking and dedicated time slots

This isn’t just training, it’s a full transformation system that justifies premium pricing.

Why this matters for your business:

Packages increase your average revenue per client, improve client results (better retention), and create predictable recurring revenue. They also position you as a premium service, not a commodity.

How to implement this:

Create 2-3 package tiers:

• Bronze (6 weeks): €997 - 12 sessions + basic meal plan
• Silver (12 weeks): €1,997 - 24 sessions + personalized nutrition + tracking
• Gold (6 months): €4,497 - 48 sessions + full nutrition coaching + supplements + body comp analysis monthly

Market these as “transformation programs,” not “training packages.” Focus on the outcome (lose 20 lbs, build muscle, run your first 5K,) not the features.

Corporate Wellness Partnerships

Most gyms wait for individuals to walk through the door. Smart gyms go to where groups of potential members already are: workplaces.

What corporate partnerships look like:

You partner with local companies to offer:

• Subsidized gym memberships for employees (company pays portion)
• On-site lunchtime fitness classes at their office
• Virtual training sessions for remote teams
• Monthly wellness workshops (stress management, nutrition, injury prevention)
• Fitness challenges with prizes

Companies want to offer wellness benefits but don’t want to build their own gym. You’re the solution.

Why this matters for your business:

Corporate partnerships = bulk membership sales with predictable revenue. One contract can add 50-200 members at once. Plus, corporate members tend to have higher retention because their employer is subsidizing it.

How to implement this:

Identify 10-20 local companies (100+ employees). Create a corporate wellness proposal packet. Reach out to HR departments offering a free trial month or a complimentary wellness workshop.

Start small with one pilot program, document results (employee engagement, satisfaction scores), then use it as a case study to close more deals.

Hybrid Memberships (In-Person + Digital)

Members don’t want to choose between in-person training and flexibility. They want both. Hybrid memberships give them that.

What hybrid memberships include:

• 2-3 in-gym sessions per week (small group or PT)
• 2-3 app-based workouts they do at home, while traveling, or at off-peak times
• Virtual coaching check-ins
• Programming delivered through your app
• Access to an on-demand video library

Members stay engaged 7 days a week, but only use your physical space 2-3 days, reducing crowding and increasing your capacity.

Why this matters for your business:

Hybrid members pay MORE than gym-only members (because they’re getting personalized programming) but use your facility LESS (freeing up capacity for more members). It’s the perfect business model.

How to implement this:

Choose a platform like Virtuagym that delivers workouts and tracks compliance. Create 3-4 weekly workout templates for home training. Launch hybrid memberships as a premium tier €20-30 above your standard rate. Market the flexibility: “Train with us 2x/week, crush your workouts at home 2x/week, and never miss a session when you travel.”

Recovery + Longevity Focused Memberships

Younger members want abs. Older members (35+) want to feel good, avoid injury, and stay capable for decades. That’s a different product entirely.

What longevity programming includes:

• Focus on muscle power (not just strength) for fall prevention
• VO2 max training for cardiovascular longevity
• Joint health and mobility work
• Balance and coordination drills
• Sustainable training loads that prevent injury
• Recovery protocols are built into every week

This isn’t “seniors fitness”, it’s intelligent training for people who want to be active at 70, 80, 90.

Why this matters for your business:

The 45-65 age group has the most disposable income and the highest gym visit frequency. They’re not price-sensitive if you solve their real problem: staying healthy and active long-term. Plus, they refer friends in the same demographic.

How to implement this:

Rebrand your offerings around longevity and function, not aesthetics. Train your coaches in aging-specific programming (fall prevention, power training, joint health).

Partner with physical therapists to add credibility. Market the outcome: “Play with your grandkids at 70. Travel without pain at 65. Stay independent for life.”

Additional Fitness Trends to Keep an Eye on This Year 🔎

Beyond the mainstream trends dominating headlines, there are several emerging movements worth watching in 2026. These aren’t quite at mass adoption yet, but they’re gaining serious momentum, and the gyms that get ahead of them will have a competitive edge.

Here’s what’s bubbling up:

Rucking (Outdoor Weighted Walking)

Rucking, walking, or hiking with a weighted backpack has exploded in popularity, with Google searches steadily increasing over the past decade and spiking significantly around 2022. Companies like GoRuck reported a big year-on-year increase in pack sales from 2023 to 2024.

What it is:
Derived from military “ruck marching,” rucking involves walking with a loaded backpack (typically 10-50 pounds) over various distances and terrain. It’s essentially hiking meets strength training, accessible, low-impact, and requires minimal equipment.

Why it’s trending:
Research suggests rucking burns up to three times more calories than walking, similar to jogging, while being much easier on the joints than running.

The appeal is its simplicity: grab any backpack, add weight (books, water bottles, sand), and go. No gym membership, no fancy equipment, no learning curve.

Influencer and Ambassador-Led Fitness Programs

New to the ACSM survey in 2025, Influencer/Ambassador-led Fitness Programs debuted at #12. This trend involves health and fitness entrepreneurs providing content via social media platforms to promote exercise to their followers. It was ranked higher by newer professionals, suggesting it’s a rising trend with growth potential.

What it is: Gyms and fitness brands are increasingly partnering with micro- and macro-influencers to create branded training programs, lead classes, drive memberships, and build community. Unlike traditional celebrity endorsements, these are ongoing ambassador relationships where influencers co-create content and programming.

Why it’s trending: The fitness industry is projected to generate over $240 billion by 2026, with brands prioritizing influencer engagement rates over follower counts. Micro-influencers (those with smaller but highly engaged followings) often deliver better ROI than macro-influencers because of their authentic community connections.

Brands like Gymshark, Lululemon, Nike, and Peloton have built empires on influencer partnerships, turning everyday fitness enthusiasts into brand ambassadors who drive genuine word-of-mouth marketing.

Biohacking and Sleep Optimization

The global biohacking market was valued at $20.94 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.6% from 2024 to 2030.

Biohacking represents a movement driven by the desire to achieve optimum health, prevent aging, and enhance human performance through personalized lifestyle changes and technology.

What it is: Biohacking is the practice of using science, technology, and lifestyle modifications to optimize your body and mind. It ranges from simple interventions (cold showers, intermittent fasting) to advanced tech (continuous glucose monitors, genetic testing, wearable implants).

Within biohacking, sleep optimization has become a massive focus. Sleep tech is now a booming industry worth billions, offering smart mattresses that monitor sleep cycles and adjust firmness automatically, wearable trackers that measure sleep quality and recovery, AI-powered sleep coaching apps, and light/sound therapy devices.

Why it’s trending:
People are realizing that no amount of training can outperform poor sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation tanks performance, increases injury risk, impairs recovery, and destroys mental health. Biohackers are treating sleep as the foundation of optimization, not an afterthought.

Popular biohacking practices include:

• Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to understand how food affects energy
• Heart rate variability (HRV) tracking for recovery
• Nootropics and supplements for cognitive performance
• Red light therapy for recovery and skin health
• Intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating
• Cold exposure (ice baths, cryotherapy) for inflammation

Position your gym as the place where science meets fitness, not just workouts, but total optimization.

HIIT Evolution (Still Relevant But Changing)

HIIT ranks #12 for 2026, down from #6 in 2025. It has appeared in the top 10 most years since its introduction to the survey, ranking #1 in both 2014 and 2018, and continues to be widely endorsed across professional settings.

What’s changing: HIIT isn’t disappearing, it’s evolving. The problem with traditional HIIT is that it’s been overdone, leading to burnout, overtraining, and injury in members who do high-intensity work 5-6 days per week without adequate recovery.

The new approach: strategic HIIT integration rather than HIIT-only programming. Gyms are blending HIIT with strength work, mobility, and recovery days in periodized programs that prevent overtraining.

We’re also seeing format variations:

• HIRT (High-Intensity Resistance Training): Shorter rest periods between heavy compound lifts
• HILIT (High-Intensity Low-Impact Training): HIIT movements modified to reduce joint stress
• Hybrid HIIT: Combining cardio intervals with strength circuits in one session

Don’t abandon HIIT, just be smarter about it. Offer HIIT classes 2-3 times per week maximum, and pair them with recovery-focused programming on other days. Educate members on why more isn’t better, and position your gym as the place that programs intelligently rather than just exhausting people.

Outdoor and Nature-Based Fitness

Outdoor activity as a fitness modality is gaining traction as people seek fresh air, natural environments, and social connection. Exercise professionals can integrate outdoor sessions into community, clinical, or park-based offerings with minimal equipment or infrastructure.

What it is: Fitness classes, bootcamps, or training sessions are held outdoors in parks, trails, beaches, or urban spaces. Think outdoor yoga, park boot camps, trail running clubs, or beach workouts.

Why it’s trending: Post-pandemic, people crave outdoor activity and social connection. Being in nature reduces stress, improves mood, and enhances mental well-being. Plus, outdoor training feels less confined and more liberating than being stuck in a gym.

The Common Thread

What connects all these trends? Community, personalization, and experiences beyond traditional gym workouts.

Members in 2026 don’t just want access to equipment; they want:

• Social connection (ruck clubs, influencer-led classes, outdoor groups)
• Personalized optimization (biohacking, sleep tech, data-driven training)
• Engaging experiences (gamification, challenges, ambassador programs)
• Holistic wellness (recovery, mental health, outdoor activity)

The gyms that thrive will be the ones that recognize fitness isn’t just about the workout anymore. It’s about creating ecosystems where members feel supported, challenged, connected, and optimized across every aspect of their health journey.

Conclusion

The fitness industry in 2026 isn’t about chasing every trend; it’s about understanding the shift: personalization, recovery, mental health, and holistic wellness are now non-negotiable.

The ACSM top 10 gives you the roadmap. The emerging trends give you the edge. Pick 2-3 that fit your gym, implement them well, and scale.

The gyms struggling are stuck in 2019. The gyms thriving recognize that fitness has evolved beyond workouts, it’s comprehensive human optimization.

Your members are searching for these solutions. Will they find them at your gym, or somewhere else?

The future of fitness is here. Are you ready?