The Top 10 Fitness Trends To Watch in 2026
2026 is here, and it is good practice to reflect on the year that has passed, but it’s also important to look ahead. With help from the ACSM Health & Fitness Journal: 2026 ACSM Worldwide Fitness Trends, Fitshop is here to give you a glimpse into the year ahead and how you can get involved.
1. Wearable Technology
Fitness trackers, smartwatches, and heart rate monitors can provide real-time health metrics for fitness enthusiasts and are a great way to motivate and challenge yourself. Metrics such as heart rate, steps, speed, and distance are great ways to track your goals, and with many devices connecting to apps on your phones and tablets, it’s never been easier to see your progress.
Wearable technology has consistently been a #1 trending topic over the past four years, with the latest figures showing that roughly 36%-44% of adults own wearable technology.
Fitshop has a wide array of wearable technology. From the cardiostrong Smart Chest Strap (pictured above) to the Wahoo TICKR Fit Armband, you’ll find something to suit your training.
Roughly 36%-44% of adults own wearable technology
2026 ACSM Worldwide Fitness Trends, “Future Directions of the Health and Fitness Industry“
2. Fitness for Older Adults
Fitness has never been more popular among older generations. Gym attendance is at an all-time high among those born between 1946 and 1964. With the rise in low-impact exercises such as yoga and tai chi, and in gyms offering more classes focused on mobility, it is no surprise that fitness for older adults makes it to this list.
As we get older, it is essential that we keep ourselves active with a mix of cardiovascular exercise and resistance training. Strength training helps combat the symptoms of osteoarthritis, keeping our bones and joints healthy.
Cross Trainers, exercise bikes and light free weights are all great purchases for those looking to stay fit and keep moving as they get older. Our Fitshop experts can guide you through the best choices for your home, regardless of budget.
3. Exercise for Weight Management
Weight management is consistently the top reason people rejoin gyms and purchase fitness equipment. With the New Year rapidly approaching, a slew of New Year’s Resolutions come in tow. The latest statistics show that over 64% of adults aged 18 and over are overweight. Obesity rates in the UK have also been on an upward trajectory, with 26.5% of adults over the age of 18 being reported as obese.
Combining regular and consistent exercise with a healthy diet is essential for managing weight. For effective weight management, you must incorporate strength training and cardiovascular exercise. Exercise classes are a great way to get started with fitness if you’re a newcomer or looking to find an engaging way to adapt your fitness routine if you’re more experienced. Brands such as Peloton and NordicTrack offer world-renowned interactive programs to keep users engaged.
Products from Inspire Fitness, such as the FT2 PRO Functional Trainer, are designed for interactive strength training. The Inspire team partnered with Chris Hemsworth’s team at Centr to bring personalised strength training to your home with the Centr App, more on this below…
4. Mobile Exercise Apps
Mobile Exercise Apps and wearable technology are intrinsically linked to one another for tracking fitness data. They present digital fitness content, including workouts, classes, and advice from fitness professionals. Other apps, such as Kinomap, Zwift and Runna, all provide content for cyclists and runners so they can bring the outdoors inside, with route-creation technology to set routes across the world, compete with others and socialise with new and familiar friends and communities.
Digital fitness platforms catered for more than 345 million people in 2024. […] App users tend to be younger, female, college-educated, and living in urban areas, with lower adoption observed among older adults and individuals with limited digital literacy.
5. Balance, Flow, and Core Strength
With yoga, Pilates, barre, and tai chi all seeing an increase in popularity, it is no surprise to see a trend in balance and core-building fitness. Exercise for older adults took the #2 spot on this list, and building core strength and balance is essential as we age to reduce the risk of falling and injury.
According to the ACSM journal, the rise of boutique studios between 2022 and 2024 led to a 27% rise in participation in mobility-focused classes.
Fitshop recently partnered with BAHE, a premium yoga and Pilates brand designed to help you “flow in a modern world”. Featuring a wide selection of exercise mats and equipment for yoga, Pilates and barre practices. See the full range here.
6. Exercises for Mental Health
Our mental health is as important as our physical health. Whether we are practising Mindfulness meditation, yoga, or strength training, exercise boosts our mental health, makes us feel good, and shows progression. Both cardiovascular and strength training help reduce depressive symptoms and relieve stress.
“Whilst not a replacement for clinical treatment, exercise offers a practical and scalable approach to improving mental health in both preventive and adjunctive contexts.”
7. Traditional Strength Training
Traditional strength training refers to the training done before fancy machines and cable pulleys. Instead, traditional strength training refers to using free weights such as barbells, dumbbells and kettlebells to build lean muscle, build strength, endurance, and functionality.
Free weights give you the most variety and freedom to train the way you want, whilst also training more muscles through stabilisation and core strength (This is why a leg press and a barbell squat are so different). With a few sets of dumbbells, you can effectively train pretty much every major muscle in the body.
Dumbbells, in particular, are a cost-effective piece of fitness equipment that is ideal for all fitness levels. There are also great options for all fitness spaces at Fitshop, including our adjustable dumbbells for home use and sets of dumbbells with storage for dedicated fitness spaces.
8. Data-Driven Technology
For the third time in this list, we are talking about the importance of data and using fitness telemetries to track and see our progression. According to the ACSM report, this trend in particular refers to:
“[T]he use of real-time physiological data to individualise training, monitor recovery, and support long-term health. The emphasis is on how metrics such as heart rate variability (HRV), VO₂ max, sleep quality, and glucose levels are interpreted and applied to guide decisions.”
Trends in fitness data suggest that everyday fitness enthusiasts are becoming more invested in their performance. As technology gets smarter, it becomes accessible and cost-efficient, and thus more widespread. We are always looking for innovations in the fitness industry at Fitshop, with many exciting additions coming in 2026! Stay tuned!
9. Adult Recreation and Sports Clubs
Fitness should be fun! Whilst our own fitness journeys are individual and personal, having support from a community can be a great boost for motivation and retention. Returning to technology, many fitness apps and brands are dedicated to their communities, such as Peloton and NordicTrack (powered by iFIT).
“New to the top 20 in 2026, this trend reflects growing interest in activities that combine fitness with fun, flexibility, and social connection. It ranked especially high among Clinical Exercise Physiologists and Medical Professionals, suggesting expanding recognition of its value beyond traditional fitness audiences.”
10. Functional Fitness Training
Functional fitness refers to exercises that help us function in our day-to-day lives. The focus is often on coordination, balance, and natural movements, and on emphasising compound and multiplanar exercises.
With the rise of HYROX and fitness games, functional fitness is often championed as one of the best ways to train at all ages. Functional fitness has left the niche created by fitness gurus and the earlier attempts at competitive fitness and moved to the forefront of the fitness industry.
That’s it! The top 10 fitness trends you need to keep on your radar in 2026. A massive thank you to the team at ACSM for providing empirical data in a digestible way. For all things fitness, stay tuned at Fitshop.
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