Top Fitness Trends to Try in 2026

January marks the start of a new year, and for many, it brings a surge in gym memberships as we resolve to improve our physical health. In 2025, 66% of Britons focused their resolutions on physical well-being, while around 96 million Americans aimed to enhance their health and fitness.

In the previous year, there was a noticeable shift from the dominance of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and wellness coaching to a focus on strength training and functional exercises. This trend was particularly driven by millennials and Gen Z, who represent a large portion of gym members. Fitness apps also saw growth, with primarily younger women accounting for around a billion downloads in 2025.

If you’re determined that 2026 will be your year for fitness, check out these trending workouts that can help you achieve your goals.

Explore our comprehensive selection of health benefit guides and learn about what to eat before your workouts and the top fitness trackers for enthusiasts. Don’t miss our energizing breakfast recipes and tips on how to adapt your fitness routine in winter.

1. Reformer Pilates

Favored by celebrities like Kendall Jenner, David Beckham, and Lady Gaga, reformer Pilates has gained popularity and is expected to continue growing, with the global market projected to exceed $1 billion by 2032.

This exercise method involves gentle, flowing movements on a specially designed apparatus that looks akin to a torture device. Each session skillfully combines support and challenge to tone muscles, strengthen posture, and enhance the mind-body connection, all while allowing participants to adjust resistance, speed, and range of motion according to their abilities.

2. Japanese Walking

With diminishing interest in high-impact, joint-stressing workouts, low-impact exercises have taken center stage. Reports indicate that interest in Japanese walking has surged by nearly 3,000%. The simple regimen consists of 30-minute sessions alternating between brisk walking for three minutes and a slower pace for another three minutes. Research suggests that this practice aids in weight management and significantly improves cardiovascular health. Its accessibility is a major advantage; no special equipment is required, and you can walk almost anywhere, so trade scrolling for strolling!

3. Social Fitness

Recent findings reveal that 73% of gym-goers attribute their motivation to a sense of community. This emphasizes the idea that members may join gyms for health, but they stay for the camaraderie. Major gym chains are now introducing signature workouts that fulfill the human need for social interaction while also promising to deliver results, all while making fitness enjoyable.

4. Fitness Events

Closely related to this is the rise of fitness events, which began with outdoor obstacle courses such as Tough Mudder and Spartan. The introduction of functional strength training paved the way for CrossFit, highlighting a trend toward hybrid training with HYROX leading the way. This shift is reflected in 135,000 Google searches monthly this year.

Since its inception in Germany in 2017, HYROX has quickly become the fastest-growing fitness sport globally, hosting races in 11 countries across more than 30 major cities. A growing number of gyms are now offering sessions based on the nine disciplines featured in the event, appealing to both competitors and casual participants eager to enhance overall fitness.

5. Longevity Training

There is mounting scientific evidence to suggest that staying active is the closest thing we have to an elixir of life. Maintaining physical activity as we age can help ensure independence and maximize enjoyment in later years. Many age-related ailments are now understood to result from inactivity, with genetics accounting for approximately 25% of life expectancy variability—lifestyle choices being the more significant factor. Strength training combats the natural decline of muscle and bone density linked to hormonal changes, improves insulin sensitivity, and reduces diabetes risk. Regardless of whether you prefer the gym or home workouts, using weights, resistance bands, or weighted balls is essential. Interestingly, short bursts of high-intensity cardio, ideally done on a bike, rowing machine, or in the pool, offer the greatest benefits while minimizing the joint impact of running and extending your ‘healthspan’.

6. Zone 2 Training

Also known as base training or low-intensity steady-state (LISS) training, this method aims to keep your heart rate at 60-70% of its maximum. At this level, your body prioritizes fat burning over carbohydrates, enhancing your aerobic fitness. A significant advantage is the increase in both the quantity and efficiency of your mitochondria, which empowers you to handle more intense exertion when needed. The bonus? You should be able to converse comfortably with your workout partner at this intensity.

7. Exercise for Mobility

The increasing interest in holistic movement, driven partly by an aging population, highlights a growing recognition of its value as a preventive health measure. From individuals who intend to simply rise from the couch without discomfort to fitness enthusiasts aiming for new personal bests, the significance of having a pain-free range of motion is gaining traction. Various ‘flow’ classes are now commonly offered in studios, and tools such as foam rollers, power bands, and percussion therapy devices have become essential additions to gym equipment inventories, aimed at enhancing flexibility. Engaging in exercise need not always be about exerting force; it can also be an opportunity to nurture your body.

8. Exercise for Mental Health

While many still pursue aesthetics through exercise, an increasing number are turning to mindful practices for stress relief, mood enhancement, and resilience building. Surprisingly, this trend is stronger among younger demographics, with 42% of millennials and Gen Z prioritizing mindfulness, compared to only 29% of baby boomers. The focus has shifted away from traditional mental health improvement methods, such as therapy, toward integrating exercise, sleep hygiene, social connections, and forms of meditation, whether it’s a tranquil sound bath or a refreshing nature walk. The growing evidence supporting the benefits of tai chi makes it a worthwhile practice to join the ranks of the 300 million practitioners worldwide. Give yourself the gift of relaxation.

9. Yoga Variations

You may already be familiar with popular styles like Ashtanga or Vinyasa, the gentler practices of Yin or Kundalini, and innovative options like stand-up paddleboard or Bikram hot yoga. If you’re adventurous, several new variations are emerging, such as Rocket Yoga, which is dynamic and often set to upbeat music, incorporating inversions to enhance upper body strength. Strong Yoga combines traditional poses with modern resistance training methods, adding weights to traditional postures for accelerated toning. AI Yoga employs machine learning to adapt sessions specifically to your movements. Reformer Y merges modern yoga with the intelligent resistance of reformers. For those seeking the unconventional, consider Naked Yoga as a unique pursuit.

10. Optimizing Recovery

This sector is rapidly expanding within the fitness industry, currently valued at around $8 billion and projected to soar to $24 billion in the next decade. Expect to find local gyms equipped with advanced tools designed to optimize your training through effective recovery strategies. Look for facilities offering red light therapy, massage, cryotherapy, compression, and hyperbaric oxygen treatments. Proper recovery not only enhances the benefits of your workouts but also reduces injury risk and fosters an overall sense of well-being, keeping you motivated on your fitness journey. Remember, rest, reset, and repeat!

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