5 fitness trends to look out for in 2026

The Gym Group Master Trainer, Jenni Tardiff’s, Five Top Fitness Trends for 2026

With the end of the year in sight, lots of us will be starting to look ahead to 2026 and as health and fitness continues to be seen as a ‘non-negotiable’, interest is at an all-time high. The Gym Group’s Master Trainer, Jenni Tardiff, shares her top five fitness and wellness trends that we’re likely to see in 2026, from holistic practices to training for longevity.

1. More will adopt a holistic approach to training

"We’ll continue to see more prioritising holistic training with mental wellbeing playing a key part in this, especially for Gen Z". - Jenni Tardiff said.

The Gym Group’s recent data shows that 87% of Gen Z say that working out improves or significantly improves their mental health, with 55% ranking mental health as a top three reason for exercising .

Whilst it still remains an important factor for some, there has been a definite shift from away training solely for aesthetics, with more opting for a range of workout styles which incorporate strength, cardio , and mobility. Beyond exercise as part of this holistic approach, we’d expect to see continued growth in use of supplements like creatine and an interest in their benefits, increasing by 50% compared to this time last year.

2. Strength training and functional fitness will continue to have their moment

“Strength training will continue to be an important trend across a range of age groups and demographics, thanks to increased understanding of its benefits for joint health and muscle growth".

Jenni Tardiff also pointed out that, with running remaining one of the most popular exercise choices, there has been a spotlight on complementary strength training in order to improve performance and prevent sports injuries.

Spotlight on the glutes

Most recently, we’ve seen increased focus on strengthening the posterior chain and building glute strength specifically, with #glutesworkout nearly racking up 1 million videos on TikTok.

"Glutes are a powerhouse muscle and key stabilisers to the body and we’ve implemented specific training zones with glute-specific kit in our gyms to support our members’ training, so I’m sure we’ll continue to see this being an area of interest”.

3. The use of wearable devices and data-driven training will continue to rise

As the world becomes more tech- and data-savvy, we’ll be seeing more people optimise their training with wearables and performance tracking, from understanding heart rate zones or monitoring their recovery and sleep.

Beyond wearables, tracking workouts using apps will continue to support people’s training and progress; our members can do this via their Gym Group app.

"Wearables and fitness gadgets can be incredibly helpful tools but our bodies always know best, and we encourage members and clients to continue to listen to your bodies and consider which tool is right for you and your individual goals.”

4. More will embrace the importance of life cycle and bio-specific training

Our Master Trainer emphasized that there’s growing momentum on training for longevity, specifically, strength, functionality, and mobility to improve quality of life in older age.

"This seeks to support bone density and balance to reduce the risk of falls, performing functional exercises to mimic real-life movement, and resistance training for muscle mass retention.”

Female fitness

The importance of female-specific training continues to be recognised, like The Gym Group’s leading Female Health First initiative, that ensures personal trainers have the skills required to tailor exercise for the female body.

This includes workouts being deliberately structured around the menstrual cycle to optimise energy, performance and recovery, a greater focus on the perimenopause and menopause and the impact on fitness, and training designed to support symptoms, pelvic health, and promote better sleep.

5. Recovery is key!

Recovery practices are becoming an integrated element to many of our fitness routines.

"Breathwork is also a major emerging trend which focuses on simple techniques like nasal breathing and breathwork to enhance oxygen efficiency for superior athletic performance and better stress management."

As part of this, we’ll also see more emphasis on the benefits of breath work for sleep optimisation and a technique for stress reduction which, in turn, allows for better performance and better mood.