Wearables driving a data-powered holistic fitness focus
“The fitness industry is moving way beyond simple heart rate monitoring. Recovery and sleep tracking, driven by wearables such as Whoop and Oura, have had a lot of attention this year, but now people are looking for even more data and insights.
“In 2026, individuals will seek a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of their training and wellbeing activities, and there could be an increasing interest in biological age and longevity over rates and reps alone.
“With both wearables and fitness equipment now capturing rich data, members can track their progress across their activities and their lifestyle. Gyms and studios that invest in performance-tracking technology and educate their members on how to interpret and apply this data will be in a good position to deliver smarter training and build stronger member relationships next year.”
Technology-driven in-gym experiences
“Tech-enabled Gen Z is driving demand for next-gen fitness experiences, with nearly three-quarters (73%) of 16 to 28-year-olds saying they exercise at least twice per week, up 11 percentage points compared to 2024.* In 2026, we’ll see operators looking to meet this demand using more advanced technology to create seamless experiences that bridge in-person and at-home training.
“Real-time leaderboards, personalised workout recommendations and affiliations with leading fitness concepts will transform gym floors into connected hubs where members can train for challenges, races and events with expert guidance.
“For gym operators, this translates to improved member retention, increased engagement and new revenue opportunities through premium digital offerings and partnerships.”
* Gen Z Fitness Pulse Report 2025, The Gym Group
The continued rise of fitness racing
“Fitness racing is truly going mainstream. The explosive growth of HYROX (1.5M athletes in 2025, compared with 650K in 2024) shows that there is a real shift in how everyday people approach their training.
“Racing is no longer reserved for elite athletes and has become an aspirational goal for ordinary gym-goers at all levels. They’re looking for purpose, community and targets to smash.
“In 2026, I expect fitness racing to become a real cornerstone of the fitness industry, driving engagement and transforming casual exercisers into committed athletes.
“Gyms that fail to integrate race preparation and event partnerships into their offering risk losing members to competitors who provide the structured training and community that goal-driven athletes will look for next year and beyond.”
ONE FIIT is the ‘fitness operating system’ that connects brands, gyms, and trainers with their communities as part of its mission to make exercise a lifelong habit for everyone.
As an all-in-one solution for digital and in-person group training, ONE FIIT powers premium fitness experiences for leading brands including like HYROX, FIIT, Men’s Health, and Nespresso, and for companies such as The Gym Group, IHG, Serco Leisure, Westfield Health and Cortland Living.
Whether through our connected training app, hybrid studio/gym app, trainer portal (or all three), gyms, hotels, residences, and brands can seamlessly acquire, engage, and grow their communities.
In 2025, FIIT was named one of the Most Innovative Fitness and Wellness Companies by Athletech News.
press@onefiit.com
ONE FIIT
