By Erin Phelan
Fitness Industry Council of Canada
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has just released its 2026 Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends, marking the report’s 20th anniversary and revealing where the industry is headed next. Published in ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal in October 2025, the survey reflects responses from thousands of fitness professionals across 47 countries — offering a global snapshot of how exercise, technology, and health are evolving.
For Canadian operators, this list isn’t just interesting — it’s strategic. At the Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC), we see these trends as validation of what’s already happening across the country: a smarter, more connected, more inclusive industry blending innovation with human connection.
Here’s what matters most — and how facilities can use these insights to shape 2026 planning.
1. Wearable Technology
Wearables reclaimed the top spot for 2026, confirming that data has become the heartbeat of fitness. From heart-rate variability to recovery metrics, members now expect personalized feedback.
For Canadian clubs:
- Integrate, don’t isolate. Connect wearable data to onboarding systems and small-group training.
- Coach through data. Teach members how to interpret their metrics.
- Bridge prevention and performance. Health tracking is preventive healthcare in motion.
2. Fitness Programs for Older Adults
Ranked #2 worldwide, this trend reflects one of the most significant demographic shifts of our time. With Canada’s aging population projected to reach 25% over 65 by 2035, this is not a niche audience — it’s a wave.
For Canadian clubs:
- Build Active Aging programs that combine resistance training, balance work, and social connection.
- Schedule them at prime times, not off-peak hours.
- Partner with health networks to position your facility as a hub for prevention and independence.
It has the potential to be one of the fastest-growing membership bases in the country, if not the world — but only if operators design evidence-based programs that meet older adults where they are.
3. Exercise for Weight Management
With obesity and metabolic disease still climbing, this remains a global priority — but the focus has shifted from aesthetics to sustainable health outcomes.
For Canadian clubs:
- Emphasize muscle preservation, metabolism, and energy, not calorie burn.
- Offer 12-week structured programs that measure strength, not just weight.
- Integrate nutrition and behavior-change coaching for holistic results.
Muscle isn’t vanity — it’s metabolism, mobility, and mental resilience.
4. Mobile Exercise Apps
Hybrid fitness is here to stay. Mobile apps remain popular because members want flexibility and connection — even when they’re not on-site.
For Canadian clubs:
- If you don’t have an app, create one — it’s your digital front door for booking, tracking, and communication.
- If you do, use its data to spot drop-off risk and celebrate engagement milestones.
- Combine digital and in-club coaching to keep members consistent.
Your app isn’t an add-on; it’s your always-open facility, extending connection beyond the walls.
5. Balance and Stability Training
The ACSM International Commentary highlights the rise of Pilates, yoga, and mobility work — all emphasizing movement quality over intensity. Globally, Pilates participation has surged nearly 40 percent between 2019 and 2024, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA).
For Canadian clubs:
- Offer hybrid “Strength + Flow” formats pairing lifting with recovery.
- Dedicate recovery zones for stretching and restoration.
- Educate members that flexibility, stability, and balance are the new performance metrics.
6. Exercise for Mental Health
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness each year. Statistics Canada reports nearly the same share met diagnostic criteria for a disorder in 2022.
For Canadian clubs:
- Frame your facility as a mental-wellness hub where movement builds resilience.
- Train instructors in mental-health awareness and trauma-informed coaching.
- Create Move for Your Mind programs and community partnerships that reduce stigma.
Exercise is medicine for the body — and the mind — and gyms can be the front line of preventive care.
7. Traditional Strength Training
Strength training remains a global cornerstone — improving longevity, metabolic stability, and confidence. It’s the single most effective exercise mode for preventing disease and preserving function across the lifespan.
For Canadian clubs:
- Make strength training the centrepiece of programming.
- Ensure lifting areas feel safe and accessible, especially for beginners and older adults.
- Train staff to coach progressive overload safely — people need to lift heavy, but they need guidance and confidence.
The science is clear: lifting reduces chronic disease risk, enhances cognition, and extends quality of life.
8. Functional Fitness Training
Functional training focuses on movements that mirror real-life demands — agility, balance, and core strength — and continues to dominate programming worldwide.
For Canadian clubs:
- Design functional zones with sleds, suspension systems, and cable stations.
- Offer small-group sessions focused on mobility, coordination, and power.
- Promote the message that functional fitness is training for life.
9. Health and Well-Being Coaching
The rise of health coaching underscores a shift toward behavior change as a skill set. Members don’t just need workouts — they need support, accountability, and conversation.
For Canadian clubs:
- Train staff in motivational interviewing and personalized goal-setting.
- Offer coaching-based memberships that blend exercise, nutrition, and recovery.
- Use digital tools to track progress and celebrate milestones.
Health coaching connects intention with action — turning participation into lifelong engagement.
10. Personal Training
Personal training remains the profession’s backbone. As technology evolves, trainers who combine human empathy with data-driven insight will define the next generation of coaching.
For Canadian clubs:
- Position personal training as a health investment, not a luxury.
- Integrate wearable metrics into client progress tracking.
- Offer small-group PT to build accessibility and community.
At its best, personal training is not just about form — it’s about belonging, confidence, and sustained progress.
The 2026 Opportunity
The 2026 ACSM trends confirm what the FIC has long championed: the convergence of technology, strength, and prevention.
For Canadian operators, the takeaway is clear — build smarter ecosystems, not just bigger gyms. The clubs that will thrive are those that personalize through data, put resistance training at the core, and foster true community belonging.
Canadian Trends Report: Survey
The Fitness Industry Council of Canada is compiling its first Canadian Trends Report — and we want to hear from you! Help shape the future of our industry by completing this short survey: 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FIC2026trends
Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC) is the not-for profit trade association that represents the voice of fitness facility operators across Canada. Representing more than 6,000 facilities with more than six-million members nationwide, FIC pursues a legislative agenda in the hope of bettering the fitness industry for both consumers and operators. FIC aims to work with both industry and government to improve the health and physical activity levels of Canadians.
