National survey of fitness trends in Spain for 2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v76.117986Keywords:
ACSM survey, fitness industry, fitness trends, Spanish fitness surveyAbstract
Introduction: This tenth edition of the National Survey of Fitness Trends in Spain aims to analyze the current state of the sector and its alignment with the international context.
Objective: To identify the 20 trends that fitness professionals consider most likely for the year 2026 and to compare them with the global trends reported by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for 2025.
Methodology: The methodology of the ACSM international study was replicated, including a total of 56 possible trends. The survey was distributed via email to 6,980 fitness professionals and disseminated through social media and institutional newsletters. The response rate was 4.52%, with 318 participants (27.2% women).
Results: The five highest-ranked trends for 2026 were, in descending order: functional fitness training, small group training, personal training, fitness programs for older adults, and high-intensity functional training (HIFT). In total, 14 of the 20 trends coincided with those from 2025, with seven remaining in the top 10, though in a different order.
Discussion: Training modalities continued to be predominant (6 out of 20), highlighting the growing popularity of functional fitness training. In addition, three trends related to exercise prescription for clinical populations entered the national top 20 for the first time. Compared with the international survey, 11 coinciding trends were observed, although in different positions, indicating a lower national valuation of digital technology.
Conclusions: These findings reflect a dynamic, innovative, and constantly evolving sector that opens new opportunities for professional development.
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