The 2026 Fitness Market Boom: Gym Chains and Studios Expand

Key Takeaways

• Gym expansion is booming in 2026: Planet Fitness plans to open between 180 and 190 new clubs this year, while Crunch Fitness is eyeing more than 100 new openings, bringing gym options and competitive pricing to more suburban communities across the U.S.
• Boutique studios are growing but squeezed on margins: The boutique fitness market is predicted to grow at 9.6% annually through 2035, but rising rent, instructor fees, and operating costs are pressuring profitability even as class prices have risen 6% year over year.
• Mega-mergers are reshaping the wellness ecosystem: Mindbody, ClassPass, and EGYM finalized a $7.5 billion three-way merger with $785 million in fresh capital, creating a vertically integrated platform that connects studios, class discovery, and connected equipment.
• Wearable technology ranks as the #1 fitness trend in 2026: According to the American College of Sports Medicine, wearables topped this year's trends, with AI-equipped devices seeing 44% sales growth year over year as health monitoring overtakes fitness tracking as the primary use case.
• Service-oriented fitness tenants now occupy over 50% of U.S. retail square footage: Gyms, fitness studios, and spas have become anchor tenants in shopping centers, signaling a historic shift in how mainstream retailers view wellness and active living.

Why Gym Chains and Boutique Studios Are Racing to Expand in 2026

The U.S. fitness industry is experiencing a historic expansion in 2026, with gym chains, boutique studios, and wellness brands opening hundreds of new locations across the country. Fitness industry expansion shows no signs of slowing, with brands announcing new openings, renovations, and upgraded facilities to meet growing consumer demand.

Planet Fitness revealed plans to open between 180 and 190 new clubs in 2026, building on the 181 new clubs opened in 2025. The budget gym chain now operates approximately 2,900 clubs and reported approximately 20.8 million members at the end of 2025, with total revenue increasing 12% year over year. Meanwhile, Crunch Fitness operates approximately 550 clubs and is eyeing more than 100 new openings in 2026.

Boutique studios are expanding aggressively as well. Strong Pilates will open new studios across Boston, Charlotte, N.C., Los Angeles, Maryland, New York City, and Philadelphia throughout 2026, bringing the brand's U.S. footprint to 25 locations by year's end. Strong Pilates operates over 120 studios across 15 countries, with 200 more locations currently in development.

How Fitness Has Become a Retail Anchor Tenant

Gyms, fitness studios, and spas now account for over 50% of total retail square footage in the U.S., marking a fundamental shift in how shopping centers and commercial landlords view wellness. Service-oriented fitness tenants have become anchor tenants in suburban shopping centers, filling vacancies left by traditional retail and drawing foot traffic that benefits neighboring businesses.

High-value, low-price (HVLP) operators are leading this shift. One HVLP operator signed an estimated 4.27 million square feet of space last year, with 3.19 million square feet in domestic leases alone, and in 2026 the brand is hoping to open roughly 100 gyms worldwide this year. For everyday consumers, this expansion means more gym choices within a short drive, intensifying price competition and often leading to introductory membership deals and amenity upgrades.

At the luxury end, Life Time opened Life Time Paradise Valley, a 91,000-square-foot luxury athletic country club in Phoenix, featuring a rooftop resort-style pool deck with lap pool, outdoor bistro and lounge seating for 300, seven pickleball courts, hydrotherapy suites, a full-service LifeSpa, and Kids Academy.

Boutique Studios Face Growth Opportunities and Margin Pressure

Boutique fitness studios are one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. fitness industry in 2026, focusing on experience, personalization, and community. Many members choose boutique studios over traditional gyms for more engaging and results-driven fitness experiences, and the boutique fitness market is predicted to grow at a 9.6% CAGR through 2035.

However, strong client engagement does not always translate to healthy margins. Rising rent, instructor fees, energy costs, and marketing expenses are putting pressure on profitability, with many studios operating with high attendance yet struggling to optimize profitability at the class level. Average class prices in boutique fitness have risen by 6% year over year, reflecting studios' efforts to protect margins.

Boutique studios attract a range of age groups, with 18 to 34-year-olds holding the largest share in the segment. Gen Z gym-goers are heavily influenced by platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, with more than 70% discovering new fitness trends there. In an increasingly competitive market, data has become essential for studios to decide where to focus, with occupancy rates, peak hours, pricing performance, and retention metrics allowing owners to identify which classes, time slots, and formats truly drive value and protect margins over time.

The $7.5 Billion Merger Reshaping the Fitness Tech Ecosystem

Mindbody, ClassPass, and EGYM finalized a $7.5 billion three-way merger in 2026, with $785 million in fresh capital, to create a vertically integrated wellness stack. The merger brings together Mindbody's studio management software, ClassPass's class discovery and booking platform, and EGYM's connected gym equipment and AI-powered training technology.

For everyday gym-goers and studio members, the combined platform promises a seamless experience from finding a class to tracking progress on connected equipment. For studio owners, the merger offers integrated tools for scheduling, payments, member retention, and data-driven decision-making. The two businesses generated more than $800 million in combined net revenue during 2025.

Separately, Function Health raised $298 million in Series B funding at a $2.5 billion valuation and developed partnerships with Sweetgreen and Equinox, while also acquiring at-home diagnostics service GetLabs and supplement startup SuppCo. Herbal wellness brand Apothékary raised $16 million ($10 million in equity and $6 million in debt financing) and will use the funding to support growth as it expands across retail partners including Ulta Beauty, Whole Foods, and The Vitamin Shoppe, targeting $40 million in sales in 2026.

Why Wearable Technology Is the #1 Fitness Trend in 2026

The American College of Sports Medicine's 2026 fitness trends ranked wearable technology first and mobile exercise applications fourth, reflecting the dominance of connected devices in how Americans approach movement and health. Wearables equipped with AI-based coaching and real-time analytics saw a rise of 44% in sales year over year.

Health monitoring has overtaken fitness tracking as the primary use case for wearables, signaling an industry transformation from fitness accessory to health necessity. Revenue in the fitness-tracker market is projected to reach $51.33 billion in 2026, with an annual growth rate (CAGR 2026-2031) of 8.45%, resulting in a projected market volume of $76.99 billion by 2031. The broader smart fitness market will grow from $33.47 billion in 2025 to $42.15 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.9%.

For everyday consumers, wearables now offer continuous heart rate monitoring, sleep analysis, blood oxygen tracking, stress measurement, and AI-driven coaching that adapts to individual progress and recovery needs. This shift positions wearables as the invisible infrastructure behind every workout, studio class, and gym session.

What This Means for Readers

Editorial analysis — not reported fact:

The 2026 fitness market boom creates tangible opportunities for everyday consumers across price points and preferences. If you live in a suburban area, the aggressive expansion by Planet Fitness, Crunch, and other chains likely means a new gym opening within a short drive, often accompanied by competitive introductory pricing and promotional memberships. If you prefer boutique experiences, the growth of studios like Strong Pilates brings specialized formats closer to home, though rising class prices may require budgeting or selective use of multi-studio memberships like ClassPass.

The Mindbody-ClassPass-EGYM merger could simplify the experience of discovering, booking, and tracking progress across multiple studios and gyms, though it also raises questions about platform consolidation and whether smaller independent studios will have leverage in negotiating commission rates. For wearable users, the shift toward health monitoring means devices are increasingly useful for managing stress, sleep, and recovery alongside traditional fitness metrics, making them valuable tools for holistic wellness rather than just workout trackers.

If you're considering joining a gym or studio in 2026, the expansion environment favors consumers: competition drives pricing deals, amenity upgrades, and improved service. Take advantage of trial periods to compare facilities, ask about class occupancy and peak hours at boutique studios, and evaluate whether a wearable device aligns with your health goals beyond step counting. As always, consult a healthcare professional before starting a new fitness program, especially if you have chronic health conditions or are managing recovery from injury.

Sources & Further Reading

• American College of Sports Medicine 2026 Worldwide Fitness Trends — annual survey ranking wearable technology and mobile exercise apps among top trends
• Planet Fitness — budget gym chain opening 180-190 new clubs in 2026
• Crunch Fitness — franchise operator eyeing more than 100 new openings in 2026
• Strong Pilates — boutique Pilates studio expanding to 25 U.S. locations by end of 2026
• Life Time — luxury athletic country club operator that opened 91,000-square-foot Paradise Valley location
• Mindbody, ClassPass, and EGYM — partners in $7.5 billion three-way merger
• Function Health — digital health company that raised $298M Series B at $2.5B valuation
• Apothékary — herbal wellness brand that raised $16M and is expanding retail partnerships
• Verified Market Reports: Boutique Fitness Market — market research projecting 9.6% CAGR through 2035
• Statista Fitness-Tracker Market Outlook — revenue projections and growth forecasts through 2031
• The Business Research Company: Smart Fitness Global Market Report — smart fitness market size and growth analysis

Editorial coverage of publicly reported health, fitness, wellness, nutrition, and active living developments. Move Weekly has no commercial relationship with any companies, gyms, studios, brands, events, experts, products, or organizations named.