DAVID LLOYD CLUBS REVELEASE THE TOP FITNESS & WELLNESS TRENDS SET TO SHAPE 2026

Drawing on insights from expert trainers, wellness data, and the behaviour of over 800,000 members across Europe, this report highlights key shifts shaping how people will live and move in the year ahead. From bio-synced training plans to hormone health and hyper-personalised recovery, wellbeing is becoming more integrated, intelligent, and immersive than ever before.

Smart bodies, smarter tech

1. ‘Bio-Sync Training’: aligning workouts with your body clock

The next stage of personalised training will harness circadian biology – the science of how our internal body clock regulates daily cycles in energy, hormones and metabolism. In simple terms, it’s what makes you feel alert in the morning, sluggish mid-afternoon, or ready for rest at night. Smart tech and AI will recommend the best time of day to train, recover and even fuel based on hormone cycles and energy rhythms.

Smart technology will help people track and understand their bio age. In future, it will evolve to recommend training windows and recovery strategies that align with the users unique rhythms. The result? They can expect improved sleep quality, reduced fatigue and more efficient workouts as their training adapts to their biology.

2. Smart sportswear & invisible tech

Fitness wearables are moving from the wrist to the wardrobe. Sensor-infused sportswear will provide seamless insights on posture, breathing, and fatigue, helping prevent injury and optimise performance.

As technology becomes smaller and more flexible, these ‘invisible’ innovations are being woven directly into fabrics, creating garments that look and feel like regular activewear but act like high-performance training partners.

Expect a rise in data-driven design, where real-time biometric feedback shapes both personal training plans and future product development. From yoga leggings that correct alignment to shirts that monitor recovery, the next generation of sportswear will blur the line between fashion, function, and physiology.

Recovery is the new routine

3. Hybrid health clubs and recovery clinics

Member demand for recovery and wellbeing experiences is on the rise, with participation in restorative facilities and offerings on the rise. David Lloyd Clubs reports a 48% increase in the numbers of members using its Spa Retreats in the last year, and this year bookings for holistic group exercise were greater than high-energy classes the first time. David Lloyd Clubs has also seen a broader shift in how members are using its facilities, increasingly seeking out recovery tools, massage therapies and holistic support as part of their everyday fitness routine.

The days of visiting a health club purely for a workout are coming to an end. Gyms will increasingly resemble holistic wellness hubs, offering sports medicine, physio, diagnostics, recovery and hormone checks alongside traditional fitness. Members will treat their health club as a one-stop preventive healthcare partner.

Building on its Spa Retreats, recovery technology and partnerships (such as Hertility), David Lloyd Clubs is exploring new ways to bring diagnostics and structured recovery programmes into its Clubs.

4. Hormonal harmony

Once a topic discussed in hush tones, hormone health is now at the forefront of the wellbeing movement. As women navigate perimenopause, menstruation, fertility issues, and stress-balancing hormones has become central to daily routines, shaping everything from morning rituals to lifestyle choices. This is driving brands to rethink how they tailor their messaging and product design to support hormonal balance as an essential part of overall wellbeing.

Adaptogen-infused teas, hormone-balancing candles and essential oil blends, natural supplements like magnesium or ashwagandha, and wearable devices that track cycle phases are becoming increasingly mainstream. Strength training is also becoming increasingly recognised as being important for women’s bone health and reducing the chances of osteoporosis. Reflecting this trend, David Lloyd Clubs has introduced female health seminars in their Clubs, designed to educate and empower women to synch their wellness routines to their hormonal cycle.

While hormonal health has often centred on women’s wellbeing, we also expect growing focus on men’s hormonal balance, from stress management to testosterone health. David Lloyd Clubs has introduced Female Health Seminars in its Clubs, to educate and empower women to support their wellbeing.

Nature, stillness & the art of slowing down

5. ‘Nature Immersion’ fitness

As screens continue to dominate our daily routines, the pendulum is swinging back towards unplugged experiences. Expect more outdoor fitness sessions and run clubs, forest-based workouts, contrast therapy and tech-free mindfulness.

David Lloyd Clubs’ outdoor courts, pools and landscaped grounds are increasingly being used for nature-based classes – from outdoor yoga to walking meditation – allowing members to reap the restorative benefits of being outdoors. Many Clubs are enhancing these offerings even further, with new investments in plunge pools and cold-exposure therapy.

6. ‘Analog Wellness’ & ‘Slower Living’

In line with the trend of people seeking periods of quieter, gentler paced and tech-free moments during their working week, 2026 will see a rising demand for slower, analogue wellness practices – mindful movement, breathwork, restorative yoga, and screen-free spaces to recharge.

In response to this shift, David Lloyd Clubs is also introducing SPIRIT Breathwork classes next year in addition to its new SPIRIT Dance Meditation and Sound Bath and mind-body classes, offering members time to slow down, reset and reconnect. This trend reflects a broader societal shift towards digital detoxing and mindful presence.

The power of community & connection

7. Longevity communities

Ageing well is set to become the ultimate wellness goal. So much so, a new wave of longevity-focused communities is emerging – spaces where connection, purpose, and proactive health management intersect. This trend refers to the increasing focus on extending human lifespan and enhancing health span – not just living longer, but healthier as well.

David Lloyd Clubs reports that its members are increasingly seeking connection and purpose through group health goals, opting for programmes that support physical strength, brain health, and social connection across life stages – with ‘longevity clubs’ forming around shared goals of ageing well together.

8. Family-centred wellness

Wearables go from individual tracking to family syncing. What started as individual biohacking is now becoming a collective effort, with families syncing their wearables (Apple Watches, Oura Rings, WHOOP bands, etc.) to optimise everyone's health.

Parents tracking their children’s sleep and activity, whole households competing on daily movement goals, family dashboards tracking stress, hydration, and sleep quality. It signals a shift from solo wellness to communal, preventative care. It also reflects a growing emphasis on children’s mental and physical wellbeing post-pandemic. With family memberships and wellness built into its kids club and REBELS classes, David Lloyd Clubs is uniquely positioned to bring families together through health and wellness practices.

Sensory & emotional wellness

9. Scent as a supplement

Consumers are turning to natural scents not just for ambiance, but for functional, science-backed benefits — from stress relief to hormonal balance. Candles with specific essential oil blends designed to ease cortisol levels, diffuser oils timed to menstrual phases, even fragrance patches that aid sleep or focus. As stress and burnout rise, scent-based rituals offer a non-invasive, emotionally enriching experience that feels both luxurious and therapeutic.

At David Lloyd Clubs’ Spa Retreats the ambient aromatherapy blends in each of its steam and sauna rooms are carefully created. The ‘Relax’ scent (lavender, mandarin, patchouli, ylang-ylang, eucalyptus) helps reduce stress and promote sleep. The ‘Repair’ blend (rosemary, peppermint, lavender, spearmint, olibanum) supports muscle recovery and skin detox. And the ‘Energise’ mix (mandarin, peppermint, lemongrass, eucalyptus, lemon, lime) boosts circulation and mental clarity.

Looking ahead

As the global wellness market continues to surge, David Lloyd Clubs predicts that 2026 will be a year where members seek not only results, but also balance, restoration and connection. From cutting-edge technology to unplugged retreats, the Clubs will continue to evolve with new facilities, programmes and partnerships that meet members where they are, and help them live life better. Wellness is no longer confined to the gym. It’s about how people live, rest and connect. That’s where David Lloyd Clubs will continue to lead.

Michelle Dand, Head of Product & Programming at David Lloyd Clubs, commented:

“We believe 2026 will be the year wellness truly becomes whole life. From syncing workouts with your body clock to unplugging in nature, people will look for smarter, more restorative and more connected ways to live well. At David Lloyd Clubs, we’re evolving our services and facilities to make sure our members are not just keeping fit - they’re thriving for the long term. Our goal is to help members feel better in every sense (physically, mentally, and socially) both inside and outside our clubs.”

- Ends -

Notes to editors:

For further information contact the David Lloyd Clubs Press Team at [email protected]

About David Lloyd Leisure Group

David Lloyd Leisure helps members to live life better with a focus on physical and mental wellbeing and a sense of belonging. We are Europe’s leading premium health and wellness group operating 136 clubs – 107 clubs in the UK and a further 29 clubs across mainland Europe, comprising three brands David Lloyd Clubs, Harbour Clubs and David Lloyd Meridian Spa and Fitness in Germany.

David Lloyd Clubs’ premium facilities are unparalleled. We continually innovate to offer the best products and services for families and individuals in welcoming surroundings including state-of-the-art gyms, heated indoor and outdoor pools, well-equipped group exercise studios, luxurious spas, kids club facilities and crèches. We also have the broadest range of racquet sports including tennis, padel, pickleball and badminton. Our Clubrooms offer a place to spend time with friends and family or enjoy a bite to eat. Our clubs also feature large and inviting spaces to work, relax and socialise.

Our 800,000+ members and over 11,500 team members make a positive impact on the communities and environment in which we operate. We pride ourselves in employing the best experts in the industry, including health and wellness specialists, group exercise instructors and PTs, as well as racquets coaches and swim coaches.