Fitness trends in Portugal for 2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v79.118608Keywords:
Portugal, fitness trends, ACSM , fitness professionals, professional title, gender, yearAbstract
Introduction: The fitness market in Portugal currently registers the highest number ever of gyms, participants, revenue, and market penetration rate. In this context, the production of knowledge about the sector represents an added value for all stakeholders.
Objective: To identify the fitness trends in Portugal for 2026; to compare opinions among groups (gender, professional title, and whether they hold professional functions); and to contrast the 2026 findings with the 2025 national results, as well as with the 2026 Spanish and worldwide surveys.
Methods: Following the methodology of the Worldwide Fitness Trends survey developed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), an online questionnaire comprising 55 potential trends was applied in Portugal. A total of 630 respondents—including fitness professionals, exercise-related health professionals, and students—completed the survey.
Results: The top five fitness trends for 2026 were “Employing certified fitness professionals”, “Personal training”, “Specialized fitness studios”, “Programs for older adults”, and “Exercise for mental health”. The top 10 included three new entries related to disease management. Group comparisons revealed 13 differences between genders, 21 between professional title, and 20 between performing or not performing professional functions. Additionally, three of the top ten trends in Portugal coincide with those of Spain and the global ranking.
Conclusions: The Portuguese market continues to strongly value the hiring of certified professionals and personalized training, while simultaneously registering growth in practices focused on health and disease management. The ongoing evolution and heterogeneity of the sector justify the continuation of this study and its contribution to the development of Fitness in Portugal.
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