The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) report finds 10.7% median revenue growth among surveyed operators, record participation in leading markets, and an expanding role in prevention for fitness in prevention and long-term health.
Among fitness operators responding to HFA’s Global Survey, median revenue increased 10.7% in 2025, median net membership grew 6.1% and the median EBITDA margin reached 22.1%. Across leading fitness markets, participation and revenue also reached new highs, making 2025 a landmark year for the global fitness industry, according to the 2026 HFA Global Report.
The annual report from the HFA covers 33 countries and includes more than 200 operator profiles. It combines operator-submitted data with HFA proprietary research, independent audits, third-party studies, and insights from national fitness federations, trade groups and local market experts. HFA’s 2026 Global Survey included 244 operators representing nearly 27,000 fitness facilities worldwide.
“The global fitness industry is growing, but the larger story is how the role of physical activity in people’s lives is entering an important new chapter” said Greta Wagner, the interim president and CEO of HFA. “Growth is strong, but what is equally significant is the expanding recognition of physical activity as essential to long-term health and well-being. Consumers are increasingly prioritizing strength, mobility, healthy aging, and connection, while governments and health systems are beginning to recognize how structured physical activity can support prevention. This creates an extraordinary opportunity for fitness facilities, not only to serve more people but also to become an integral part of the global health and wellness ecosystem.”
Growth opportunities remain particularly substantial in markets where fitness participation remains relatively low. India already has an estimated 13.65 million members and 49,300 facilities at just 0.9% penetration, with membership and revenue projected to grow at annual rates of 11% and 15%, respectively, through 2030. Brazil’s latest available figures show 14.7 million members and more than 45,000 facilities at 7% penetration. China already has an estimated 50 million members and roughly 50,000 facilities, yet penetration is only 3.6%. Its market continues to shift toward smaller, lower-priced, 24-hour and more flexible formats.
HFA’s Global Survey also shows that operators remain confident about what comes next.
More than nine in 10 respondents (92.3%) expect revenue to increase in 2026, including 70.9% who anticipate growth above 5%. More than 85% expect membership to rise, while 83.4% expect EBITDA to increase and 57.7% anticipate EBITDA growth above 5%. Operators also appear prepared to invest behind that outlook: two-thirds expect technology spending to rise, 60.7% expect higher marketing spending, and 45.8% expect staffing to increase.
The report also documents a growing number of cases where physical activity is being integrated into health policy and healthcare systems. In the United States, Medicare now reimburses standardized physical activity assessments as part of the Annual Wellness Visit. In Australia, private health insurance rebates have been reintroduced for selected therapies such as Pilates. In Japan, selected expenses at government-certified exercise therapy facilities may qualify as tax-deductible medical expenses, while agreements in the Netherlands encourage collaboration among municipalities, healthcare providers, sports organizations, and fitness operators.
The developments are uneven, but together they show a more concrete policy role emerging for the industry. While approaches vary by market, collectively these developments point to a more substantive role for physical activity, and the fitness industry within broader health and prevention strategies.
The report is complimentary for HFA members and nonmembers by going here.
