From pickleball to aquathlons: New wave of workout trends on the horizon

Whether it’s trail running, hot yoga or pickleball, 2026 offers a real opportunity to try a new fitness regimen

Trail running places less emphasis on certain speeds at certain distances and more focus on being in nature. Picture: iStock

AS the year draws to a close, speculation is mounting over which fashion, home and beauty trends will define 2026 — but we are keen to know what will dominate the fantastic world of fitness.

Reformer Pilates, HYROX and padel ruled the fitness space and our Instagram feeds this year, however a fresh wave of workout trends are on the horizon.

We spoke to fitness experts who shared their predictions on which activities are set to surge in popularity next year.

Trail running: If you are looking for an activity to boost your cardiovascular health while immersing yourself in our glorious natural landscapes, trail running might be for you.

“We’ve seen a huge rise in road running and an explosion in run clubs this year, but I think trail running is going to be much bigger in 2026,” says personal trainer and running, strength and conditioning coach Eryn Barber. “In trail running, there’s less of an emphasis on certain speeds at different distances, because it completely differs depending on the terrain and the elevation, and it’s more about being in nature.

“I know that there’s also a push to try and get trail running into the Olympics, so I think that in itself will bring trail running to light a bit more and will increase its popularity.”

Hot yoga and Pilates: Lots of people enjoy the aftermath of sweating in a sauna, but did you know that you can experience similar benefits in a hot yoga or Pilates class?

“Pilates and yoga are generally considered low-impact exercises, so adding that element of heat increases the heart rate, sweat and feeling of working out more,” says Barber.

Hot yoga teacher Nick Higgins agrees, adding that hot yoga classes attract a range of demographics.

“Our classes attract people in their late teens all the way up to people in their late 60s for all sorts of reasons,” says Higgins. “From a physical standpoint, I think a lot of younger individuals use it as a recovery tool to counter hard-impact activities, like running, for example, and are doing so as it helps release the built-up tension in the body. It also helps people stay limber and is very therapeutic from a mental health perspective.”

Pickleball: “We’ve seen a rise in popularity of padel this year and last year, and I think there’s going to be a bigger trend of adults getting involved in pickleball, which is really popular in the US right now,” says Barber. “The rackets are thinner and are more like a table tennis racket, and you tend to play over a tennis net.

“It’s not as power-based, it’s a much softer sport, so is more accessible. It’s much easier for people who maybe are older and want to get moving to get into pickleball, or maybe just people who want an easy introduction into racket sports.”

Triathlons and aquathlons: “Triathlons, which have previously been seen as a higher level recreational sport, have become hugely popular with the general population,” says Barber. “I have noticed that a lot of people are also doing aquathlons (swim then run), which takes out the cycling element, which can be expensive, so it is seen as more accessible in terms of cost.

“Also, triathlons and aquathlons involve open-water swimming and so many people have been really getting into cold water plunges and cold water swimming for health and wellness reasons.”

Virtual fitness classes: While Martin Franklin, Europe CEO of global fitness company Les Mills, anticipates that in-person exercise classes will remain popular in 2026, he also recognises the increasing appeal of virtual classes.

“With the flexibility of working lives now, where people are not having a fixed lunch break and the start and end of the working day has become more fluid, having a virtual class that you can do whenever, wherever is great.”

He views virtual classes as more of a supplement to in-person training.

“We’re still seeing people do two or three live classes workouts a week to get that benefit of connection and in-person coaching, but we are also seeing people do one or two virtual or at-home classes alongside that,” says Franklin.

Virtual classes are also attractive to beginners.

“Offering virtual classes is widening in our market because it’s bringing newcomers to the industry and to fitness,” says Franklin. “People who have a fear of walking into a live experience where they don’t know the choreography or might not know the exercise can try the class at home virtually in the safety of their own environment.”