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TRENDY FOODS AND fashion come and go, and so do trendy exercises. The cycle has churned for years, with everything from infomercials like Tae Bo to P90X to whole modalities that became more than just a flash in the pan, like Pilates and CrossFit. The process kicked into overdrive with life online, since it’s easier than ever to peek into what people are doing at the gym or learn about the latest fitness fad circulating on TikTok and Reels. That means every year we cycle through a handful of exercise crazes. Some are great (just think about how walking in all forms suddenly became en vogue), while others, we wish our algorithm would stop resurfacing (75 Hard, we’re looking at you).
The upside to an ever-evolving fitness landscape is that there’s no one single way to exercise. Healthy living is a priority for more people than ever, but how to tackle them looks different for everybody. As you set your 2026 fitness goals, ask yourself: What trend got you up and moving last year? What’s something you’ve tried and are leaving behind?
We’re here to help. The editors of Men’s Health eat, sleep, and breathe fitness—and we have some ideas about what’s coming next. First, let’s look back on our predictions from last year. People switched up their weight room workouts and dabbled in indoor fitness competitions like Hyrox; over 550,000 athletes competed in 2025 according to the company’s numbers, and it reportedly continues to grow exponentially, with 1.3 to 1.5 million expected to sign up for the 2025-2026 season. People also embraced running more than ever—and race registrations don’t seem to be losing momentum. And regardless of your favorite activity, chances are, each exercise was well-tracked for thanks to the widespread adoption of wearable technology like Oura Rings and Apple Watches.
But we’re here to look forward to the trends that will rule 2026. Some might help you lock in, others might be… a bit less consequential. Either way, you’ll be best suited to choose how you’ll spend your time and energy.
Fitness Races Evolve
Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., Fitness Director
We saw Hyrox take off in 2025, setting itself up as a new, more accessible CrossFit. Expect other brands to push into the space, too delivering a blend of challenge and accessibility in a race format that’s far more friendly (and safer!) than CrossFit ever was. Gym chain Life Time already piloted its own LT Games this year (and that just may grow), and Spartan Race may find new life this year. All these games are about friendly competition for all levels — but they’ll all draw their share of high-level athletes, too.
Death to “Optimal” Exercises
Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., Fitness Director
Yes, science has shown us that exercises that challenge the lengthened position are ideal for hypertrophy, and there’s increasing research into optimal exercises. But the science-based lifting Instagram corps went off the deep end in 2025, delivering tubed foam rollers on elbows to create longer levers, and completely rethinking the use of machine exercises. And it’s all obscured the fact that the true driver of hypertrophy and strength development is really effort and intensity on every single set. Expect to see far more posts driving at that, as the war on “optimal” exercises gradually slows down.
More Longevity-Based Fitness Programs
Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., Fitness Director
It’s not all about muscle and strength, and building serious muscle and strength is…harder than people realize. But all comers increasingly understand that fitness is key to their longevity—and more workouts will cater to this. That’ll lean group workouts and video workouts that build your cardio, mobility sessions to help your quality of life, and even balance and breathing sessions. From grip strength to heart health, society is interested in ideas that can help them live longer, and spending on longevity is expected to pass $8 trillion annually by 2030. More and more fitness programs will aim to capitalize on that.
Creatine-Maxxing
Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., Fitness Director
Creatine made its mark in 2025, becoming a supplement that everyone should take for reasons beyond muscle (mounting research shows it has serious brain benefits, too). Five grams a day has long been the research-backed standard daily dosage, but as science explores creatine further, expect experiments into how much more creatine can help you, and more nuanced dosages for different fitness goals and populations.
Increasing Participation in Non-Traditional Races
Brett Williams, NASM-C.P.T., Senior Editor
The past few years has seen running explode in popularity. That’s most easily tracked in how many people are competing in races (meaning, everything from your local 5K to Marathon Majors). Race participation is higher than pre-pandemic levels, and big time races like the Marathon Majors are breaking records with nearly 60k runners at the starting line. Ultrarunning events have more new racers than ever. This isn’t going to tail off in 2026—but some runners, looking for a new type of thrill (and less hassle and fewer newbies at starting lines) will embrace alternative races, like unsanctioned road races in cities and “backyard”-style racing in the ultrarunning community. These events are can both yield that extra aura of mystique and exclusivity that’s been lost since everyone in your run club has a marathon major under their belt while also expanding the landscape of the sport.
Quality Movement as a Driving Fitness Goal
Brett Williams, NASM-C.P.T., Senior Editor
The fitness and wellness world has transformed in recent years. Longevity has become a buzzword and exercisers have tailored their goals to be less about how they look in the mirror and more about how long they’ll live. In 2026, we’ll see quality of movement also emphasized as people think more about how they can keep living better now. This “trend” isn’t exactly new, with animal flow and mobility programs longstanding pursuits in some corners of the fitness world—but 2026 will see optimizers aiming to master movement. More dedicated exercisers will work with physical therapists proactively instead of as treatment in response to injury, and movements that promote joint health and movement through multiple planes will be more popular than ever. It’s not just about how strong you can be anymore—it’s how well you’re able to move.
Carbs Go Big
Marty Munson, Health Director, Triathlon Coach
Fueled by impressive performances from pro cyclists, Ironman triathletes, and ultrarunners, extreme carbs have become the new endurance world trend. Athletes are pushing 120 grams or more of carbs per hour, up from the traditional 60 to 90 grams—what was thought to be the limit that the stomach could handle. Breakthrough performances by the likes of ultrarunner David Roche and incessant chatter about who consumed what at the Ironman world championships and the Tour de France—along with sports nutrition companies offering high-carb formulations—suggests the carb revolution hasn’t peaked yet. Age-group athletes, beware: If you’re going to go ultra with carbs, you’ve got to train your gut to handle them long before race day.
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