Wearables Once Again Claim Top Spot In ACSM’s Top Fitness Trends

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Wearable technology ranks as the leading fitness trend for 2027 in the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual survey, marking its 10th time at No. 1 since 2016. Mobile exercise apps and balance, flow and core strength moved into second and third place, while group fitness rose six spots to seventh.

Wearable technology is the leading fitness trend heading into 2027, according to the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual Worldwide Fitness Trends report. The ranking marks the category’s 10th time at No. 1 since it entered the survey in 2016, while mobile exercise apps and balance, flow and core strength rose to second and third place.

The report, published in ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, is based on an annual survey of fitness professionals about trends they expect to influence the industry in the coming year. Now in its 21st year, the report measures professionals’ expectations; it does not establish how many consumers use a particular service or device.

Mobile exercise apps climbed from fourth to second, offering workouts, training plans and virtual coaching outside conventional gym settings. Balance, flow and core strength moved from fifth to third. ACSM’s category includes Pilates, yoga, barre and mobility-focused exercise, and the report links its rise partly to growing interest in Pilates offerings.

Group fitness classes jumped six places, from 13th to seventh. Fitness programs for older adults ranked fourth, traditional strength training fifth, and exercise for weight management sixth. Data-driven training technology held eighth place. The supplied report excerpt also identifies exercise for mental health and well-being as remaining in the top 10 for a fourth consecutive year, but does not provide its exact position or all remaining rankings.

Technology Meets Social Training

The rankings suggest that fitness professionals see technology and in-person experiences as coexisting priorities rather than competing directions. Wearables and apps can support tracking and access to workouts, while Pilates-related classes and group exercise point to demand for coached sessions, movement skills and social participation.

For gyms and instructors, the findings may inform programming choices: the report points to interest in digital tools, strength work, classes and age-specific offerings. But the survey records professional views of likely trends, not consumer behavior or proof that any one format improves health outcomes. Its rankings are best read as an industry signal, not a measurement of participation or effectiveness.

How ACSM Builds Its Rankings

ACSM’s Worldwide Fitness Trends report has been issued annually for 21 years to identify areas fitness professionals expect to shape the industry in the next year. Wearable technology first appeared in the survey in 2016 and, with its latest No. 1 ranking, has led the list 10 times.

This year’s shifts are relative positions in the ranking. Mobile apps moved up two places, traditional strength training rose two places, and group classes made the largest stated jump, up six places from 13th. The report describes older-adult programming as a top-five trend for the fifth consecutive year, reflecting continued attention to exercise options for aging populations.

““Technology continues to shape how people approach fitness, but this year’s rankings also highlight the value of shared experiences and programs that fit different stages of life.””

— Cayla McAvoy, lead author and chair of ACSM’s Trends Workgroup

What the Survey Cannot Establish

The report ranks professionals’ expectations, but the supplied material does not give the survey’s sample size, response rate, field dates or detailed methodology. It also does not show whether the ranking changes correspond to measured shifts in consumer participation, spending or device use.

The available excerpt ends before listing the full top 20, so the precise positions of some trends, including exercise for mental health and well-being, are not confirmed here. The rankings also do not establish that wearables, apps or group classes cause better fitness or health outcomes. Those questions require evidence beyond a trends survey.

How Fitness Providers May Respond

The rankings look ahead to fitness industry priorities in 2027, and operators may use them as one input when planning classes, staffing and technology. The report points toward continued attention to wearable-compatible training, app-based access, Pilates and mobility formats, strength programs, older-adult services and group classes.

Whether those expectations translate into broader consumer demand remains to be seen. Further details on survey methods and the complete rankings would help readers assess how the list was produced and compare this year’s results with prior reports.

Key Questions

What is ACSM’s top fitness trend for 2027?

Wearable technology ranks first in ACSM’s annual Worldwide Fitness Trends report for 2027.

How often have wearables ranked No. 1?

ACSM’s report says wearable technology has ranked No. 1 10 times since the category debuted in the survey in 2016.

Which trends moved up the most?

Group fitness classes made the largest stated move, rising six places from 13th to seventh. Mobile exercise apps climbed from fourth to second, and balance, flow and core strength rose from fifth to third.

Does the ranking show what consumers are actually doing?

No. The report identifies trends fitness professionals expect to influence the industry. The supplied information does not provide consumer participation figures or prove that the rankings reflect actual changes in use.

Source: rss