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Wearable technology ranks as the top fitness trend for 2027 in the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual survey, marking its 10th time at No. 1 since the category entered the rankings in 2016. Mobile exercise apps rose to second, balance, flow and core training reached third, and group fitness climbed from 13th to seventh.
Wearable technology ranks as the leading fitness trend heading into 2027, according to the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual Worldwide Fitness Trends report. The rankings, published Tuesday in ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, also put mobile exercise apps at No. 2 and balance, flow and core strength at No. 3, reflecting the range of technology-based and movement-focused programs fitness professionals expect to influence the industry.
The report marks the 10th time wearables have ranked first since the category was added to ACSM’s survey in 2016. Smartwatches, fitness trackers and related devices let users monitor activity, heart rate, sleep, recovery and other measures. ACSM said wearables were the only trend to place among the top three across every professional role, work setting and experience category examined in the report.
Mobile exercise apps climbed from fourth to second, while balance, flow and core strength moved from fifth to third. That third category includes Pilates, yoga, barre and mobility-focused exercise. Group fitness classes rose six places, from 13th to seventh, one of the largest jumps in the ranking. Data-driven training technology held at No. 8.
Other high-ranking areas include fitness programs for older adults at No. 4, traditional strength training at No. 5, and exercise for weight management at No. 6. ACSM said older-adult programming has remained in the top five for five consecutive years. The report is now in its 21st year and identifies trends that surveyed fitness professionals expect to shape the industry in the coming year.
Apps and Classes Gain Ground
The rankings show that fitness professionals expect demand to span personal technology, specialized exercise and shared workouts, rather than center on one format alone. Apps can support training beyond gyms, while Pilates and mobility-focused programs emphasize balance, flexibility and controlled movement. The report describes these as trends in professional expectations, not a direct measurement of participation or consumer spending.
The group fitness rise is especially notable within the survey: the category moved from No. 13 to No. 7. ACSM Trends Workgroup member Rachelle Reed said instructor-led classes can offer social support, accountability and enjoyment, factors that may help people maintain exercise routines. The ranking does not establish that those benefits caused the change, but it highlights social connection as part of how fitness providers are thinking about engagement.
For gyms, studios and trainers, the list can help guide programming decisions. It points to opportunities to pair digital tools with in-person instruction and to adapt services for different ages and goals. It does not guarantee that every listed trend will grow equally or succeed in every market.
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How ACSM Builds Its Rankings
ACSM’s annual report is designed to identify fitness trends professionals expect in the year ahead. The 2027 list places wearable technology at the top, continuing a pattern that began after the category joined the survey in 2016. The source report says wearables have reached No. 1 ten times since then; it does not say they held the position in every intervening year.
The rankings also cover distinct kinds of activity and services. “Balance, flow and core strength” groups together Pilates, yoga, barre and mobility-oriented workouts, while “data-driven training technology” refers to using measures such as heart-rate variability, sleep quality and training load to tailor exercise and recovery. Those categories should not be confused with the devices themselves: a wearable may collect data, while a training program or professional may use it to adjust a workout.
ACSM lead author and Trends Workgroup chair Cayla McAvoy said the list reflects both technology’s role and the value of shared experiences and programs suited to different life stages. That framing is consistent with the mix of digital, group-based, strength and older-adult programming represented in the top ten.
“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
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Rankings Are Not Participation Data
The report ranks trends fitness professionals expect to affect the industry; it does not, in the supplied material, quantify how many consumers use each service, how much spending each category attracts, or how the rankings translate into business results. The source summary also does not provide survey response counts, the detailed methodology or the margins between ranked categories.
It is therefore unclear from the available information whether group fitness’s jump reflects a broad change across locations or a shift in professional expectations. The rankings cannot establish that social connection caused the move, or that the rise in apps and Pilates-related exercise will continue through 2027. They are a forward-looking industry survey, not a forecast with stated probabilities.
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How Providers Apply the List
The rankings set out what ACSM’s surveyed fitness professionals expect to matter in 2027; gyms, studios and trainers will determine whether those expectations shape their schedules, services and technology investments. The report points to wearable-enabled tracking, app-based training, strength programs and group classes as areas to watch, alongside options for older adults and mobility-focused exercise.
Any assessment of whether these trends gain traction will require evidence beyond the rankings, such as later participation, business or follow-up survey data. The supplied report summary does not specify a next publication date or a separate milestone for tracking the 2027 predictions.
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Key Questions
What is the top fitness trend for 2027?
Wearable technology ranks No. 1 in ACSM’s annual Worldwide Fitness Trends report for 2027.
How many times have wearables ranked first?
ACSM’s report says wearables have ranked first 10 times since the category entered the survey in 2016. That wording does not mean the category placed first in every year since 2016.
Which trends made the biggest gains?
Mobile exercise apps rose from fourth to second, and group fitness classes climbed from 13th to seventh. Balance, flow and core strength moved from fifth to third.
Does the ranking show that more people are taking group classes?
Not by itself. The report ranks trends fitness professionals expect to shape the industry; the supplied material does not give consumer participation figures. It also does not establish why group fitness rose in the ranking.
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