From training for events to strength training, Gen Z has fitness covered and is moving away from the phone and focusing on fitness.
Gen Z is turning fitness into something social, intelligent, and sustainable. In 2026 and beyond, the companies that succeed will be those that help this generation feel stronger, more connected, and clearer-headed—both online and offline.
With strength training, social workouts, races, wearables and AI coaching at the core of their routines, Gen Z is turning movement into a lifestyle, community, and identity—not just a New Year’s resolution.
Gen Z is no longer fairly described as “lazy” or “chronically online”—2026 is shaping up as the year it becomes clear they have turned fitness into a lifestyle flex.
Strava’s 2025 Year in Sport shows this generation logging billions of workouts and reshaping what being “fit” looks like. For Gen Z, movement is not about punishment workouts or January guilt; it is about lifting heavy, training with friends, tracking everything, and building a life that actually feels good.
Lifting over endless cardio
Strava’s data reveals that Gen Z is significantly more likely than older generations to choose strength training as their primary sport.
Rather than chasing thinness, they are chasing strength and capability. Women in particular are owning the weight room, with female athletes on Strava 21 percent more likely than men to upload strength sessions.
Strength work has become the foundation for everything else: running faster, hiking longer, skiing harder, and feeling more resilient overall. Hybrid training—combining weights, running, walking, classes, and outdoor sports—is becoming the norm, as Gen Z shows little interest in one-dimensional, repetitive routines.
Sweat as the new social life
For many in this cohort, the gym, run club, or hiking group has replaced the bar as a primary social venue. Strava Clubs have nearly quadrupled, reaching roughly one million groups, as running, hiking, and cycling communities evolve into real-life friend-finding and networking spaces.
Fitness operators report that Gen Z members often see the gym less as a place to “just work out” and more as a community hub.
Weekly group runs, studio classes, and Saturday circuits are quietly replacing traditional nights out and even, for some, dating apps. A workout without some sense of community now feels incomplete for many Gen Z participants.
Races as identity anchors
Race day is no longer reserved for elite athletes. Strava’s report indicates that Gen Z is far more likely than older generations to train for events—5Ks, half marathons, trail races, and triathlons—as a way to stay accountable, travel, and feel part of something bigger.
These events serve as anchors in the calendar: reasons to train, to book trips, and to share progress and achievements online.
Personal bests and race bibs are not just statistics; they become part of each individual’s story, social feed, and sense of identity. The finish-line photo is content, but the real value lies in the months of effort leading up to it.
Walking as a quiet power move
One of the most underestimated Gen Z trends is the embrace of walking. Strava identifies walking as its second-fastest-growing activity, signalling a shift toward sustainable, low-impact movement.
Young adults are using walks to decompress from work or study, catch up with friends, listen to podcasts, or explore new neighbourhoods and cities while travelling.
Low-intensity movement—walks, easy rides, gentle hikes—has become the connective tissue between heavy training days, supporting both mental clarity and physical recovery.
Wearables and AI as the coaching stack
For Gen Z, working out without some form of tracking increasingly feels incomplete. Between roughly 56 and 63 percent of this generation now invest in wearables such as Apple Watch, Garmin, or Whoop, turning data into a daily motivator.
AI is rapidly joining this tech stack. Studies indicate that nearly half of users are open to AI support for planning or adjusting workouts, with Gen Z adopting AI-driven fitness and performance apps faster than any other age group.
From adaptive training plans that respond to sleep and stress data to form cues and recovery guidance, AI is making personalised coaching widely accessible without the traditional personal trainer price tag.
From “new year” goals to daily baseline
The most important shift is not a single workout style, but the move from aspirational to habitual fitness. Strava characterises Gen Z as “movement-first,” with training increasingly shaping choices around travel, social plans, and spending.
Multi-sport users who mix lifting, running, walking, classes, and outdoor sports are remaining consistent across the year rather than spiking in January and dropping off. Many are building identities around being “the runner,” “the lifter,” or “the hybrid athlete,” while also using routine movement to support mental health, energy, and relationships.
What this means going into 2026
For brands, gyms, and creators looking to connect with this generation, the direction is clear:
- Design strength- and hybrid-focused training spaces instead of cardio-only floors.
- Build community-first experiences, such as clubs, meetups, and group challenges.
- Integrate wearables and AI into the core offering, not as afterthoughts.
- Anchor campaigns and products around real-world connection, events, and experiences.
