Now in its 7th year, Connected: Health & Fitness brings together the leaders shaping the next chapter of health, wellness and fitness
The landscape is shifting faster than ever. Consumers are investing in longevity, wearables are generating unprecedented volumes of data, GLP-1 medications are disrupting the weight-loss market, and AI is transforming both customer engagement and operational efficiency. The opportunities for operators are immense, but so are the risks of being left behind.
Connected: Health & Fitness 2026 is where ambition meets action. Over three days, two stages and four core themes — Growth & Strategy, Health & Longevity, Data & Tech, and Community & Member Experience — the industry’s most forward-looking leaders will share how to turn today’s disruption into tomorrow’s advantage.
Here’s where the conversation is headed, and how Connected: Health & Fitness 2026 will bring it to life.
Longevity as the New Growth Engine
The wellness economy reached $6.3 trillion in 2023 (≈6% of global GDP), outpacing traditional fitness markets. At the center of that growth is longevity, with more than 60% of consumers ranking healthy aging products and services as “very important,” and roughly 70% of consumers in the U.S. increasing their spending on longevity solutions in the past year.
What’s new is how this demand is reshaping business models. Fitness is no longer defined solely as exercise; it’s part of a broader framework that spans mental health, social connection, recovery and even medical alignment. Operators are expanding into:
Recovery programs i.e., Mobility classes and cryotherapy
Mental wellness services i.e., Meditation or breathwork
Nutrition counseling and coaching
Medical partnerships, offering health screenings or integrated wellness coaching
For consumers, this shift resonates: 60% say maintaining independence and preventing chronic disease are central to healthy aging. For businesses, it means differentiation and diversification. A gym offering fall-prevention programs for older adults or a hotel curating longevity retreats isn’t just adding services — it’s building durable new revenue streams.
At Connected: Health & Fitness 2026, the longevity agenda goes beyond buzzwords. Sessions will dig into the latest science, helping operators separate fact from hype, while case studies will showcase how early movers are already monetizing wellness extensions. Leaders will also explore how to build multi-pillar offerings that speak to consumers’ broader sense of well-being. The focus isn’t whether longevity matters; it’s how to operationalize it profitably.
From Wearables to ROI: Unlocking the Data Value Chain
The industry has been talking about wearables and tracking for years. What’s new is that the data streams are now massive, continuous and consumer-driven. In the U.S., 40% of adults use health apps and 35% use wearables, with 61% wearing devices daily. Crucially, consumers are engaged – more than 80% are willing to share their data with doctors.
The barrier isn’t access, it’s integration. Operators are facing fractured systems where Apple Watches, check-in software, nutrition apps and medical records don’t connect. The result: lost insights, wasted opportunities and consumer frustration. Accuracy and privacy remain sticking points, too: 87% of patients report wearable accuracy issues, and 30–40% worry about data security.
When the data chain is unified, the payoffs are real. In healthcare, interoperability could boost system efficiency by 15% by 2030. A Canadian study projected savings of $3 billion annually through data integration (mckinsey.com). For gyms and clubs, integrated data means hyper-personalization — spotting churn risks, tailoring programs in real time and marketing based on actual behaviors. Clubs that have embraced AI-driven personalization saw renewals rise by ~18%.
At Connected: Health & Fitness 2026, the data value chain will be front and center. Tactical sessions will show how to link management systems with wearables, validate accuracy and apply analytics to decisions. Case studies will spotlight operators already turning raw data into measurable ROI. The takeaway is simple: data only creates value when it’s interoperable, trustworthy and actionable.
How GLP-1 is Reshaping Fitness & Wellness
GLP-1 medications are no longer niche; they’re transforming markets across fitness, wellness and nutrition. More than 55 million prescriptions were filled in 2023, triple the number in 2020. Surveys show 8–10% of Americans are already taking a GLP-1, while 30–35% express interest (PwC). Analysts expect global sales to soar from ~$24 billion in 2023 to $150 billion by the early 2030s.
For fitness operators, the implications are profound. GLP-1s provide a consistent, biologically driven pathway to weight loss —- but also introduce new demands: preserving lean muscle, maintaining proper nutrition despite reduced appetite, and supporting sustainable lifestyle change.
Forward-looking operators are already adapting with:
GLP-1-focused workout tracks and small-group training
Body composition scanning to track fat vs. muscle changes
Nutrition counseling and meal services tailored to GLP-1 users
The ripple effects are visible in consumer behaviour too: declining demand for sugary drinks, alcohol and processed snacks, with functional beverages and healthier prepared meals gaining momentum. The weight-loss supplement market alone is forecast to triple from $28.6 billion in 2023 to $101 billion by 2033.
At Connected: Health & Fitness 2026, sessions will move beyond statistics to focus on strategy: forging partnerships with healthcare providers, designing GLP-1 aligned programs and positioning fitness as the essential complement to medication. The opportunity isn’t just to better serve existing members, but to attract entirely new demographics entering wellness for the first time.
AI in Action: Personalization, Efficiency & Strategy
Artificial intelligence is no longer hype – it’s delivering results. Clubs applying AI personalization saw renewals climb by ~18%. In healthcare, AI adoption could save $200–360 billion annually. The promise is no longer speculative; it’s being realized in operations, engagement and strategy.
AI is moving the needle in several ways:
Personalized coaching at scale: for instance, wearables that suggest a recovery workout after poor sleep or elevated stress.
Operational efficiency: forecasting usage patterns, optimizing class schedules and staffing and preventing equipment breakdowns with predictive maintenance.
Strategic insight: analyzing member demographics and behavior to identify untapped opportunities in services or local markets.
For longevity and drug innovation, AI is already accelerating discovery — from identifying biomarkers of aging to analyzing real-world patient data. In fitness, it’s becoming the connective tissue that translates raw data into decisions.
At Connected: Health & Fitness 2026, AI will take the spotlight with the first-ever AI Symposium. Expect candid case studies from early adopters, and frank discussions about where AI delivers ROI — and where it falls short. Sessions will address implementation, giving leaders a roadmap for deciding when and how to invest.
Connected: Health & Fitness 2026 – Your Playbook for Growth & Impact
Returning for its 7th year on February 18–20, 2026, Connected: Health & Fitness will feature senior leaders from HYROX, Xponential, Google, Netflix, 24 Hour Fitness, Cleveland Clinic, Orangetheory, CrossFit, and many more.
By convening global experts, innovative operators and emerging technologies, the summit provides the rare chance to cut through the noise and get a clear picture of where the industry is heading — and how to capitalize.
The event’s latest partners include Korr Medical and Groe Solutions. Other partners for 2026 are Butter Payments, Truemed, Sleep Cycle, FiveOneFour, Flex, Herman Scheer, NASM, InBody, Life Fitness, and True Fitness. See all partners here.
