RiminiWellness, Europe’s premier fitness, sport and wellness event, will celebrate its milestone 20th edition from May 28–31, 2026, returning to the Rimini Expo Centre and the iconic Italian Riviera. Organized by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), the four-day gathering has become a cornerstone of the global fitness industry, bringing together professionals, brands, educators and enthusiasts to explore the future of health, performance and active wellbeing.
Known for its distinctive blend of B2B and B2C experiences, RiminiWellness seamlessly connects the worlds of fitness, sport performance, holistic wellness, nutrition and rehabilitation. From gym operators and equipment manufacturers to medical wellness experts, trainers and athletes, the event creates a vibrant ecosystem where innovation, education and community intersect.
The scale of the event continues to grow. In 2025, RiminiWellness attracted more than 130,000 visitors and hosted over 350 exhibiting brands, transforming the Rimini Expo Centre into a global meeting point for the wellness industry. The 2026 edition is expected to further expand that momentum, offering an immersive program that includes more than 240 activities, 800 expert-led sessions and over 1,500 hours of lessons across 46 stages, alongside dedicated aquatic areas featuring more than 350 square meters of pools.
Beyond the exhibition halls, the energy of RiminiWellness extends throughout the city. Over 100 evening and nighttime events will take place across the Riviera, reinforcing the event’s reputation as a celebration that integrates sport, culture and lifestyle.
A Theme of Immersion and Transformation
The 2026 edition introduces the theme “Go Through,” an invitation for participants to fully immerse themselves in experiences that challenge both physical and mental boundaries. The concept reflects the event’s expanding vision of wellness — one that integrates movement, recovery, performance and personal growth within a single, dynamic environment.
To support that vision, RiminiWellness will once again organize its programming into key thematic areas, including Fitness, Active, Food, Steel and Health, each designed to explore different dimensions of the wellness ecosystem, from functional training and competitive sport to nutrition science and holistic wellbeing.
The event continues to serve as a powerful platform for industry networking and collaboration. Fitness professionals, gym owners, manufacturers and investors will have opportunities to connect through dedicated innovation spaces, startup showcases and business matchmaking initiatives designed to spark partnerships and highlight emerging technologies shaping the future of fitness.
High-energy competitions remain a defining feature of the event. Among the highlights for 2026 is the fourth edition of HYROX RiminiWellness, which will bring the globally recognized fitness race back to the Italian stage. Combining endurance running with functional training stations, HYROX has become one of the fastest-growing competitive formats in fitness, attracting athletes of all levels and offering a powerful display of strength, stamina and community.
Innovation and Business Strategy Take Center Stage
Beyond competitions and experiential programming, RiminiWellness continues to strengthen its role as a platform for industry innovation and strategic dialogue. The Fitness Innovation Arena will host a series of workshops and roundtables designed specifically for gym operators, entrepreneurs and technology leaders navigating the rapidly evolving wellness economy.
One highlight is a two-hour interactive workshop led by Natalia Karbasova, a global voice on innovation in the $4 trillion health, fitness and wellbeing industry. Titled “How Gyms Can Unlock New Revenue Streams by Understanding Real User Needs,” the session will bring together international leaders, including Jörg Fockenberg from RSG Group, Emma Barry of Trouble Global and Jörn Watzke of Garmin Health, to explore how operators can rethink business models and uncover new monetization opportunities rooted in evolving consumer behavior.
Technology and coaching will also take center stage in a session titled “Human First, Tech Forward: AI’s Role in the Future of Fitness and Health Coaching.” Led by industry leader Kathleen Ferguson, the discussion will examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping coaching businesses while emphasizing the continued importance of human connection, trust and authenticity in the fitness experience.
The REX World Fitness Panel will further expand the global perspective, bringing together CEOs from leading fitness chains in Poland, Saudi Arabia and Ireland to share insights on innovation, leadership and the future of international club operations.
Elevating Education and Professional Development
Education remains a central pillar of RiminiWellness. Programs such as Wellness4Education and the Wellness Valley Annual Meeting will bring together thought leaders, researchers and industry experts to explore emerging trends in active wellbeing, longevity and the evolving role of movement in healthcare and performance.
A standout addition to the 2026 program is the Movement and Therapy Summit, scheduled for May 29 and held within RiminiWellness. Founded by physiotherapist and osteopath Marco Rovatti, the Summit was created to bridge the gap between clinical practice and athletic performance by fostering collaboration among physiotherapists, physicians, osteopaths, athletic trainers, strength coaches and sports science professionals.
The 2026 edition marks a historic moment for the Italian professional community with the first-ever appearance in Italy of Gray Cook, founder of Functional Movement Systems and co-creator of the widely adopted Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA). Cook will be joined by Dr. Lee Burton, co-founder of the SFMA and a leading researcher in functional movement assessment.
Together, the two experts will bring global insights into injury prevention, movement evaluation and performance optimization, reinforcing RiminiWellness’s role as a hub where rehabilitation, performance and fitness converge.
Few events combine professional development, competition and lifestyle quite like RiminiWellness. Set along Italy’s Adriatic coast, Rimini provides a natural extension of the event’s philosophy. Outdoor workouts along the Parco del Mare, Europe’s largest outdoor gym, access to the region’s renowned thermal spas and the vibrant seaside atmosphere make the destination itself an expression of the wellness lifestyle the event promotes.
As RiminiWellness celebrates two decades of growth, the 2026 edition promises to continue expanding its influence, bringing together the global fitness community to explore new ideas, test emerging technologies and experience the evolving definition of wellbeing.
To learn more or register to attend, visit RiminiWellness here.
