{"id":12567,"date":"2026-08-14T01:00:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T05:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/?p=12567"},"modified":"2026-08-18T20:13:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T00:13:20","slug":"2026-hfa-european-congress-to-showcase-new-research-shaping-the-future-of-fitness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/ihrsa\/2026-hfa-european-congress-to-showcase-new-research-shaping-the-future-of-fitness\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 HFA European Congress to Showcase New Research Shaping the Future of Fitness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/HFA-European-Congress-300x105.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"105\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10708\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/HFA-European-Congress-300x105.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/HFA-European-Congress-200x70.jpg 200w, http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/HFA-European-Congress.jpg 331w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>HFA European Congress<\/p>\n<p><strong>WASHINGTON, D.C.<\/strong> &#8211; Attendees at the 2026 HFA European Congress will get an exclusive look at new research and insights shaping the future of the fitness industry, including the 2026 HFA Global Report, new findings on GLP-1s and exercise and a preview of the industry\u2019s largest global retention study.<\/p>\n<p>Taking place September 24\u201326 at London Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and presented in partnership with ukactive and hosted locally by EVOLVE founder David Minton, the Congress will bring together senior executives, researchers, healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across Europe and beyond for two days of education, connection, and insights.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis year\u2019s program reflects the incredible evolution of our industry,\u201d said Greta Wagner, interim president and CEO of the Health &#038; Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA). \u201cWe\u2019re bringing together leaders from fitness, healthcare, technology, research, and business who are tackling the biggest opportunities facing our industry today\u2014from AI and healthcare integration to leadership development and global market growth. These conversations will give attendees practical insights they can immediately apply while helping shape the future of our industry together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As part of the event, HFA will unveil the 2026 HFA Global Report, providing new data and analysis on more than 30 commercial fitness markets worldwide. Attendees will also hear the latest thinking on GLP-1s and exercise, get a preview of HFA\u2019s forthcoming Global Retention Benchmark Report, and explore new insights and research on the UK market.<\/p>\n<p>The Congress features two keynote presentations. Keepme.aiopens in a new tab Founder and CEO Ian Mullane will present an inside look at how AI agents are transforming the operations of one of the world\u2019s fastest-growing gym businesses and allowing employees to spend more time with members. His keynote is sponsored by Keepme.ai.<\/p>\n<p>Alistair Brownlee, two-time Olympic triathlon champion, entrepreneur, and investor, will offer the second keynote, sharing what separates organizations that keep pace from those that shape the future, and why leadership, adaptability, and a winning mindset will define the next era of the fitness industry.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the keynote stage, attendees will hear from an accomplished lineup of executives and thought leaders representing some of the fitness, wellness, healthcare, and business sectors\u2019 most influential organizations, including David Lloyd Leisure, Fitness First, Lift Brands EMEA, NRG Gym Limited, Obesity Coaching Academy, Retention Guru, the Royal College of General Practitioners, Third Space Group, Urban Gym Group, and more.<\/p>\n<p>Other highlights of this year\u2019s Congress include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A panel featuring executives from leading European operators sharing lessons on entrepreneurship, investment, and organizational growth.<\/li>\n<li>Networking opportunities at the Opening Reception.<\/li>\n<li>A new Women\u2019s Networking Summit, hosted in conjunction with The Collective.<\/li>\n<li>The Sponsor Marketplace where some of the industry\u2019s top suppliers are available for one-on-one conversations.<\/li>\n<li>Two options for guided tours of some of London\u2019s most innovative health clubs and fitness studios. Tours occur on September 26 for an additional fee.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>View the full conference agenda <a href=\"https:\/\/hub.healthandfitness.org\/european-congress-schedule?utm_source=hs_email&#038;utm_medium=email&#038;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Bvxmyf5nL495DdvMSIBhhLYR9z9GKRwN1cFDeMITJfSE8Ee0xqQiUhKqgLktxOINea_s0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>, and learn more about this year\u2019s speakers <a href=\"https:\/\/hub.healthandfitness.org\/european-congress-speakers?utm_source=hs_email&#038;utm_medium=email&#038;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Bvxmyf5nL495DdvMSIBhhLYR9z9GKRwN1cFDeMITJfSE8Ee0xqQiUhKqgLktxOINea_s0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Register <a href=\"https:\/\/mcibrussels-pco.swoogo.com\/hfa2026?utm_campaign=24509784-26EC&#038;utm_source=hs_email&#038;utm_medium=email&#038;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Bvxmyf5nL495DdvMSIBhhLYR9z9GKRwN1cFDeMITJfSE8Ee0xqQiUhKqgLktxOINea_s0\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>WASHINGTON, D.C.<\/strong> &#8211; Attendees at the 2026 HFA European Congress will get an exclusive look at new research and insights shaping the future of the fitness industry, including the 2026 HFA Global Report, new findings on GLP-1s and exercise and a preview of the industry\u2019s largest global retention study.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[312,682],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12567"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12567"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12567\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12568,"href":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12567\/revisions\/12568"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.clubinsideronline.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}