The top 2026 sports trends among young people are running, padel, Pilates, weightlifting, and wearables. See the latest data from Strava and ACSM, plus developments in Indonesia.
Sports trends in 2026 show young people shifting from their screens to real physical activity. Strava’s Year in Sport report says exercise has become a replacement for doomscrolling among younger people. The survey covered more than 30,000 respondents, and running remained the most popular activity. Gen Z is also 75 percent more likely than Gen X to name a race as their main motivation.
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has released its 20th annual fitness trends report for 2026. Wearable technology ranks first on the list. Adult recreational and sports clubs make the list for the first time, at number nine. The popularity of pickleball and the desire to socialize while exercising helped push the category up.
Running, Weightlifting, and Technology Draw In Gen Z
Group running through run clubs became a new habit for young Indonesians throughout 2026. Strava data shows Gen Z is 39 percent more likely than Gen X to exercise to meet people with similar interests. That social motivation has made running communities busier than ever.
Strength training is also growing in popularity. Gen Z is twice as likely as Gen X to name it as their main sport. Strava reports that women log weightlifting sessions 21 percent more often than men.
Young people are also willing to spend more on fitness. Thirty percent of Gen Z plan to increase their sports spending in 2026. Sixty-four percent of Gen Z respondents said they would rather buy sports gear than go on a date.
Wearables rank as the number one fitness trend in the 2026 ACSM list. Strava found that Gen Z uses AI as a coach more than any other generation, although only 4 percent of respondents do so. Runna’s Workout Insights and Strava’s Athlete Intelligence lead usage in this area.
Padel and Pilates Draw Crowds in Indonesia’s Big Cities
Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports of 2026 worldwide. The global number of padel courts is projected to reach 70,000 by the end of 2026, with annual growth of about 17 percent. Major sponsors such as Adidas and Slazenger have also entered the sport.
In Indonesia, the Indonesian Padel Association (PBPI) opened the first round of the 2026 Padel Open National Circuit (Sirkuit Nasional, or Sirnas) in Jakarta. This year’s Sirnas also includes an age category for young children. Indonesia won a padel medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, held September 28 to October 3.
Pilates and Lagree attract many young people, especially women who want to build core strength without looking too muscular. Athletic Pilates is gaining popularity among urban residents, and several HYROX athletes began trying it in June 2026.
Cycling has also become an urban lifestyle for young people, who ride for cafe hopping and to enjoy the afternoon. Meanwhile, Pound Fit uses special drumsticks called ripstix for cardio workouts.
Although 2026 sports trends are widely discussed on social media, data from the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) paints a different picture. Indonesia has about 66 million Gen Z residents. Only 26.3 percent of them exercise.
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