THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS

The HFA Board and executive team open the trade show up for business in San Diego.

Show of Strength

The HFA Show 2026 in San Diego was the flex the industry needed—and earned.


The HFA Show 2026 in San Diego (March 16-18) was a return to form for the industry’s premier conference and trade show. The numbers tell the story:

Registrants

Countries represented

Exhibitors on the trade show floor

Sponsors supporting the three-day event

Speakers participating in sessions and panels, in addition to three memorable keynote addresses

The HFA Show 2026 also hosted the debut of 60 companies that were exhibiting for the first time. This not only demonstrates the strength of the event but also the broadening innovative growth of the wider global industry.

Then there was the palpable energy. Electrifying speakers lit up panels, sessions, and the main stage. HFA‑led networking in the Membership Hub and throughout the venue brought people together to problem‑solve and grow their businesses. The trade show floor stayed busy, energized by new features like the Demonstration Stage, the New Product Zone, and the brand‑new Recovery Zone in the San Diego Convention Center lobby. Returning for its second year, the Pickleball Experience once again drew crowds with a competitive tournament.

All of the above provides proof of concept supporting the show theme: Stronger Together.* The unifying spirit at the heart of HFA’s mission was front and center during awards presentations, advocacy summits, education sessions, international forums, and even the workouts held each morning.

HFA thanks sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and board members for making this year’s event such a strong and inspiring showcase for the industry. The commitment and partnership of HFA members helped create a world-class experience that truly moved the industry forward.

The following pages feature highlights of the three-day event. (See here for a report on the 29th Annual Financial Panel.) We’ll include additional coverage in the May issue of HFB.

*HFA would like to acknowledge Alloy Personal Training Solutions, LLC for authorizing the use of its registered trademark “Stronger Together” as the theme for The HFA Show 2026.

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Health & Fitness Business (HFB) is the leading health and fitness industry publication. Published monthly by the Health & Fitness Association (HFA) and distributed free to the industry, HFB offers analysis of the opportunities, challenges, issues, and news that impact the industry.

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