The Fitness Future: 94% of Gyms Will Be Virtual by 2028

Imagine waking up, throwing on your workout gear, and stepping into a full-body workout session without ever leaving your living room. No fighting for parking, no waiting for machines, and no feeling out of place among super-fit regulars. The gym of the future won’t be a brick-and-mortar building but a fully immersive virtual experience. And it's happening sooner than you think.

By 2028, an estimated 94% of gyms will be virtual, according to a recent report by Statista. As digital technology continues to advance, the fitness industry is rapidly evolving, embracing virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and wearable technology. These technologies are making fitness more accessible, personalized, and engaging than ever before.

But how did we get here? And what does this shift mean for the future of fitness?

The Dawn of Virtual Fitness

The rise of virtual fitness was catalyzed in part by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, as traditional gyms closed their doors, the demand for at-home fitness solutions skyrocketed. Companies like Peloton, Mirror, and Tonal saw massive surges in subscriptions and sales. According to Business Insider, Peloton’s user base more than doubled in 2020, with over 5.9 million members by the end of the year.