FIBO, took place last week from 16-19 April, attracting more than 175,000 visitors from 136 countries and more than 1,000 exhibitors from 54 countries.

FIBO event director, Silke Frank, described it as the compass of the industry: “Anyone who wants to understand where the global fitness market is heading will find the answers here. The interest from exhibitors and visitors from all over the world shows this clearly – what happens here sets standards far beyond the exhibition halls.”

Topics on the conference agenda included programmes for older adults. It’s never too late to start said former bodybuilder, Ralf Moeller, at the FIBO press conference: “If a 60-, 70- or 80-year-old decides today to start fitness training, it’s worth it.” 

The healthy ageing debate spanned interactive offerings, new products and tips on sleeping better, reducing stress and staying fit in the long term. Longevity interventions were presented as something everyone can directly integrate into their own daily lives.

The Women’s Leadership Summit was a full-day event with a mix of keynotes, workshops and targeted networking opportunities. The focus was on topics such as leadership in times of change, innovation and building strong networks that enable sustainable development. 

“When you look at current events in our world, it becomes clear how important it is for women’s voices to be heard more and for more women to sit on decision-making bodies, because we need to change the world. We need to change leadership structures,” said Jennifer Halsall, founder and advisor at The Collective.

There was plenty of opportunity for visitor participation in the Calisthenics Area, the Lifestyle Area and the new Battle and Drop Zone, where people trained and tried new products. Some 20,000 athletes took part in the Hyrox event.

Among the new products at the exhibition, there was an emphasis on glute builders including the new Froggy from The Abs Company, while Booty Builder was also showcasing new pieces of kit.

Marketing manager at Life Fitness / Hammer Strength, Andrew Agnoli, said there's a demand from operators for machines which provide Instagram opportunitie on the gym floor, for example its pendulum squat.

Contrast therapy and recovery was another talking point. The low-cost operators are also now embracing this trend. Wellness Space Brands’ new Polar Wave offers a dry cold plunge which takes away some of the operational complexities that plunging in water presents. The Polar Wave delivers temperatures of -4C to 2C. Operators installing the chair include David Lloyd Clubs, Urban Gym Group and Planet Fitness.

Michael Köhler, managing director of FIBO organiser RX Deutschland, says: “FIBO 2026 has impressively demonstrated that the fitness industry is evolving into a cornerstone of the health sector. The trade show offers a holistic view of fitness, health and nutrition, interconnected through digital innovations and AI. The innovative strength of the companies and the enormous international interest underscore the growing social significance of fitness and prevention.”

FIBO 2027 will take place from 8-11 April.