PerformX Live 2026: Why this year feels different for fitness professionals

PerformX Live 2026 is not about chasing novelty, but responding to reality for an industry that’s getting better at asking impactful questions year after year.

There’s something quietly reassuring about a fitness event that isn’t solely shouting about the next big thing, but being relective and honest. This year offers more than the same old – it's about honesty, reflection, and support.

To find out how to get to this year’s show and where to stay, jump straight to our PerformX attendance guide.

But first, from a Jonny Wilkinson fireside chat and a Rory McEntee wake-up call, to Myzone HIIT and Reformer classes or fitness entrepreneurs sharing their insights on-stage, here’s what to look out for at this year’s event.

Visit Myzone at PerformX 2026, stand C54

Two days at Birmingham NEC bring together conversations that sit right at the intersection of performance, people, and progress. It’s all about the businesses behind how we train, and why people keep showing up in the first place.

Myzone will not only be on stand C54, but also taking part in the Gym of the Future area. This event is your chance to get a first-hand look about how motivation technology is shaping engagement and retention for gym operators, and members with Apple Watch and Android Wear smartwatches.

Through a partnership with Pure Energy Music, Myzone will also be hosting workouts at the Impact Stage. See below for more details.

Be sure to book a meeting with the sales team to ask any questions you have about engaging more gym members, attracting new people through your door, and building your fitness community.

What’s happening at this year’s PerformX?

For gym owners, personal trainers coaches, or other industry leaders and entrepreneurs, the themes running through this year’s schedule will feel familiar, validating, and timely. But that’s not all – this is a fitness industry starting to slow down just enough to ask better questions. Here’s a glimpse at what’s happening this year…

PerformX day one

• Russ Cook “The Hardest Geezer” on anti-fragility and self-leadership

• How AI has reshaped how clubs operate, and what’s coming next, from Keepme

• Stop playing it safe: A serious wake-up call for fitness marketing, with Roy McEntee

• A panel discussion on men’s mental fitness, with Myzone CEO Jay Worthy, Joe Gaunt, Ross Colquhoun, and Ben Coomber

• A women in fitness panel, led by Seema Parmar

• Pure Energy Music x Myzone HIIT class, and Reformer class

PerformX day two

• Fireside chat with England rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson

• The gym as a health hub, with Oliver Patrick

• Fitness racing and events such as HYROX, ATHX, Deka, Spartan, and GymSync

• GLP-1 insights with Dr Hussain

• Redefining women’s health, with Dr Athalie Redwood-Brown

• Pure Energy Music x Myzone HIIT class

Plus fitness trends, coaching confidence, and business secrets across multiple areas of the sector for the whole of the two days.

Less Hype. More Humans

Across the schedule, there’s a noticeable shift away from extremes, with more attention on sustainability.

Talks around mental fitness, confidence, breathwork, stress, and recovery reflect a growing understanding that progress isn’t linear, and neither is motivation. People don’t drop out because sessions are too easy, most of the time. When they do drop out, it’s usually because life gets loud.

For coaches and operators, that means designing experiences that support consistency instead of striving for perfection.

This is where Myzone’s philosophy underpins so many of the conversations happening at PerformX:

• Training on effort, not ego

• Measuring progress through motivation without judgement

• Creating environments where people feel seen, not assessed

When motivation becomes something you build with people, rather than demand from them, everything changes.

There’s also a strong return to fundamentals this year, with elements of discussions around biology, recovery, readiness, longevity.

Instead of pushing intensity for intensity’s sake, PerformX leans into questions that matter over the long term:

• How do people recover?

• How do they adapt?

• How do they keep training year after year?

For Myzone partners and users, heart rate data has long helped reframe these conversations, giving members permission to train with intent, to recover properly, and to understand that effort looks different on different days.

Community isn’t a feature; it has to be the foundation

One of the strongest threads running through PerformX Live is community as infrastructure, and that's at the heart of all things Myzone.

There’s growing recognition that gyms retain people because they create connection. You see it reflected in sessions on brand, loyalty, client journeys, and culture.

Underneath all of them is the same truth:

People stay where they feel they belong.

What is PerformX?

PerformX is a two-day industry event designed for fitness professionals who want to think beyond workouts and stay ahead of where the sector is heading. Bringing together gym owners, personal trainers, coaches, operators, and industry leaders, PerformX blends education, discussion, and real-world insight across performance, business, wellbeing, technology, and community.

Rather than chasing trends, it focuses on what actually moves the needle in modern fitness: sustainable engagement, evidence-led practice, commercial resilience, and the human behaviours that keep people training long after motivation fades.

PerformX is taking place between 25-26 February 2026, at the NEC in Birmingham.

How do I get to PerformX 2026?

Get your tickets from performx-live.com

The NEC in Birmingham sits at the centre of the UK, making it easy to reach by air, rail, or road. With Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International train station located on-site, travel is straightforward, and there is plenty of parking directly outside the venue with no need to pre-book, just follow the signs for PerformX when approaching the NEC.

The address is: NEC Birmingham, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT.

What are the best hotels for PerformX at the NEC?

There are several hotels located on site at the NEC, along with a wide range of nearby accommodation options to suit different budgets and preferences.

Many of these hotels are within walking distance of the venue or just a short shuttle or taxi ride away, making it easy to stay close to the action before and after the show.

Whether you’re looking for convenience, comfort, or a quick overnight stay, there are plenty of options designed to make attending PerformX as seamless as possible.

For more information, visit the NEC’s Finding a hotel page.

Are you ready for PerformX 2026?

A boutique take on the traditional fitness exhibition, PerformX is an excellent opportunity to learn, network, and improve, with a wide collection of fitness industry stakeholders all in one place.

This year seems even more promising, as the future of fitness is less about extremes and short-termism, and more focussed on longevity in every respect.

Together, let’s discuss helping motivate more people to keep moving, and giving them reasons to come back tomorrow. This year’s PerformX will help us all grow and thrive.