Annual business intelligence Study
2026 SFIA State of the industry Report
Understand the Forces Shaping your Business
Explore the business conditions, participation trends, and manufacturer perspectives shaping the U.S. sports and fitness industry.
Free for SFIA members | $1,000 for non-members
Understand the State of Sports and Fitness INDUSTRY
Every year, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) releases the State of the Industry Report to connect industry performance with the opportunities and challenges facing sports and fitness businesses. Use its insights to inform strategic planning, assess market conditions, and put your organization’s experience in context.
What You Will Learn
Use the report to UNDERSTAND:
How manufacturers assess business performance and industry challenges
How rising costs, current policy, and sourcing pressures affect operations
Where technology and research investment fit into company priorities
How participation trends inform the industry outlook
What the Report Covers
The 2026 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY Report includes:
Research methodology
Executive summary
Sports and activity participation in the United States from 2020-2025
State of the sporting goods industry
2025 key headlines
from the report
The 2026 State of the Industry Report examines another year of historically high sports and fitness participation, alongside continued shifts in the sports and fitness industry.
Tariffs Lead Industry Concerns
In 2025, manufacturers identified tariffs as their top concern across business performance groups.
Supply Chains Resist Rapid Change
Most respondents reported no shift in sourcing, reflecting the complexity of manufacturing decisions.
Innovation Remains a Priority
Only 1.9% of companies planned to decrease research and development investment.
Start With The 2026 Key Takeaways
Explore major findings from the 2026 State of the Industry Report, including the latest trends shaping sports, fitness, and physical activity in the United States.
2026 SFIA STATE OF THE INDUSTRY Report
Published | 2026
Data covered | 2020–2025
Activities tracked | 126
Geography | United States
Format | Digital Report
Member access | Complimentary
research methodology
SFIA’s State of the Industry Report combines nationally representative participation research with insights from sports and fitness manufacturers to connect Americans’ activity habits with business performance and industry conditions.
Conducted through the Physical Activity Council, the participation study surveys 18,000 Americans ages 6+ annually. A separate manufacturer survey gathers business perspectives across product categories, with responses aggregated and supplemented by industry research collected throughout the year.
→ 18,000 Americans ages 6+ surveyed annually
→ Nationally representative participation research through the Physical Activity Council
→ 300+ industry executives across product categories provide business insights
→ Supplementary industry research adds context to manufacturer findings
Choosing the Right Report
STATE OF THE INDUSTRY REPORT OR MANUFACTURERS’ SALES BY CATEGORY REPORT?
Looking for detailed category sales data? Our Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report tracks U.S. wholesale revenues across sporting goods equipment, athletic footwear, sports apparel, and licensed merchandise to help you benchmark performance and identify growth opportunities.
Purchase the 2026 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY Report
Get the context to guide your next business decision.
Research report purchases are final and are not eligible for refund, return, or credit.
Free Resources
Download Key Takeaways
Report Access and Support
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After completing your order, you will receive an order confirmation and a separate email containing an access link for each report purchased. Emails are sent from info@sfia.org. Please add this address to your safe senders list.
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Check your spam or junk folder first. If the email has not arrived, contact our research team at research@sfia.org.
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Yes. The 2026 State of the Industry Report is available to SFIA members at no additional cost. Members should sign in before completing their order.
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Contact Alex Kerman, Head of Research, at akerman@sfia.org or 301-495-6321.
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Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report
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Participation Research
Topline Participation Report
Explore the annual picture of U.S. sports and fitness participation, including activity trends, demographic shifts, and casual and CORE engagement.