2026 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report

PUBLIC VS PRIVATE DYNAMICS

Governance & Control: Who Operates Public Leisure?

PUBLIC MANAGEMENT MODEL SPLIT

OTHER 11%

TRUST 44%

TOTAL PUBLIC SITES 2,481

LEISURE MANAGEMENT CONTRACTOR 10%

LOCAL AUTHORITY 21%

EDUCATION 14%

CONTRACTS ENDING BY YEAR

































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Public leisure provision is delivered through a diverse mix of operating models, reecting differences in local authority strategy, funding structures and long-term priorities. Trusts represent the largest share of provision, but a signicant proportion of sites remain directly managed by local authorities or delivered through education and contractor models, creating a fragmented governance landscape. This mix highlights the absence of a single dominant approach, with each model offering different trade-offs between control, efciency and nancial risk. Trust and contractor structures, in particular, have enabled local

authorities to manage cost pressures and maintain service provision, while introducing greater complexity in oversight, accountability and long-term planning. The contract pipeline further reinforces this dynamic. A large number of agreements are due to expire over the next ve years, creating a sustained cycle of retendering and renewal. This presents both risk and opportunity, as local authorities reassess delivery models in response to nancial constraints and evolving policy priorities. Governance will therefore remain a critical factor shaping the future direction of public leisure provision.

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STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2026

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