PerformX Live

the business of fitness

WellNation attended the 󹀼fth annual PerformX, held in Birmingham in February

PerformX held its fifth annual event at the NEC Birmingham in February. Marketed as “the business of fitness show”, it is quickly becoming one of the most important sector events in the diary. As in previous years, PerformX provided delegates with insights into the state of the industry, focusing heavily on the key trends and shifts shaping the landscape for gyms and wellbeing businesses.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Education is at the heart of the show and the four stages certainly did not disappoint this year, with headliners Jonny Wilkinson and Russ Cook – aka. ‘The Hardest Geezer’ – packing out the Main Stage. They were joined by a range of important conversations, hosted by thought leaders Mohammed Iqbal and Matthew Januszek.

Other highlights included a Gym Leaders panel with John Penny (Third Space), Neil Randall (Urban Gym Group), Jean-Claude Vacassin (Foundry) and Sophie Lawlor (Total Fitness), hosted by Ian Rushbury, while Adrienne Adhami delivered a session on Key Shifts Shaping Consumer Behaviour.

Elsewhere, a session on men’s mental fitness explored the sector’s role in helping men thrive (delivered by Jay Worthy of Myzone, Dr Joe Gaunt, Ben Coomber, Pete Taylor and Ross Colquelin), There were also masterclasses from Phil Learney and Oliver Patrick. In total, more than 80 talks took place across four stages and three streams (the c-suite, the independent gym owner and the personal trainer).

TRENDS AND MEETING PEOPLE

This year’s show brought together 5,000 sector professionals and leaders, including a packed VIP Club made of up of C-Suite leadership teams of the key accounts in the country, many of who are also part of the PerformX Advisory Board. The board helps to define the speaker schedule and exhibition floor and features members from Third Space, Everlast, Everyone Active and David Lloyd Leisure.

New additions for this year’s edition of PerformX included a focus on the UK’s spa and wellness sector. As the worlds of physical activity, fitness, health and wellbeing merge – and consumer tastes change accordingly – it is important for the show to adapt and this was the first time the schedule had dedicated content for the C-suite decision makers from the leading spas. This was led by Jaclyn Hughes and Sara Young of Spa Well.

The exhibition floor was the biggest in PerformX’s history, made up of some of the leading fitness equipment and technology that is shaping the future of the space – including Life Fitness/ Hammer Strength, gym80, EGYM and InBody

The exhibition floor was the biggest in PerformX’s history

The dates for next year’s PerformX Live – which will again be held at NEC Birmingham – have been confirmed as 24 and 25 February 2027. Delegates can expect four stages of world-class content, prime networking, an exhibition floor packed with leading brands and complimentary VIP experiences for senior decision-makers.