Entering the chat for the first time this year was disc golf, a sign of its increasing strength in the events market | Photo © Robert Byron | Dreamstime.com
Team sports are continuing to grow, as are fitness sports, outdoor sports and winter sports, all of which spells success for the event industry.
Unfortunately, there are still headwinds. Inactivity on the part of teens is going up, and that could be related to the financial obstacles facing those who want their children become involved in sports.
These are all insights collected in the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) 2026 Topline Participation Report, which tracks participation across 126 sports, recreation and fitness activities.
The new report, a must-have for those interested in finding out where the industry is headed, is available for purchase now on the SFIA website (sfia.org). In the meantime, however, here is a sneak peek at some of the insights.
Team Sports Are Up: Among the seven activity categories studied in the report, team sports recorded the strongest growth year-over-year, surpassing 90 million total participants for the first time.
Racquet Sports Are Up: The SFIA report showed growth in the 10-year participation trend in racquet sports, jumping from 19.7 percent in 2024 to 20.5 percent in 2025. The only racquet sport with a decline was squash; however, since squash will be featured in the 2028 Olympics, there is every reason to believe it will recoup those losses.)
The Pickleball Juggernaut Continues: According to SFIA data, pickleball continued its five-year streak as the fastest-growing sport.
New Sports Have Appeared: Hitting the report for the first time are disc golf and padel, marking their emergence into the event sector.
Aspirational Activities Change with Age: While youth respondents identified some team sports (soccer, basketball and baseball were mentioned) as something they’d like to do in the next 12 months, as those people age, their interests often change to singular pursuits, such as fishing, hiking and yoga. Unfortunately, even with the growth of pickleball, it did not register as a mention on the list of sports older Americans are taking up.
The challenge becomes keeping people active in team sports as they age; one opportunity for this could be involvement in adult sport and social leagues.
Teen Inactivity Rates Went Up: SFIA officials are particularly concerned about inactivity in teens ages 13 through 17, where inactivity level increased.
This, according to industry leaders, should be a clarion call to get more teens involved in activities, either at the high school level or at the rec level, particularly since access to programs, and the affordability of those programs, continue to be significant obstacles to participation.
Lower-income households continue to face higher barriers related to affordability, access and time constraints.
“More than 40 percent of people who took the survey said that cost was a barrier when it came to enrolling kids in sports,” said Bonnie McLaughlin, SFIA’s Vice President, External Affairs & Industry Relations. In particular, she notes, “Rising costs and tariffs are creating waves of uncertainty.”
Sports with lower barriers to entry (in other words, sports where parents do not have to invest in expensive equipment, time in private facilities or specialized training) appear to be well positioned for future growth.
To purchase a copy of the new SFIA Topline Participation Report, visit the organization’s website at sfia.org.
About the Author
