Team Sports Lead Growth While Rising Costs Remain a Critical Pressure Point for Participation
(August 20, 2026) – Sports and fitness participation in the United States has reached a new record high, according to mid-year data released today by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). For the 12 months ending June 2026, 81.3% of Americans ages six and older participated in at least one of the 126 sports and fitness activities SFIA tracks, while inactivity fell to a record low of 18.7%.
The findings are featured in SFIA’s 2026 First Half Game Plan: Key Moves in Sports Participation Report, the second edition of SFIA’s mid-year participation analysis designed to provide the industry with timely insights into where participation trends are headed.
Team sports emerged as the fastest-growing major participation category, increasing 3.8%. Growth was widespread across the category, with Basketball, Flag Football, and Baseball among the sports posting notable gains. Overall team sports participation has now increased for three consecutive years.
“There is a lot to be encouraged about in the first half data: Participation is at a record high, inactivity is at a record low, and many team sports are showing strong momentum,” said Alex Kerman, Senior Director, Head of Research for SFIA. “At the same time, the data shows that we cannot take continued growth for granted. Rising costs are already affecting how some Americans participate, making affordability and access increasingly important as our industry works to turn today’s momentum into sustained engagement.”
The report finds that affordability is already influencing participation decisions. More than one-quarter of participants (26.9%) say out-of-pocket costs have affected how they participate, and among those already affected by costs, roughly one-quarter (24.9%) say they are very unlikely to continue their current activities if costs continue to rise.
Three in ten participants (30.2%) reported higher participation costs compared with last year, with inflation, higher facility or membership fees, sports equipment, and tariffs among the most commonly cited drivers of those increases. Notably, one in four participants (25%) experiencing higher costs pointed to tariffs on sports equipment as a reason for those increases. These findings reinforce SFIA’s ongoing advocacy efforts to mitigate the effects of tariffs on the sports and fitness industry.
“While it is encouraging to see more Americans participating than ever before, our industry continues to face a significant burden from current and forthcoming tariffs,” said Aneysha Bhat, Director of Government Affairs and Strategic Advocacy for SFIA. “As the back-to-school and fall sports season approaches, tariffs put further pressure on families, businesses, and communities working to keep participation accessible and affordable. With a once-in-a-generation decade of major sporting events underway, we should remove barriers that keep Americans — especially our youth — from being active. SFIA will continue advocating for economic and trade policies that expand access and create more opportunities for all Americans to participate.”
SFIA’s 2034WARD Campaign is working to harness this decade of major sporting events hosted in the United States to grow sports and fitness participation, expand access, and build stronger, healthier communities. The 2026 World Cup provides an early opportunity to examine how the global spotlight on sports may translate into increased participation.
The First Half Game Plan data, which captures the opening weeks of the World Cup, shows Outdoor Soccer participation increased 6.2%, while Indoor Soccer rose 5.3%. These results provide an early benchmark of the World Cup’s full participation impact on soccer, which SFIA will continue monitoring.
Beyond team sports, Padel was the fastest-growing activity highlighted in the report, increasing 14.5% in just its second year of SFIA tracking. Meanwhile, Pickleball’s growth showed its first sign of moderation, increasing 1.3% in the first half of 2026 after five consecutive years as SFIA’s fastest-growing sport.
The 2026 First Half Game Plan: Key Moves in Sports Participation Report is free to SFIA members and available for purchase for $300 to non-members.
The report is provided free of charge to members of the media. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the report or arranging an interview with an SFIA representative, please contact Jenny Karn, Senior Director, at [email protected].
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ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is the leading trade association for the sports and fitness industry, representing over 700 brands, manufacturers, retailers, and governing bodies who collectively employ more than 375,000 people and generate $150 billion in domestic sales. With a mission of increasing sports and fitness participation and promoting industry vitality, SFIA provides thought leadership, advocacy, research, and membership services that empower its members and drive industry growth. SFIA’s leading research and comprehensive insights help members make informed decisions, while its advocacy efforts champion physical health and economic impact. To learn more about joining SFIA’s network dedicated to advancing the sports and fitness industry, please visit sfia.org.