2026
9
UK Sportswear and Performancewear Market Report 2026
2026-05-28T12:01:08+00:00
REP112E8CA0_79A4_4F8D_AE8C_A079A49F8DC8
2195
193711
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Report
en_GB
71% of buyers use the same gear for exercise and casual wear, highlighting the wide reach of sportswear. This is helping to drive growth in the market which is still…
UK
Clothing and Footwear Retail
Sports
simple

UK Sportswear and Performancewear Market Report 2026

"For young generations, sportswear has become about belonging, allowing people to express their identity with a sporting club or brand, and to join a community of like-minded people."

Tamara Sender Ceron, Associate Director, Fashion Retail

Tamara Sender Ceron, Associate Director, Fashion Retail

71% of buyers use the same gear for exercise and casual wear, highlighting the wide reach of sportswear. This is helping to drive growth in the market which is still growing despite a spending squeeze.

The larger sports brands/retailers are facing intense competition as disruptor brands grow spend and customers at a faster rate. More agile brands like Hoka, On Running and Lululemon are outperforming the market, benefiting from building strong fitness communities. The rising popularity of outdoor activities such as hiking has benefited brands such as Craghoppers and Passenger Clothing.

As the popularity of sports such as padel, golf and indoor climbing grows among higher earners, brands can target them with higher priced more durable apparel and footwear that has performance attributes for specific sports. Beyond product, brands can elevate their role by turning purchase into participation. Offering access to club sessions, coaching, events, or priority booking allows brands to embed themselves into consumers’ ongoing sporting routines.

This Report Looks at the Following Areas:

  • Sportswear and performancewear are increasingly used as everyday wear and not just for specific sports/activities, so there is a need to consider the intended use of product for the customer.
  • Where people buy sportswear from – not just sports retailers and brands, as fashion retailers are growing their focus on the category with sports specific items. There is also the rise of lifestyle retailers such as Alo Yoga and Gymshark.
  • Rise of sportswear and activewear subcultures particularly for younger people – different brands associate with different sports and community groups eg running clubs. People like to align themselves with the brands they wear as well as the sports/activities they take part in.
  • Rising popularity of newer sports such as padel and indoor climbing is creating a need for specific sportswear.
  • Sustainability – growing awareness of toxicity of some performancewear materials such as PFAS and microplastic shedding from use of plastic based materials such as polyester. It is also about impact on an individual’s health and wellbeing, which is becoming more important to people.
  • Rising interest in more circular services such as repairs and rental with a demand for being able to send products back to be repaired. There is also interest in rental for sports that are only done occasionally (eg snowsports and surfing).
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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for Sportswear/Performancewear
    • Opportunities
    • Capitalising on the rise of identity defining, specialist sports
    • Designing women first activewear ecosystems, not just products
    • Turn sports retail into a social anchor for offline connection
  2. THE MARKET

    • Middle East conflict intensifies focus on prices
    • Graph 1: consumer concerns, 2026
    • 2026 FIFA World Cup can drive interest
    • Get more women into sports
    • Weight-loss drugs drive demand for muscle defining activewear
    • Gap in the market for new womenswear ranges
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Types of sportswear/performancewear purchased
    • Young generations drive purchasing
    • Wide range of items purchased, but many are multifunctional
    • Graph 2: types of sportswear/performancewear purchased for self in the last 12 months, 2026
    • Sportswear as everyday wear
    • Rise of gym to street outfits
    • Types of sports/outdoor activities people buy sportswear for
    • Tapping into the trend for running
    • Young people go to the gym as they focus on healthier lifestyles
    • Newer sports grow in popularity
    • Graph 3: types of sports/fitness/outdoor activities sportswear/performancewear was worn for, 2026
    • Sportswear made for specific sports appeals to most affluent
    • As padel participation rises, new padel brands emerge
    • Where sportswear is purchased
    • Amazon and Sports Direct lead
    • Graph 4: Retailers/brands where you have purchased sportswear/performancewear in-store or online in the last 12 months, 2026
    • Capturing the loyalty of fickle young male buyers
    • Interest in women’s sports drives sales
    • Women only sports stores
    • Fashion retailers expand sportswear offering into new categories
    • Shein among top searches for sportswear
    • Purchase drivers
    • Comfort and price key purchase drivers
    • Performance features alongside comfort and price can drive purchasing
    • Rise of clean sportswear
    • Gen Zs seek out branded sportswear to feel part of a community
    • Tapping into the rise of activewear subcultures
    • Sports stores as hubs for community, wellness and circularity
    • Turning sports stores into the place to be for young people
    • Sports stores as community builders
    • Adding repair services alongside a range of brands and own-brand sportswear can entice shoppers
    • Offering circular services for sportswear
  4. LEADING RETAILERS

    • Mountain Warehouse and Decathlon grow spend
    • Graph 5: leading sportswear retailers, growth in spend and customer numbers, 2024-26
    • Decathlon powers ahead
    • Nike hit by falling customers and spend
    • Disruptor brands grab share
    • Graph 6: sportswear brands with highest growth in total spend and customers within cohort, 2024-26
  5. INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Adidas launches football campaign
    • Asics taps into wellbeing movement
    • Demand for more inclusive sportswear
    • Growing demand for leak-proof sportswear
    • Sportswear collaborations
    • High street and sports brands collaborate
    • Extending into new adjacent categories
    • Value focused collaborations
  6. APPENDIX

    • Report scope
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Repertoire analysis methodology
    • TURF methodology
    • TURF analysis – methodology data table
    • Other data source methodologies
    • Infegy Starscape coverage
    • Snoop SpendMapper methodology
    • Abbreviations
    • Abbreviations and terms

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