US Sports and Performance Drinks – Market Dynamics 2026
Sports and performance drinks hit the notes that consumers want – hydration and protein – and a broader performance mindset is turning them into everyday tools.
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THE MARKET
- Snapshot – market size and forecast
- Market context
- It’s trendy to hydrate
- Staying hydrated in a warming world
- Graph 1: average national temperature, by year, 2000-2025
- Artificial criticism makes sports drinks reformulate
- Graph 2: new sports drink launches by select claims, 2021-25
- Sports and performance drinks expected to build on previous momentum
- Graph 3: total retail sales and forecast of sports and performance drinks, 2019-30
- Sports and performance drinks expected to build on previous momentum
- Sports drinks coast, performance drinks soar
- Graph 4: total retail sales and forecast of sports and performance drinks, by segment, at current prices, 2019-30
- Sports drinks coast, performance drinks soar
- Market share/brand share
- Gatorade continues to hold majority share, though others gain momentum
- Graph 5: MULO sales of sports drinks, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2025 and 2026
- Gatorade continues to hold majority share, though others gain momentum
- Performance is driven by protein
- Graph 6: MULO sales of performance drinks, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2025 and 2026
- Performance is driven by protein
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THE CONSUMER
- Modern-day usage of sports and performance drinks
- Performance drinks are at the forefront of new occasions
- Graph 7: agreement with new usage occasions, % agree, by format, 2026
- The benefits and flavors consumers want
- The makeup of a drink outperforms all
- Graph 8: factors encouraging purchase of a sports/performance drink, % in top 3, 2026
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PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING
- Sports drinks
- Gatorade’s nod to natural
- Coca-Cola goes all in on BodyArmor
- Performance drinks
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APPENDIX
- Market definition
- The market
- Forecast methodology
- Forecast methodology – fan chart
- Total retail sales and forecast of sports and performance drinks, at inflation-adjusted prices
- Average annual household spending on sports and performance drinks
- Total retail sales of sports and performance drinks, by channel, at current prices
- The consumer
- Consumer research questions
- Consumer research methodology
- Repertoire analysis methodology
- TURF methodology
- US generation groups
- Abbreviations
This Market Dynamics report features market data extracted from Mintel’s US Sports and Performance Drinks Market Report 2026. Giving you direct access to key market information and analysis from our category experts. This report is ideal for those looking for a topline summary of the US sports and performance drinks market. The full US report is available to purchase here.
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