Upcoming Trade Shows in France for Sports & Fitness

Today, we’re going to take a brief look at the sports and fitness industry in France, where we can’t really talk about fitness culture the same way we can talk about the United States or even Germany. The shift towards a more fitness-oriented mindset occurred in the 1980s when televised aerobics first became very popular. In the following decades, sports and fitness has grown into a multi-billion-euro industry. Historically, the French relationship with exercise was more about discipline than pleasure or aesthetics. Physical education became part of school curricula in the late 19th century, which at the time was used to foster interest in vitality and social cohesion. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, viewed sport as a tool for unity. But outside of structured sports like soccer and cycling, everyday fitness rarely made it into French life. As we mentioned, the 1980s was when all of this changed and it was thanks to one TV program that brought aerobics into the French Zeitgeist. We’re talking, of course, about Gym Tonic, whose jingle became the most well-recognized jingle in the country. Today, that fun has turned into a serious business as we can see in the revenue generated in 2024, which hit $4.3 billion. Over 6,500 fitness clubs operate nationwide, serving around 6 million members. From budget-friendly options like Basic-Fit to high-end fitness clubs such as L’Usine, French consumers are embracing a more diverse and accessible gym culture. Membership fees vary, with entry-level gyms costing around €30 per month and premium studios charging up to €200 for luxurious, spa-style experiences. While gym membership and boutique classes are on the rise, French adults still prefer a balanced approach: about half report exercising weekly, often favoring walking or cycling integrated into their daily routine over intense workouts.