Large-scale gym operator Planet Fitness plans to open 180 to 190 new locations in 2026 as it seeks to attract more fitness users to its spaces.

The projected growth pace would match the company's final expansion tally from 2025, which saw it open 181 new clubs systemwide, including 158 owned by franchisees and 23 corporate-owned clubs. Planet Fitness ended 2025 with 2,896 total clubs in its system, according to Q4 earnings documents.

"Our scale provides a foundation to introduce our brand to even more people looking to improve their mental and physical health globally," CEO Colleen Keating said in a statement.

Most of the new locations in 2026 will debut toward the second half of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter, Chief Financial Officer Jay Stasz said on the company's earnings call Tuesday.

The plan mirrors 2025's rollout of new locations, which saw 104 openings in the fourth quarter. That pace was the company's highest number of Q4 openings in its history, Keating said on the call.

Keating said that while the real estate market showed a few signs of easing in 2025, it remains highly competitive. The company is navigating the tight climate by partnering with franchisees to pitch landlords on how Planet Fitness drives foot traffic that benefits entire retail centers, she said.

The company's CEO said they were also capitalizing on site opportunities emerging from retail bankruptcies, a pattern that tracks back to at least 2019. The company has rapidly expanded its global footprint in the past several years, adding about 1,000 new locations since the first quarter of 2019.

"We are also seeing success with franchisee-led acquisitions where they purchase small portfolios of regional gyms and convert them to Planet Fitness locations, an effective way of expanding our footprint in high-demand tight real estate markets," Keating said on the call.

Keating said taking over existing spaces can help save on electrical and plumbing costs while seeing a solid conversion of members from the previous gyms to Planet Fitness.

Planet Fitness also recently announced a franchise agreement to expand its presence in Mexico. The company signed a deal with Impulso Gym in mid-February to open new clubs in Tijuana and Mexicali. The fitness chain had 47 locations in 14 states across Mexico as of the end of 2025.