Long description

The EVOLVE Public Leisure Intelligence Report 2026 provides an independent, data-led view of the organisations, management models and trends shaping UK public leisure.

Drawing on EVOLVE’s continuously maintained intelligence, the report examines approximately 2,700 operational public leisure sites, 990 management organisations, more than 6,200 historic management records and 348 live development projects.

Inside the report, you’ll discover:

• The structure of the UK public leisure market and its principal management models
• Rankings of the country’s largest public leisure operators
• How facility management has evolved over time
• The contract landscape and future procurement pipeline
• Investment, redevelopment and estate-renewal activity
• The facilities and services offered by modern leisure centres
• The age profile of the UK public leisure estate
• Six trends influencing future facilities and service delivery
• The health, sustainability and customer-experience themes shaping the sector

The report reveals a diverse and highly fragmented market in which long-term partnerships, targeted reinvestment and better intelligence are becoming increasingly important. It is designed to support more informed decisions by operators, local authorities, suppliers, investors, consultants and other organisations working across the public leisure sector.

Based on the EVOLVE Public Leisure Intelligence Model, June 2026, this first edition provides a clear and accessible overview of where the market stands, how it is changing and the forces likely to shape its future