Image: Apple
Apple is kicking off 2026 with a major refresh to Apple Fitness+, rolling out new workout programs, Artist Spotlight sessions, and Time to Walk episodes designed to help users stick with their fitness goals well beyond January.
“Apple Watch is the ultimate fitness and health companion to support users in reaching and maintaining their goals in 2026,” Apple said in a new press release, adding that a fresh lineup of Fitness+ content is arriving this month to help users stay active and motivated. The update comes just days after Apple teased that “something big” was coming to Fitness+, and this is clearly what the company had in mind.
Starting January 5, Apple Fitness+ is introducing four brand-new multi-week training programs aimed at removing the guesswork from building a consistent routine. These include Make Your Fitness Comeback, a four-week plan with short Strength, HIIT, and Yoga workouts; Build a Yoga Habit in 4 Weeks, focused on flexibility and stress reduction; Back-to-Back Strength and HIIT, which pairs both workout types in a single session; and Strength Basics in 3 Weeks, launching January 12 for users new to strength training or returning after a break.
Image: Apple
Music also plays a bigger role once again. The Artist Spotlight series is expanding with new workouts featuring music from KAROL G, while additional Bad Bunny workouts arrive on February 2, tied to his upcoming Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show appearance. Meanwhile, the popular Time to Walk series returns with new episodes featuring Penn Badgley, Mel B, and Michelle Monaghan.
Apple is also highlighting new data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study, noting that “participants with Apple Watch consistently keep up their exercise levels through Quitter’s Day and beyond.” According to the analysis, over 60% of users increased their daily exercise minutes in early January, with most maintaining those gains well into February and March.
Alongside these updates, Apple has unveiled the limited-edition Ring in the New Year award for 2026 on Apple Watch, giving users another reason to close their rings. This follows Apple’s recent expansion of Fitness+ to 28 additional countries, further cementing its push to make the service a central part of the Apple ecosystem.