With an expansive slate of new athletic country clubs set to open this year, Life Time is doubling down on the large-scale, resort-style destinations that have come to define the brand. The company is entering untapped markets in Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New York, Colorado, Arizona, and North Carolina, and elevating the member experience with upgraded amenities and offerings.
“It’s exciting to continue finding new markets to branch into,” says Meghan Akradi, vice president of real estate and development at Life Time. “Seeing a project go from an idea to a Life Time location that thousands of members use every day is probably the most rewarding thing about what I do.”
Life Time plans to debut 14 new athletic country clubs in 2026 — the highest number of openings per year to date in its 30-plus year history. These clubs represent the latest and greatest iteration of Life Time’s signature flagship build — but with unique finishes and touches that meet the needs of each market, according to Matt Brinza, vice president of architecture and engineering at Life Time.
“These clubs take years to plan and build, but we’re always working to keep them current,” he says. “We are not afraid to make changes along the way to ensure that when the club opens, it features a state-of-the-art design.”
The Method Behind Life Time’s Expansion
A driving philosophy behind Life Time’s growth is developing with the communities it serves, according to Courtney Wiltinger, director of marketing for new club openings at Life Time. “We focus on areas experiencing strong population growth — where vibrant, expanding neighborhoods are taking shape.”
Wiltinger emphasizes that Life Time aims to meet members where they’re at. “We look for opportunities to add new clubs in markets where we already have a presence. This allows us to give our current members easier access to our newest spaces and offerings,” she says. “In addition, many of our clubs are in destinations that attract travelers. We love being part of the places our members visit, so they can continue their routines — and experience something exceptional — whether they’re at home or away from it.”
How New Clubs Get Their Design
The design methodology behind 2026’s round of new clubs is to foster a sense of community and member engagement with high-end, resort-style hospitality, according to Brinza. “It’s always been a part of our founder and CEO Bahram Akradi’s vision to build premium, luxury spaces, but we’re really refining a lot of that fit and finish to reflect our signature programs,” he says.
The new clubs will primarily come in two iterations: prototypes I2 and E. Both are two-story builds with similar offerings but differentiated by climate, according to Brinza.
“The I2 is our warm-weather prototype, usually spanning about 86,000 square feet total, whereas E prototypes are for colder climates and are around 102,000 square feet,” he says. “We take the pools that we normally have indoors in our E prototype and move that outdoors for I2, for example. In this I2 design, we focus on a robust outdoor experience, with expansive Beach Club offerings, resort-style pool decks, and lots of pickleball courts.”
Life Time is also debuting some unique-design projects in New York City: Life Time Bryant Park and Life Time Brooklyn Tower, both arriving in fall 2026. These clubs will be boutique-style, highlighting group fitness studios. “Our priority is to make those smaller spaces sing with that high-end touch, while taking design cues from the surrounding areas and emerging trends,” Brinza notes.
Recovery and rejuvenation remain a high priority for every new Life Time space. “A big focus this past year was rolling out recovery spaces and cold plunges in both new and existing clubs,” says Brinza. “This year, we’re expanding on that as we learn more about our members’ wants. For instance, we’re finding that members enjoy using rejuvenation spaces with their partners, so we’re starting to develop more co-ed wet suites.”
The new clubs also prioritize member needs by creating more opportunities for social connection. “The spaces for Life Time’s small group signature classes are intentionally designed with a designated pre-function social area where members can gather before and after class,” he shares.
This social-first priority is also interwoven throughout other areas of the club: “We’re creating a separate bar area within our LifeCafes for club-hosted events and for members to spend time in together, and we’re incorporating refined Life Time Work lounges,” he adds.
“Our clubs are becoming a ‘secondary space’ for people — they’re not just seen as a third space anymore. That’s why community and social connections are a big theme for us in designing, and we’re integrating that in numerous ways in our clubs,” says Brinza.
5 New Life Time Locations Arriving in 2026
Let’s take a sneak peek at several of the athletic country club destinations Life Time is adding to its network. To see the full list of 2026 locations, and to find out if one is opening near you, visit Life Time’s coming soon page.
Life Time Alston Town Center
Life Time’s fourth athletic country club in the Raleigh area (and fifth overall in North Carolina) is arriving in early 2026. “The Raleigh area hasn’t seen a Life Time grand opening since 2015, and the brand has evolved quite a bit since then,” says Derek Baker, lead general for Life Time Alston Town Center.
The 92,000-square-foot Life Time Alston Town Center space features Life Time’s newest class format, CTR (Core Tone Reform); three indoor and six outdoor pickleball courts; and a luxurious resort-like pool deck, which features an outdoor bistro and bar serving poolside food and drinks.
“We’re aiming to become a premier healthy-living destination in the Raleigh market. Here, you can feel comfortable knowing your family is taken care of,” adds Baker.
(Learn more: “Step Inside Life Time Alston Town Center.”)
Life Time North Shore Sport and Racquet
Life Time is bringing a unique club offering to the Chicago area: Life Time North Shore Sport and Racquet, a suburban sport and racquet club with all the athletic country club amenities. It’s set to debut in summer 2026.
This 115,000-square-foot space features the entire spectrum of amenities and spaces that Life Time offers, including fitness studios, luxurious locker rooms, a LifeCafe and bar, a Beach Club pool area, 19 indoor pickleball courts, 10 additional outdoor pickleball courts, and more.
“Life Time North Shore Sport and Racquet will be a premier destination — both in the Midwest and in the nation — for amateur and professional athletes to come and play pickleball,” says Steven Pierce, senior lead general at Life Time North Shore Sport and Racquet.
(Learn more: “Step Inside: Life Time North Shore Sport and Racquet.”)
Life Time Paradise Valley
Life Time Paradise Valley is the latest addition to the Life Time network in Arizona, arriving in spring 2026. “A reliable, robust network of Life Time locations in one metro area gives members more options and convenience, which can help them stay consistent with their health and wellness journey,” says Shawn Severson, senior lead general of Life Time Paradise Valley.
This 91,000-square-foot space features a Kids Academy offering, a resort-style outdoor pool deck with a capacity of 300, a Life Time Work lounge, and other offerings to help members live healthier, happier lives.
(Learn more: “Step Inside: Life Time Paradise Valley.”)
Life Time Winter Park
Life Time Winter Park is an 85,000-square-foot club just north of Orlando that will be opening in late spring 2026. This club is the first to enter the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area but the seventh club overall in Florida, continuing the momentum of expanding the Life Time network in the sunshine state.
This club is going all in on its outdoor experiences: There are 10 outdoor pickleball courts (with five covered by shade), outdoor pools with waterslides and a bistro, and outdoor dining offerings.
Life Time Brea
Life Time Brea, located in Orange County, a neighboring community of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, spans 85,000 square feet. The club is part of a major mall redevelopment and is set to open in summer 2026. “This will be our first prototype build in the Orange Country-L.A. area in a decade, so we’re excited to continue growing our network in this community,” explains Akradi.
Members can enjoy the still-growing sport of pickleball by playing on one of the three indoor or five outdoor courts. There is also an outdoor Beach Club with a lap pool, leisure pool, poolside bistro, lounge chairs, and cabanas.
For more information about new club openings near you, visit the coming soon page, select your club of interest, and join the waitlist. Current members will be the first to receive details on new club offerings and given the first opportunity for future access. Life Time uses a waitlist to maintain new membership capacity for optimal experiences.
