2027 ACSM & ACE Health & Fitness Summit

March 6-8, 2027

Chicago, Illinois

Two of the industry’s leading authorities unite to deliver an unmatched in-person learning experience for exercise professionals.

Designed for exercise professionals, health coaches, fitness facility managers, business owners and exercise science students, the Summit will bring together the science and practice of health and fitness in one dynamic, collaborative environment. The 2027 event will take place March 6-8, at the Hilton Chicago, and will mark the highly anticipated return of the ACSM Health & Fitness Summit to an in-person format following a virtual-only experience in 2026.

Fitness professionals and students alike are encouraged to mark your calendars, watch for additional details, registration information and speaker announcements in the coming months.

The ACSM & ACE Health & Fitness Summit

will bridge research with tools and strategies that exercise professionals can put to work immediately.

Meaningful networking opportunities

The Summit will serve as an opportunity for exercise science pros and students to connect learning with real-world application, career pathways, and mentorship.
personal trainer coaching a man to do an overhead kettlebell lift

Evidence-Based Education Meets Real-World Application

Educational sessions will explore topics across program design, behavior change, performance, business development and the impact of exercise on overall health and wellness — all grounded in science and structured for immediate application.

GSSI Pre-Conference

The Physiology of Hydration: More Than Water Alone

This session explores the physiology of hydration through an integrated lens—examining how carbohydrate, sodium, flavor, and fluid interact to influence intake, absorption, retention, and performance. We’ll review current research on fluid balance, osmotic drivers, and palatability, highlighting mechanisms that underpin voluntary intake and thermoregulation. Attendees will gain insight into individualized strategies, including sweat profiling and timing approaches, to optimize euhydration and mitigate performance decrements associated with >2% body-mass loss. Practical applications will be linked to laboratory- and field-based research, ensuring translation from bench to field. This pre-conference equips you with evidence-based tools to support athlete hydration across diverse environments and sporting contexts. 

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  • Session 1: Sweating the detail: New insights on hydration considerations for athlete performance
    • Lewis James, PhD, Associate Professor in Human Nutrition in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University
  • Session 2: Functional ingredients in fluid replacement beverages for athletes
    • Lindsay Baker, PhD, Director at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute
  • Session 3: The hydration toolkit: Practical approaches to athlete support
    • Floris Wardenaar, PhD, Associate Professor at the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University