Les Mills Founder Phillip Mills Named First Inductee in 2026 HFA Hall of Fame Class

Phillip Mills, founder of Les Mills International and a trailblazer in group fitness, will be inducted into the Health & Fitness Hall of Fame as the first announced member of the 2026 class. The induction ceremony will take place on March 15, 2026, ahead of The HFA Show 2026 in San Diego.

Additional inductees for the 2026 class will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Phillip Mills exemplifies the kind of visionary leadership the HFA Hall of Fame was created to honor,” said HFA President and CEO Liz Clark. “His pioneering work in group fitness has not only transformed how millions of people move, but also how they connect—with each other and with their own well-being. Phillip’s global impact through Les Mills International continues to elevate our industry and inspire the next generation of fitness leaders.”

Mills launched his fitness career in the 1980s, introducing exercise to music programs to gyms. He transformed a small gym in Auckland, New Zealand to a leading fitness chain. In 1990, he revolutionized the industry with the creation of Bodypump, a barbell-based group workout that became a global phenomenon. Today, Les Mills International operates the world’s largest group fitness program with classes offered in 22,000 gyms across 120 countries.

Over the years, Mills has earned numerous accolades, including induction into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2022 and Ernst & Young’s NZ Entrepreneur of the Year. He was also featured in the September 2025 issue of Health & Fitness Business, where he discussed his journey and vision for the future of fitness.

On October 2, Mills will deliver the keynote address at the 2025 HFA European Congress in Amsterdam. His talk, “The Power of Reinvention: How Les Mills Shaped Group Exercise for Generations,” is sponsored by Virtuagym. 

“It’s an incredible honor to be inducted into the HFA Hall of Fame alongside so many pioneers who’ve shaped our industry,” said Mills. “From the early days in Auckland to building a global movement through Les Mills, I’ve always believed in the power of group fitness to transform lives. This recognition is a tribute to everyone who’s joined me on that journey.”

The HFA Hall of Fame honors individuals whose contributions have elevated the association’s and the industry’s profiles, set new standards for leadership, and advanced the industry’s commitment to improving physical and mental health through exercise.

The inaugural class of the HFA Hall of Fame, inducted at The HFA Show 2025 in Las Vegas, was composed of Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Rick Caro, Red Lerille, Julie Main, John McCarthy, and Augie Nieto.

A new class will be inducted each year, based on the following criteria:

• Health and fitness business community leaders who have invented, innovated, created, and grown services, products, and programs that have shaped the industry;
• Those who have expanded the industry over time and its impact around the world and/or driven key development and improvement of the association over time;
• Exceptional advocates whose message has resonated with non-governmental organizations and government officials on behalf of association and industry goals; or,
• Seminal industry, academic, and allied organization leaders as determined by the Hall of Fame selection committee.

Tickets to the HFA Hall of Fame induction ceremony are available for $250 and can be added during The HFA Show registration process. Proceeds from the tickets go to the HFA Foundation, a 501(c)3 public charity that works to support health through exercise.

For more information about the HFA Hall of Fame and to register for The HFA Show, visit healthandfitness.org/show.