Hosting the Snap Fitness EMEA Summit 2026 | Live Event Host Matthew Walker

31 May

Four Years. Four Summits. This One Was the Best Yet.

19th, 20th and 21st May 2026. Three days at Centre Parcs Woburn Forest. 300+ of the most passionate, driven and genuinely wonderful people in the fitness industry. And the privilege, for the fourth consecutive year, of standing on that stage as Lead Presenter and Host of the Snap Fitness EMEA Summit.

This is what I do. And events like this are exactly why I love doing it.

What Is the Snap Fitness EMEA Summit?

The Snap Fitness EMEA Summit is the flagship annual conference for Snap Fitness franchisees, club managers and the wider Lift Brands network across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It brings together hundreds of fitness professionals for three days of strategy sessions, leadership content, keynote speakers, networking and evening entertainment, all built around a single theme.

This year, that theme was For the Feeling.

It was the perfect lens through which to look at everything Snap Fitness stands for. The idea that every membership, every coaching session, every community built inside a club exists to create a feeling. Stronger. Belonging. Progress. That is what drives this brand. And over three days, that theme ran through every session, every conversation and every moment of the event.

The Programme

Spread across three full days, the 2026 summit was the most ambitious yet, combining plenary sessions, dedicated Club Manager and Franchisee tracks, keynote speakers, interactive workshops, team-building activities and a Gala Awards Dinner.

Day 1 opened the summit in the Main Plenary with an EMEA update from Kevin Yates, a global business update from Ty Menzies and Andy Peat, an industry landscape session from UK Active, and the keynote from Monty Summers. The evening brought the room together for a global quiz night, sponsored by ABC Glowfox, with Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Asian food stations and a Musical Bingo finale inspired by the theme.

Day 2 went deeper, with dedicated sessions for Club Managers and Franchisees running in parallel across the morning. Paul Stephenson and Chloe Kinch opened with 'For the Experience,' followed by sessions on the joining experience, member engagement, onboarding and elevating club standards. A Club Manager Panel hosted by Tom Claffey was one of the standout moments of the day. The afternoon took everyone outside for a GPS Treasure Hunt through the Centre Parcs forests, inspired by Snap Fitness's sponsorship of Tough Mudder and Spartan UK, before an evening of bowling, arcade games and pizza at the Leisure Bowl.

Day 3 featured sessions on content strategy from Jemma Harris and Michelle Ogun, a confidence and community outreach workshop from comedian and coach Joey Page, and a leadership session from Jaclyn Hughes. The afternoon brought everyone together for a G2G workshop before the evening culminated in the Snap Fitness 2026 Gala Awards Dinner, complete with a saxophonist, an Ibiza-themed opening act, 11 awards presented by Kevin Yates, and an after-party that kept things going well past midnight.

The People Who Made It

A summit of this scale is only as good as the people in the room. And in that respect, the 2026 event was exceptional.

Outstanding sessions were delivered by Marianne Boyle, Tom Claffey, Dean Hodgkin, Paul Stephenson, Chloe Kinch, Jemma Harris and Michelle Ogun. Andy Carr and Andy Peat did what they always do, delivered brilliantly in the sessions and then somehow gave Ant and Dec a run for their money hosting the quiz on Tuesday evening.

Jaclyn Hughes was one of the best speakers I have had the pleasure of watching from the stage. Honest, driven, passionate and hugely entertaining. A force of nature in the best possible sense. And thanks to Monty Summers, a real gentleman, a compelling speaker and someone who understood the room entirely.

Huge congratulations and thanks to Kevin Yates, Ty Menzies and Sarah Townend from the Lift Brands team for trusting me with this event for a fourth year. It is a privilege I do not take for granted.

And to the people without whom none of it happens: Debbie Glennon, Tony, Adam, John and Tucker in the gallery; wingman James Diment; and the GOTO Events team, Carlie, Megan, Abbie, Katelyn, Mr Tidman and Mr Tidman. Nothing short of sensational. The best in the business.

[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Behind the scenes, production team, event crew, evening set-up]

Why Events Like This Matter

The Snap Fitness EMEA Summit is not your average conference. It is a masterclass in what a corporate event can be when the client genuinely cares, about the content, about the experience and about the people attending.

From the moment delegates arrived to the moment they left, every detail was considered. The sessions were relevant and challenging. The speakers were world class. The evening events were memorable. And the energy in that room, across three full days, never dropped.

That does not happen by accident. It happens because of exceptional people at every level of the organisation, working to the same standard.

Whether fitness is a huge part of your life or you are just beginning your journey, I cannot recommend Snap Fitness enough. Their passion for helping people feel stronger, belong somewhere and become the best version of themselves is something you simply do not see everywhere.

[VIDEO PLACEHOLDER: Snap Fitness EMEA Summit 2026 showcase video, Kelham Productions]

Hosting Corporate Events, Conferences and Award Ceremonies

If you are looking for a professional live event host, conference presenter or business moderator for your next event, whether that is an annual summit, a leadership conference, an awards ceremony or a large-scale corporate gathering, I would love to hear from you.

With over 15 years of experience across television, live events and corporate productions, I bring the same qualities to every stage: clarity, warmth, authority and an instinct for the room. From intimate gatherings of 50 to main stage events exceeding 1,000 guests, I work with leading brands and organisations across the UK and internationally to make sure their events land the way they should.

The Snap Fitness EMEA Summit 2026 was the fourth year I have had the privilege of hosting this event. I hope to be back for a fifth.

Onwards to 2027. 👊