A record-breaking 2025 is giving way to an even stronger 2026 for Brooks. The Berkshire Hathaway-owned running brand enters the year with leadership locked in US specialty retail and a China business that tripled in a single quarter.
Brooks Running posted 23 percent global revenue growth in Q1 2026, delivering double-digit gains across all major regions and building on what the brand described as a record-breaking 2025.
In a statement released May 1, the Seattle-based performance brand reported 20 percent growth in North America and 30 percent currency-neutral growth in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for the January – March period. Sales in China rose 136 percent year over year.
In the US, Brooks held the No. 1 position in performance running footwear at specialty retail in Q1 and roughly 20 percent market share at national retail – a position it has held for 11 consecutive quarters. Its core franchises accounted for three of the top five styles and more than 12 percent of all performance running footwear sales, according to data from Circana.
In Germany and France, the brand outpaced the market at all price points on a rolling-year basis, delivering 24 and 15 percent growth respectively.
Glycerin Flex launch captures 4% of footwear revenue
The quarter saw the launch of the Glycerin Flex, a new silhouette built around what Brooks calls an industry-first articulated, segmented midsole. Backed by a 3D out-of-home campaign in New York’s Times Square, the shoe accounted for 4 percent of Brooks’ global footwear revenue in its first quarter on the market.
Existing franchises contributed significantly to the headline number. The Glycerin, the brand’s top-selling style, grew 34 percent year over year. The Adrenaline GTS – now in its 25th year – rose 31 percent. Racing and speed product saw the sharpest gains: the Hyperion Elite franchise climbed 114 percent year over year, the broader Hyperion family expanded 32 percent, and the Hyperion Max grew 64 percent. Trail footwear overall increased 59 percent, driven in part by the launch of the Cascadia Elite racing shoe.
Brooks’ apparel line grew 33 percent year over year, and the brand captured five of the top 10 bra styles at run specialty retailer Fleet Feet. Lifestyle product – including the Brooks x STAPLE Cascadia 1 and Ghost Trail, which debuted at Paris Fashion Week in January – more than doubled year over year.
“Let’s Run There” campaigns paired grassroots run crews with celebrity performance storytelling
The brand advanced its “Let’s Run There” global platform through two Q1 campaigns. The first partnered with nine run crews worldwide to show how running builds community at the local level. The second followed actor, singer and producer Cynthia Erivo, MBE, as she prepared for a personal best at the London Marathon, where she ran 3:21:40, coached by Brooks athlete Erika Kemp, wearing the Hyperion Max 3.
Brooks also confirmed it reviewed its leadership structure during Q1 to support the next phase of global scaling, though no details were provided.
