You’ve seen them everywhere. From the high-end malls in SoCal to the bustling streets of Shanghai, the iconic "A" logo (which is actually a stylized 'a' for the original name, Athletically Hip) is basically the uniform of the modern era. But if you’re trying to pin down exactly how many lululemon stores are there right now, the number is moving faster than a morning HIIT class.
As of January 2026, lululemon is sitting on a global empire of roughly 800 stores.
I say "roughly" because the company is currently in the middle of its most aggressive expansion phase ever. Just a few weeks ago, in late December 2025, they dropped a massive announcement: 2026 will see them enter six brand-new markets. We're talking about a record-breaking year for the brand.
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The current count: Breaking down the numbers
To really understand the footprint, you have to look at where they’ve been. By the end of their second fiscal quarter in 2025, the company officially reported 784 company-operated stores. That was a jump from 721 just a year prior.
They aren't just opening tiny boutiques either. Many of these newer locations are "vibe-heavy" flagships. Honestly, lululemon isn't just selling leggings anymore; they’re selling a specific kind of lifestyle real estate.
Here is how the map looked heading into this year:
- The United States: Still the heavyweight champion with over 375 stores.
- China Mainland: This is where the real heat is. They've surpassed 150 stores here, and the growth shows no sign of slowing down.
- Canada: The home turf has about 70 locations.
- Australia & New Zealand: A solid presence with around 40 stores.
- The Rest of the World: This category is a mix of EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and other APAC markets, hovering around 150 locations combined.
It's a lot. But it’s about to get even bigger.
Why 2026 is the year of the "Global Sprint"
If you think lululemon is saturated, the board of directors would politely disagree. They are currently executing the "Power of Three ×2" strategy. Basically, they want to quadruple their international revenue by the end of this year.
To do that, they are moving into markets most people didn't see coming. In 2026, the brand is officially launching physical footprints in Greece, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and India.
This is a bit of a pivot. Usually, they own and operate every single store. But for this massive 2026 push, they are leaning heavily on a franchise model. In Europe, they’ve partnered with the Arion Retail Group. In India, they are teaming up with Tata CLiQ.
It’s a smart move. It lets them scale fast without the massive overhead of managing every single storefront in a new country from their Vancouver headquarters.
What happened to the US market?
You might have heard some chatter about lululemon "slowing down" in North America. There’s some truth to it. While they are still opening stores in the US, the pace has definitely cooled compared to the wild growth of the 2010s.
Activist investors, like Elliott Investment Management, have recently taken a billion-dollar stake in the company. They’re pushing for efficiency. This means lululemon is getting pickier about where they set up shop in the States. Instead of just "more stores," they are focusing on "better stores"—think larger footprints that can hold their growing footwear line and men's collections.
Not just stores: The "Other" locations
When people ask how many lululemon stores are there, they usually mean the big, shiny permanent ones. But lululemon is the king of the "pop-up."
During the holiday seasons or in seasonal towns like Aspen or Montauk, they often run temporary "seasonal" stores. These don't always show up in the official "company-operated store" count in quarterly earnings reports, but they are a huge part of how people interact with the brand.
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Then there are the partner-operated locations. In places like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, you’ll find lululemon stores that are run by third parties. As of the last audit, there were about 30–35 of these partner stores worldwide.
Is the bubble going to burst?
Honestly, the athleisure market is crowded. You've got Alo Yoga and Vuori nipping at their heels. Nike is trying to reclaim the "wellness" space.
But lululemon has a weirdly loyal community. Their store count keeps rising because their "community-first" model actually works. Each store usually has "ambassadors"—local yoga teachers or run club leaders—who keep the brand relevant at a grassroots level.
The strategy for 2026 seems to be:
- Fix the US product mix (more "innovative" fabrics).
- Go nuclear on international expansion.
- Use franchises to hit markets that were previously too "risky."
What this means for you
If you’re a fan of the brand, expect to see lululemon in places you never expected. If you're traveling through Europe this summer, don't be surprised to see a store opening in Athens or Warsaw.
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For the savvy shopper, more stores usually means better inventory management and more "We Made Too Much" sales as they clear out old stock to make room for new regional-specific items.
Actionable Insights for 2026:
- Check Local Listings: If you are in the six new expansion markets (India, Greece, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Romania), keep an eye out for "community activations" before the stores officially open. They usually offer free classes to build hype.
- The App is Key: With the shift toward a more digital-heavy strategy in new markets, the lululemon app often gets exclusive "early access" to drops that physical stores won't have for weeks.
- Monitor the Franchise Shift: If you’re an investor or a retail nerd, watch how the Arion and Tata partnerships perform. If they succeed, lululemon will likely stop owning its stores entirely in smaller markets, which changes the whole business model.
The "Align" empire is far from finished. By the time 2026 wraps up, we’re likely looking at a total count well north of 850 locations worldwide.