The Bikram yoga franchise landscape in 2026 is fundamentally different from what it was in 2015, when more than 1,650 licensed Bikram studios operated globally and franchise fees were flowing to Bikram Choudhury's organisation. Two events changed everything: Choudhury's departure from the United States in 2016 and his 2023 criminal conviction, and the March 2023 acquisition of the Bikram Yoga brand by KPC Group, a US healthcare company.
This guide covers the current state of the Bikram franchise question honestly: what happened to the original franchise structure, what KPC Group's acquisition means for anyone considering the brand name, what the current branded yoga franchise alternatives look like and cost, and why most 26 and 2 yoga studios in 2026 operate independently rather than under any franchise arrangement.
The original Bikram yoga franchise programme which charged USD 10,000 initial franchise fee plus ongoing royalties, with total investment of USD 235,350 to USD 527,700 effectively ceased operating after 2019. In March 2023, KPC Group acquired the Bikram Yoga brand name. Other branded hot yoga franchise alternatives include YogaSix (USD 300,000 to 500,000 investment) and Real Hot Yoga (USD 225,000 to 385,000).
Most 26 and 2 studios in 2026 operate independently under the 26 and 2 or original hot yoga branding, which requires no franchise fees. The fastest path to owning and operating a 26 and 2 studio in 2026 is independent studio ownership following YogaFX teacher certification.
The History: What the Bikram Yoga Franchise Was
The Bikram yoga franchise programme was established by Bikram Choudhury's Yoga College of India in the early 2000s. The Franchise Disclosure Document from 2010 (publicly available via opensourcehotyoga.files.wordpress.com) documents the original terms:
- Initial franchise fee: USD 10,000
- Total investment for new franchisees: USD 235,350 to USD 527,700
- Ongoing royalty: percentage of gross sales paid to Yoga College of India
- Requirement: studio operator must complete Bikram yoga teacher training
- Territory protection: geographic exclusivity within defined radius
By 2006, the Bikram franchise had expanded to 1,650 studios globally among the fastest-growing yoga franchise operations in history. The 2015 Entrepreneur.com article describes the franchise at its peak: "Opening a Bikram franchise is expensive, starting with a USD 10,000 franchise fee. Studio owners are then required to pay a percentage of sales."
What Changed: 2019 to 2023
2019: Netflix Documentary and Legal Proceedings
The 2017 Netflix documentary and subsequent civil and criminal proceedings against Bikram Choudhury accelerated a rebranding wave across the studio network. Most studios operating under Bikram franchise agreements dropped the brand name and rebranded as 26 and 2 yoga, original hot yoga, or similar alternatives. The royalty payments to Yoga College of India largely ceased as studios terminated their franchise agreements.
March 2023: KPC Group Acquisition
The most significant and least-covered development in the Bikram franchise landscape: in March 2023, the Bikram Yoga brand was acquired by KPC Group, a US healthcare company. Athletech News reported the acquisition: Bikram Yoga had been acquired by KPC Group, which expanded its healthcare offerings to include KPC Lyfe, the group's holistic health initiative.
What this means in practice: the Bikram Yoga name is now a trademark owned by a US healthcare corporation, not by Bikram Choudhury or his former organisation. Any studio that wants to operate under the "Bikram Yoga" brand name in 2026 would need to engage with KPC Group's licensing terms which as of mid-2026 have not produced a publicly documented revival of the franchise programme.
For most 26 and 2 practitioners and studio operators, this development is largely irrelevant. The practice, the 26-posture sequence in heat requires no trademark license to operate. It requires instructors with the appropriate Yoga Alliance credentials and Bikram or 26 and 2 style certification. The brand name "Bikram Yoga" is what KPC Group owns. The method is freely teachable.
Franchise Options in 2026: What Exists
| Brand | Type | Investment Range | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| YogaSix | Franchise | USD 300,000 to 500,000 | Multi-format yoga: heated and non-heated. Not exclusively 26 and 2. |
| Real Hot Yoga | Franchise | USD 225,000 to 385,000 | Hot yoga focus. GlossGenius (Jan 2025) describes as one of the more affordable branded options. |
| Hot Yoga Spot | Franchise | Investment required, verify at IFPG | Hot yoga including Vinyasa and Bikram, barre, fitness, teacher training. |
| Sumits Yoga | Franchise | Verify current terms | Hot yoga franchise. US-focused expansion through Arizona, St. Louis, Kansas, Colorado. |
| OHYA licensed studio | License/affiliation | Varies, OHYA membership plus studio costs | Original Hot Yoga Association, not a traditional franchise but provides brand, standards, and community. |
| Independent 26 and 2 studio | Independent | USD 31,000 to 194,000 | No franchise fee. No royalty. Full ownership. Requires certified instructors. |
The Economics: Franchise vs Independent
The Franchise Cost Burden
A YogaSix franchise at USD 300,000 to 500,000 is primarily a location, fit-out, and licence cost. The ongoing royalty (typically 6 to 8 percent of gross revenue in most franchise models) adds a permanent cost that an independent studio does not carry. At USD 15,000 monthly gross revenue, a 7 percent royalty costs USD 1,050 per month, USD 12,600 per year in perpetuity.
A Real Hot Yoga franchise at USD 225,000 to 385,000 is more accessible but still carries the royalty burden and the constraint of operating within a franchise system's rules. If you prefer complete creative independence over strict corporate franchise guidelines, review our full guide to opening a Bikram yoga studio.
The Independent Studio Advantage for 26 and 2
A 26 and 2 yoga studio operating independently under the "26 and 2 yoga" or "original hot yoga" name carries no brand-name franchise fee because it uses a descriptive name, not a trademark. The 2015 US Ninth Circuit ruling established that yoga sequences cannot be copyrighted. The practice and its name (26 and 2) are freely usable.
An independent hot yoga studio's startup costs range from USD 31,000 to USD 194,000 depending on buildout scope approximately half to one-third of the cheapest branded franchise option, with no ongoing royalty. The OHYA (Original Hot Yoga Association) affiliation model provides a middle path: OHYA membership gives studios community, shared standards, and the "Original Hot Yoga" brand association without traditional franchise fee and royalty structures. This is how many of the most credible 26 and 2 studios in 2026 operate.
Why Most 26 and 2 Studios Are Independent in 2026
- Community loyalty is to the instructor and the practice, not the franchise brand. Practitioners who attended Bikram studios pre-2019 continued attending after rebranding because they valued their instructor and their class, not the Bikram name.
- The 26 and 2 descriptor is available to all independent operators. The practice is freely teachable. There is no brand value that a franchise provides that "authentic 26 and 2 yoga with certified instructor" cannot replicate.
- The royalty burden reduces profitability without adding practitioner value. Practitioners do not pay more for a franchised studio than an independent one in most markets. The royalty is purely a cost to the studio operator.
- The post-2019 rebranding reset practitioner expectations. Practitioners who now search for "26 and 2 yoga near me" are looking for the practice, not a branded franchise. Independent studios capture this search as effectively as any franchise.
The YogaFX Pathway: Certification to Independent Studio
YogaFX does not offer a franchise important to state clearly. What YogaFX offers is the credential pathway that positions a graduate to own and operate an independent 26 and 2 studio with the highest available qualification level:
- Yoga Alliance RYT 200: the internationally portable baseline credential required by all studios hiring yoga instructors and all insurance providers covering yoga instruction
- Bikram Hot Yoga Certification: the style-specific credential that establishes authentic 26 and 2 instruction credentials and positions the holder for the 15 to 25 percent salary premium that hot yoga specialists command
- ACE (American Council on Exercise): the fitness credential that opens studio positions, health club contracts, and corporate wellness contracts that RYT 200 alone does not access
A YogaFX graduate who wants to open an independent 26 and 2 studio is fully credentialed to do so from day one of certification. The pathway from certification to studio ownership typically takes 2 to 5 years of teaching building community, accumulating teaching hours toward E-RYT 500, saving capital followed by studio opening. This is the same pathway most successful independent studio owners have followed. Understanding corporate restructure and the transition toward independent ownership sheds light on the current institutional state of Bikram yoga.
The E-RYT 500 designation which requires 2,000 or more post-certification teaching hours and enables leading teacher trainings is the credential that makes a studio's teacher training programme possible. Teaching trainings from your own studio is the revenue stream that distinguishes financially sustainable studios from those that depend entirely on class memberships.
What to Consider If You Want a Hot Yoga Business in 2026
Do You Want a Franchise Brand or a Practice?
If your primary concern is brand recognition, customer acquisition systems, and an established operational playbook, a franchise (YogaSix, Real Hot Yoga) provides this at significant cost. If your primary concern is teaching the authentic 26-posture sequence with minimal overhead and maximum ownership control, an independent studio is the better model.
Do You Have the Capital?
The minimum viable independent hot yoga studio requires USD 31,000 to 65,000 in startup capital plus operating reserve. A branded franchise requires USD 225,000 to 500,000. If your capital is below USD 100,000, independent is the only viable path. If you have USD 300,000 or more and want brand support, franchise options exist.
Do You Have the Credentials?
Any hot yoga studio requires at least one certified instructor with Yoga Alliance RYT 200 and Bikram or 26 and 2 style certification. A studio that wants to run teacher trainings requires an E-RYT 500. If you do not yet have these credentials, getting certified is the first step before evaluating any franchise or independent studio options.
OHYA vs Fully Independent
The OHYA (ohyassociation.com) affiliation model is worth evaluating as a middle path. OHYA provides community, shared standards, instructor credentialing through approved programmes, and the "Original Hot Yoga" brand association. It is not a traditional franchise no required royalty, no franchise disclosure document but provides more structure and community than fully independent operation.
FAQ
Is Bikram yoga still a franchise?
The original Bikram franchise programme effectively ceased operating after 2019 when most studios terminated franchise agreements and rebranded independently. In March 2023, the Bikram Yoga brand name was acquired by KPC Group, a US healthcare company. As of mid-2026, KPC Group has not publicly launched a new franchise programme under the Bikram Yoga name. Most 26 and 2 studios in 2026 operate independently without any franchise arrangement.
How much did a Bikram yoga franchise cost?
The original Bikram franchise (Yoga College of India, pre-2019) had a USD 10,000 initial franchise fee and total investment of USD 235,350 to USD 527,700 according to the 2010 Franchise Disclosure Document. Ongoing royalties were paid as a percentage of gross sales. This programme is no longer available. Current branded hot yoga franchise alternatives: YogaSix (USD 300,000 to 500,000), Real Hot Yoga (USD 225,000 to 385,000).
Can I open a Bikram yoga studio without a franchise?
Yes. The 26-posture Bikram yoga sequence is not protected by copyright a 2015 US Ninth Circuit ruling established that yoga sequences cannot be copyrighted. Any certified instructor can teach the sequence independently under names like "26 and 2 yoga," "original hot yoga," or similar descriptors without paying franchise fees. An independent hot yoga studio's startup costs range from USD 31,000 to USD 194,000 depending on buildout scope significantly lower than any branded franchise option.
What happened to the Bikram yoga franchise?
The Bikram yoga franchise grew to 1,650 studios globally by 2006. Following Bikram Choudhury's departure from the US in 2016 and the 2017 Netflix documentary, most studios terminated franchise agreements and rebranded independently. The franchise fees flowing to Yoga College of India effectively stopped. In March 2023, the Bikram Yoga brand name was acquired by KPC Group. The practice continues to be taught in hundreds of studios globally under various alternative names.
What credentials do I need to open a hot yoga studio?
The minimum: Yoga Alliance RYT 200 from a Registered Yoga School plus a Bikram or 26 and 2 style-specific certification for at least one instructor. To lead teacher trainings from your studio: Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 (requires 2,000 post-certification teaching hours). To register your studio as a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School (enabling you to certify your own graduates): USD 595 registration fee plus ongoing annual renewal. YogaFX awards RYT 200, Bikram Certification, and ACE simultaneously for USD 1,699.