Peloton Theme Rides, Runs and Classes

Last week, I took one of the latest Peloton theme rides. It was Sam Yo’s Star Wars ride, complete with robes, light sabers and screen “wipes” like in the Star Wars movies.

It was a boatload of fun and reminded me of Kendall Toole’s Movie Buff theme rides. If you’ve never taken one of those, I recommend finding one of the Halloween ones. You’ll really feel like Jason or Freddy is chasing you, which is a great reason to pedal faster. So much fun.

Despite these examples, it’s important to know that there are Peloton theme runs, walking classes, yoga flows, strength classes and more.

In fact, there are even special badges you can earn for doing one of these Peloton themed classes.

Why write about Peloton theme rides, runs and classes

I decided to write this article about the various themed classes on Peloton for a simple reason: people are confused about where to find themed classes, what exactly qualifies as a theme ride or workout, and how many different artists have been part of these collections.

So think of this as your Peloton theme ride guide. In it I’ll answer some common questions, such as:

• What is the Peloton artist series
• How do you find the artists series on your Peloton
• Where are the artist series rides and classes on the Peloton app
• What are some of the best Peloton theme rides

Definition of a Peloton themed ride or class

When I’m talking about these Peloton theme workouts, there are a couple of definitions. I’m going to explain each one below.

Peloton workouts based on music genres

There are themes based on music categories. For example, there are Broadway rides and Disney themed rides, runs and classes.

In addition, there are themes based on the genre of music. That could be country, alternative or R&B.

Finally, there are themed rides, runs and classes based on a specific decade of music. So it might be 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s or 2010s. Wonder when Peloton will add music from the 2020s.

The Artist Series is part of the themed rides

Then, there are the Peloton Artist Series classes. These are exactly as they sound–a collection of rides, runs, classes and workouts from a specific artist or band, such as the recent Beyonce series.

Peloton programs can also have themes

Also, there are themed classes based on Peloton programs. So, I would put all of the Power Zone rides under the category of theme rides.

Interestingly, even themed rides have their own themes. For instance, there are some Power Zone Rock rides or Power Zone eighties rides–some a theme on a theme.

This article teaches you more about Power Zone training.

Themed rides with specific Peloton instructors

Peloton has theme classes based on instructors. From what I can tell, nearly all of these are on the bike.

Some of these are regular programming, such as Sundays with Love (Ally Love) as well as the Jess King Experience, which really is an experience. You must look up her Rocky Horror JKE (short for Jess King Experience) theme ride or the one where she has all of the (then-current) Peloton instructors riding along with her. 

Also, for the longest time Jenn Sherman regularly had Yacht Rock rides. If you’ve listened to Yacht Rock Radio on SiriusXM, then you have an idea of the kind of music she would play. For those of us GenX Peloton users — or at least for me — it was a happy throwback to elementary and middle school years.

Speaking of Yacht Rock, did you know that Straight No Chaser, the a cappella group, has a Yacht Rock tour? They’re bringing it to the Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine, among other stops, in 2024.

Other Peloton instructor-specific workouts happen occasionally, but Peloton has grouped them all together under Collections. This includes:

• Jenn Sherman’s Epic Sing a Long rides
• XOXO, Cody rides with Cody Rigsby
• Movie Buff with Kendall (Toole)
• Club Bangers with Alex Toussaint

Holidays and celebrations also result in themed workouts

Every year Peloton instructors record holiday classes. And when I say holiday classes, I mean two holidays that might have you dressing up in some sort of costume. And that would be Halloween and Christmas.

You might see Matty Maggiacomo dressed up as The Grinch (either for a Christmas or Halloween workout), leading a Tread class. Many other instructors dress up as well.

I think my favorite Halloween workout was when Matt Wilpers dressed up as fellow instructor Olivia Amato, right down to the glitter.

Also, if you’re doing the Tunde Arm Challenge, then you know one of the classes in rotation is her Halloween workout–I think she’s an ice princess.

In addition, you can take Christmas yoga classes. You would search for them using the search term “holiday yoga.” And then you can click on the preview to see which Christmas and other holiday music will be in the class.

In addition, Peloton often has monthly themes that reflect current events, if you will. So, February would be classes created around Black History month, for example. 

Themes Peloton rides and classes based on music genre

Many times Peloton instructors will create their classes around a music genre. For example, when I first got my Peloton in 2016, Christine D’Ercole was doing a regular New Wave Wednesday class. Sadly, those have all been purged. However, she continues to do New Wave and alternative music classes.

Other instructors create classes built around a music genre or a musical decade. Anna Greenberg recently had an alternative music yoga flow. And if you read my post about Peloton walking classes, then you know that I love Jess Sims’ outdoor walking, audio-only 90s music class. It’s all jock jams.

How do you find music theme classes

The best way to find a themed class is by using the filter. This is true whether you’re searching for a music themed class on the Peloton app, website or hardware (Bike, Bike+ or Tread). I’ll provide instructions for each.

How to find music themed classes on Peloton app

In addition to using the Collections tab to find a music themed class on the Peloton app, you can also follow these steps:

1. Launch the Peloton app
2. You’re in the Classes section. Now, tap the category of class you want to take (Strength, Yoga, etc.)
3. Tap Filter
4. Tap Music
5. Scroll down to see your music options

Music theme choices from the filter

Your choices for music themes are:

• Alternative
• Classic Rock
• Country
• Electronic
• Hip Hop
• Indie
• Latin
• Pop
• R&B
• Rock

You’ll see these options in nearly every category of Peloton class.

What’s surprising, though, is that none of the class categories have classical music as an option. Because I know I’ve taken classical music rides with Christine, and I’ve done a classical music walk with Becs Gentry.

The only class category that does not offer a choice of music genre or theme is meditation. But that makes sense–you can’t exactly meditate to country music or classic rock. Well, maybe you can but I prefer something more spa-like and instrumental.

How to find music themed classes on Peloton hardware (Bike, Bike Plus or Tread)

Once you log into your Bike, Bike Plus or Tread, you can find music and other themed classes this way. Here are the steps to take.

1. On the bottom of the screen, tap Classes
2. On the next screen look in the upper left corner for Collections.
3. Tap Collections
4. Scroll down to choose which series of classes you want to take

There are two other ways to find music themed classes on the Bike, Bike Plus or Tread.

1. Follow the steps above to get to Classes
2. Look in the upper right hand corner for Filters
3. Tap Filters
4. Choose Music
5. Select the genre you want

The third and final way to find music themed classes on the Bike, Bike Plus or Tread is as follows.

1. Follow the steps above to get to Classes
2. In the upper right hand corner, tap the Spyglass
3. Type in the music genre, decade or musical artist

Your results will show as a group of music artists (if you searched by genre or decade) and also the classes that either have that theme or include at least one tune by the musical artist.

How to use the search function on the Peloton

Using the above steps, I typed in Classical. I wanted to see how many classical music rides and classes there were. Unfortunately, my results included more than the Classical Music rides and yoga flows I wanted to find.

It also included the phrase “Classic” or “Classics.” So a lot of Classic Rock rides and a Sam Yo Holiday Classics Ride. You would think the Peloton search filter would be a little bit more sophisticated than to give these kinds of results.

How to find music themed classes on the Peloton website

Downstairs in my home we have a Roku TV, which has the Peloton channel on it. So, I’ve included instructions, below, on how to find classes using a Smart TV.

However, upstairs, where I have my bike, I use my laptop and an HDMI cord connected to a TV to do non-bike classes. If you’re like me and access Peloton through a browser, here is how to find a music themed class via the website:

1. Go to Peloton website
2. Click on My Memberships
3. Then click on Take Classes
4. Click the category of class you want to take.
5. Click on the Filter in the Upper Right Hand corner
6. Choose Music from the dropdown menu

You can also choose Collections from the top menu and search that way as well.

Finally, the Peloton website just added a search feature. Yeah! So if you want to find these classes, look for the spyglass to the far right of where it says “Browse Classes.” Click on the spyglass and then type in your search phrase.

Here’s my blog post on how to search for Peloton classes.

How to find music themed Peloton classes on Smart TV

If I wanted to find a themed music class on my Roku TV, these are the steps I’d take.

1. Choose Peloton channel
2. Click on my Profile
3. Go to left-hand side menu
4. Choose the type of class I want to take
5. Click over to Filter on top right of the screen
6. Scroll down to Music and click on that. There you’ll see the music category choices to choose from

Where are the Artist Series rides and classes on the Peloton app

The easiest way to find the Peloton Artists Series rides and classes on the app is to look under Collections. So, when you launch the app, look at the icons across the top. There you’ll see the following:

• Classes
• Programs
• Collections
• Schedule

Opening Collections on the Peloton app

Tap Collections and then scroll down to Artist Series. It will be listed as cross training, not just rides, because, well, the Artist Series isn’t just rides on the Peloton. There are runs and walks on the Tread or Outdoor audio only classes, there are strength classes and, of course, there are yoga flows.

Here is how the Peloton describes its Artist Series when you launch it on the app:

“Your favorite artists. Your favorite instructors. All in one place. Take any class on the Bike, Tread or app.”

As of this writing there are 427 classes in the Peloton Artist Series on the app. I’ve included the musical artists, listed in alphabetical order by first name (which is how Peloton organizes these themed classes).

Also, I should note that this list of artists is what you’ll find if you access the Artist Series on the web or via the Peloton hardware:

• ABBA
• AC/DC
• Alicia Keys
• Amy Winehouse
• Aretha Franklin
• A Tribe Called Quest
• Bad Boy Entertainment
• Bad Bunny
• The Beatles
• Beyonce
• Big Freedia
• Billie Eilish
• Billy Joel
• BLACKPINK
• Bob Marley
• Bon Jovi
• Britney Spears
• Calvin Harris
• Celia Cruz
• Celine Dion
• The Chainsmokers
• Cher
• The Chicks
• Chris Cornell
• Coldplay
• Common
• D Smith
• David Bowie
• Desmond Child
• Dolly Parton
• Ed Sheeran
• Ellie Goulding
• Elton John
• Elvis
• Eminem
• Eric Church
• Fleetwood Mac
• Foo Fighters
• Grateful Dead
• Guns N’ Roses
• Hamilton
• Harry Styles
• In the Heights
• J Balvin
• Janelle Monae
• JLO (Jennifer Lopez)
• Justin Bieber
• Karol G
• Keith Urban
• King Princess
• Lady Gaga
• Lauryn Hill
• Lil Wayne
• Little Mix
• Lizzo
• Madonna
• Max Richter
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Melissa Etheridge
• Metallica
• Mickey Guyton
• Miley Cyrus
• Nicki Minaj
• Outkast
• Ozuna
• P!nk
• Pitbull
• Post Malone
• Power Hour with Deadmau5
• Prince
• Queen
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• RENT
• Sam Smith
• Sean Paul
• Shakira
• Silk Sonic
• Smokey Robinson
• Spice Girls
• Taylor Swift
• The Weeknd
• Tiesto
• USHER
• The White Stripes
• Whitney Houston
• Wicked
• Wyclef Jean

How I chose which musical artists to include in the list

I’ve included musical artists, above, as long as there are at least two classes per artist. But you’ll notice on the Peloton app that sometimes there are one-off rides that were included in the Artist Series, such as a single Cody Backstreet Boys ride or Denis’ Weezer ride (one of my favorites). 

Specific artists in the Collections

In addition to the Peloton Artist Series, you can also find individual collections within, well, Collections. These are artist-specific classes.

So if you scroll down past the Artist Series (which appears pretty close to the top), you’ll find individual artists whose classes are also organized in Collections.

This would include the Red Taylor Swift classes group together. It’s also the same with David Bowie, The Beatles, USHER and more.

Where are the Peloton artist series rides and classes on the website, Bike or Tread

If you access your Peloton classes through a laptop or browser, it’s easy to find the Peloton artist series. All you need to do is log in and then click on Collections across the top of the browser screen. 

Under Collections you’ll find the Artist series rides and classes and many of the other collections of themed classes that Peloton offers. This includes the newly launched Boxing series, which I intend to take so I can earn the new Boxing badge, too. 

In addition, you’ll follow similar steps to access the Peloton Artist Series on the Bike, Bike+ and Tread. Just look for Collections, and then scroll down to find the Artist Series.

Disney Peloton Rides and Classes

Perhaps one of the most popular themed rides that Peloton has done of late are the Disney rides. Well, Disney classes, to be clear. Because these themed workouts aren’t just rides on the Peloton bike.

For example, there is the recent Encanto Yoga Flow with Mariana Fernandez. And I know that Encanto is a Disney film.

In addition, also in yoga, is a 20-minute Fit Family Flow: Disney with instructor Kristin McGee. The playlist includes songs from “Moana,” “The Lion King,” “Aladdin” and more.

There’s another Fit Family Fun: Disney class, too. This time it’s from Jess Sims, and it’s only 15 minutes long. All the music is from “The Lion King,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin.”

Spotify Disney Hits in Peloton Artists Series Theme Classes

There’s another collection of Disney rides, runs and classes. And it is literally under Collections on the Peloton app, website and on the hardware.

It is the Spotify Disney Hits classes. Right now, there are four of them and they include:

1. 30 minute Spotify Disney Hits Yoga Flow with Aditi Shah
2. 20 minute Spotify Disney Hits Bodyweight Strength class with Rebecca Kennedy
3. 20 minute Spotify Disney Hits Ride with Cody Rigsby
4. 30 minute Spotify Disney Hits Run with Becs Gentry

Peloton Broadway theme classes

There are a number of ways you can find the Peloton Broadway theme rides, runs and classes. You can start in the Peloton Artists Series, which you’ll find under Collections. Then you can scroll to look for your favorite Broadway shows.

So far I’ve found the following:

• Hamilton
• In the Heights
• Rent
• Wicked

The Collections series appears on the app, Peloton website and the Peloton hardware aka the Bike, Bike Plus and Tread.

Speaking Hamilton, here’s what the original Hamilton cast is up to lately.

Searching for Broadway theme classes on the Peloton

In addition, you can search on the Bike, Bike Plus or Tread. Start by going to classes. Then look for the search spyglass. Tap that. Then type in either Broadway or the specific show you’re looking for.

The search results will bring up everything that matches, including specific songs, which you can use to deepen your search. Or it will show you classes that are Broadway themed or that have Broadway songs in them.

Here’s another option. Back under Collections, you can scroll down and look for the Broadway Series. As of this writing it has 18 classes in that collection and includes all of the shows I’d mentioned above, plus a Mamma Mia ride (probably to go with the ABBA themed classes).

Here is my article devoted to the Peloton Broadway series.

Holiday Collection Themed Classes

Peloton tends to go all out with holiday rides. Primarily, you’ll see instructors dressed up in costumes for Halloween or for the December holidays.

If you want to get into the December holiday spirit, then you’ll want to look for two specific groupings of classes under Collections. One, there is the Holiday Collection, with 70-plus rides, runs and classes set to holiday music. So, these are holiday themed workouts.

Two, there are the Stacking Stuffers classes. This is another series of holiday themed workouts but without the holiday music, for the most part.

Peloton introduced Stacking Stuffers in 2021 and I loved them. Clearly playing on the term Stocking Stuffers, these are a collection of 15-minute classes, in all genres, that you could easily stack for a workout. Thus, Stacking Stuffers. 

Here is my blog post on how to stack Peloton classes

Heritage and Identity themed Peloton classes

As I mentioned in the introduction, Peloton often celebrates certain heritage and identity-themed weeks or months, such as February and Black History Month. 

Also, May is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Here is how Peloton describes this specific themed collection:

“Join us as we celebrate the beauty and strength of the Asian and Pacific Islander community. Through music, themed classes and more, we’re highlighting this expansive culture rich with unique identities and stories all month long.”

Some of the music themes and artists during Asian Pacific Island Heritage Month include Silk Sonic classes. Why Silk Sonic? It’s a duo of Bruno Mars (born in Hawaii) and Anderson Paak (half Korean).

In addition, it’s where you would find a Bollywood Pilates class with Aditi Shah and a K-Pop ride with Ally Love.

Finally, some other heritage and identity themed classes that you’ll find in Collections include:

• Latinx Heritage Month
• Pride
• Women’s History Month

Special badges for Peloton theme classes

If you’re a Peloton badge whore, I mean aficionado, like I am, then you’ll love this part about taking Peloton theme classes: you can earn special theme badges.

For example, when Peloton launched the Red Taylor Swift class collection in December 2021, they also launched two special Taylor Swift badges as part of an Artist Series challenge. I wanted them both. 

So, I devoted one single day’s workout to taking the required number of Taylor Swift classes so I could earn the Red (Taylor’s Version) badge as well as the Super Swiftie Badge. What classes did I take to earn these themed badges? 

• 20 minute Red (Taylor’s Version) Core Class with Robin Arzon
• 30 minute Red (Taylor’s Version) Yoga Flow with Anna Greenberg
• 10 minute Red (Taylor’s Version) Stretch with Ben Alldis

Here is how to recreate the Taylor Swift workout with Peloton classes.

Where do you see themed badges you’ve earned

If you’d like to see how many themed badges you’ve collected over time, go into your Peloton profile, and then choose Achievements. Under Special Events you’ll find all of the badges.

Best Peloton theme rides

I realize that everyone’s taste in music or theme is different. However, based on my opinion, these are some of the best, most fun theme rides on Peloton, based on music:

• Robin Arzon Lizzo Ride 8/2/19
• Christine D’Ercole P!nk Ride 11/1/19 (Note: when searching for this class, you must put the exclamation point in her name, not the “i”.)
• Denis Morton Weezer Ride 1/2/20
• Christine D’Ercole Women’s History Month Ride 3/8/20
• Emma Lovewell Foo Fighters Ride 11/17/21
• Jess King Experience 11/21/19 with all of the instructors
• Sam Yo AC/DC Ride 12/1/21

Of course, Peloton has started to purge some of the 2019 classes. Soon enough, there won’t be any classes left from the old studios, which makes me sad. Some of my favorites were filmed there.

And, in fact, under Collections you’ll find a series called Peloton Studios. These are all of the classes, starting in 2022, that have members in them. You can read more about Peloton Collections classes here.

Anyway, those are my final thoughts on Peloton themed rides, runs and classes. Tell me: what are some of your favorites? Did I miss covering anything about themed workouts? If so, post a comment and let me know.