Community based group exercise classes that combine aerobic, strength and flexibility components specifically designed for older adults are commonplace. With the increased interest in exercise for improving quality of life in older adults, trained instructors are becoming more in demand yet little is known about the instructor preferences of the older adult participants. The present study evaluated group exercise instructor preferences of physically active older adults. Participants were 35 males and 113 females aged 59-87 years attending group exercise classes at urban community centers. Participants were asked via a written questionnaire to read a list of group exercise instructor characteristics and to indicate whether they thought each characteristic was ‘important' or ‘not important'. A frequency distribution of the ‘important' instructor characteristics was performed. The rank order of the top six characteristics that were rated ‘important' by 70% or more of the participants were as follows: 1) the ability to lead a variety of exercises, 2) being physically fit, 3) enjoys teaching, laughing and having fun, 4) being enthusiastic/motivated, 5) having a caring personality, and 6) having easy to follow routines. In addition, chi square analyses were performed to investigate age, gender and race relationships between the top six most important instructor characteristics. Overall, these findings suggest that physical and anthropometric characteristics such as being physically fit are more important than being thin, muscular or of the same sex and race. Personality characteristics such as enjoyment, laughing, having fun, being enthusiastic, caring and motivated are very important. Class choreography components such as the ability to lead a variety of exercises and having easy to follow routines are more important than having good timing and rhythm. Qualifications such as being certified and having a degree in exercise science are not that important. Older adult exercise instructors should take these preferences into account and incorporate them into their classes as a tool to encourage participant retention and motivation.