Monday December 1st, 2025

Top 9 leading trends in health tourism in 2026

The world of wellness travel is entering a new era: instead of associations with hospital corridors, it now offers premium relaxation, sensory rituals, and formats that are becoming global hits.

At a time when we strive to prolong our youth and cling to technology, attention is returning to what matters most — pleasure, balance, and vivid sensations. The new generation of hotels and wellness retreats are betting on experiences that are becoming must-tries: nighttime “star bathing,” sets from top DJs, rejuvenation through the silence of the desert, and format rituals that are already becoming global hits.

Here are 9 trends that will change the world of wellness tourism in the coming years:

1. Socialization instead of isolation

We are social beings, and in an era of global loneliness, travelers crave live communication. Spas and hotels are creating shared spaces where guests can interact rather than hide in their rooms. For example, the new Santosha Wellness Club at The Retreat (Costa Rica) is specially designed with luxurious lounge areas and a tapas bar for casual socializing after treatments. In turn, the famous Scorpios Bodrum in Turkey blurs the lines between a spa and a nightclub: during the day, group sound baths are held here, and in the evening, dancing. The same concept of social wellness will appear in their new locations in Dubai and Aspen.

2. Saunas as theater and entertainment

Saunas are transforming from places for quiet sweating into venues for spectacular shows. The trend for aufguss (a German ritual of “infusion”) is taking the world by storm: steam masters stage theatrical performances with music, aromatic oils, and towel choreography. For example, the Italian resort Preidlhof has a whole team of aufguss masters who perform in a four-story sauna tower, turning the procedure into an art form. And at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (Canada), the BASIN Glacial Waters space has opened, where similar shows in the sauna are already included in the price of admission as part of the entertainment program.

3. Women’s health: attention to every stage

The industry is finally paying attention to women’s needs throughout their entire life cycle — from fertility to menopause. Instead of taboo topics, luxury spas offer comprehensive support programs. Canyon Ranch in Texas, scheduled to open in 2026, will present “Women’s Collective,” which will focus on the specific needs of women aged 30, 40, 50, and 60+. Another interesting format is offered by the Mom’z project, which organizes “baby moons” for expectant mothers in Portugal and Spain, involving professional doulas in retreats and using visualization techniques.

4. Wellness becomes a family affair

SPA is no longer an “adults only” zone. Parents want to instill healthy habits in their children from an early age, and resorts are responding with multi-generational programs. The Joali Being resort in the Maldives has created a separate B’Kidadult zone with yoga for the little ones and fitness parties for teenagers. And the neighboring Six Senses Kanuhura offers joint breathing practices and brain training that both parents and children can join in on, turning wellness into a shared game.

5. Spirituality and celestial ceremonies

We are returning to “mystical” practices: full moon ceremonies, chakra alignment, and nature rituals are becoming the new mainstream of luxury vacations. At Cayo Levantado Resort (Dominican Republic), guests participate in ceremonies that are clearly linked to the astrological calendar and the phases of the moon. And the upcoming Eha retreat in Estonia has gone even further, basing its programs on local pagan beliefs and a deep reconnection with nature.

6. Brain training (Neuro Health)

Instead of grueling workouts, travelers are increasingly opting for memory exercises: neurohealth is becoming the focus of leading wellness clinics. Industry pioneers — Clinique La Prairie in Switzerland, Lanserhof Tegernsee in Germany, and SHA Wellness, which will open in the Emirates in 2026 — are launching programs based on cutting-edge technologies. Kamalaya has introduced Cognitive House with neuroactive training, while Chenot Weggis is focusing on classic cognitive practices, including bridge lessons.

7. Meaningful hobbies and finding purpose

Blue Zones research confirms that having a passion prolongs life. Resorts are developing programs around peaceful hobbies that encourage us to slow down and find new meaning. In South Africa, Sterrekopje Farm offers gardening retreats based on the “soil to soul” concept, teaching guests how to interact with the earth. And Blackberry Mountain in Tennessee combines active hiking with meditative ceramics and painting classes in a studio located right in the mountains.

8. Star baths

Gazing at the night sky calms the nervous system and gives a sense of scale that is so lacking in the city. Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in California has introduced “galactic wellness” by inviting professional astronomers to its own observatory. Six Senses Kanuhura also supports this trend by holding nighttime meditations under the moonlight accompanied by the soothing sounds of singing bowls.

9. The magic of the desert

Water-based therapies are gradually giving way to the healing power of the desert. Silence, boundless spaces, and dark starry skies create the perfect conditions for complete renewal. Exclusive itineraries through the Atacama (Chile) and Sahara (Morocco) deserts are now available, including meditative walks and tea rituals. This trend is supported by the legendary Leela brand, which will open its first luxury desert resort in Jaisalmer (India) in 2026.

Source: Condé Nast Traveler

We know the locations where these trends are implemented to a truly impeccable standard, and we will select a trip for you that will fill you with energy, inspire you, and give you new meaning.