What are the most important global wellness trends you see shaping the next decade, and which of them do you feel Asia is leading rather than following?
The most powerful is the convergence of wellness and medicine. Longevity clinics and programmes, advanced diagnostics and wearables, and a far more medical focus on women’s health and longevity are reshaping the market. There’s a growing backlash against stressful, high-tech, performative wellness in an age of digital and AI overload.
Asia is leading rather than following in several key ways. The region is becoming the living lab for our ageing world; it was first to experience plummeting birth rates and fast-ageing populations. Governments are shifting systems toward prevention, from China’s Healthy China 2030 vision to new programmes training doctors in longevity medicine that span diagnostics, AI, exercise, nutrition and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
Looking back at previous Summits, what feels different about the dialogue in 2026 in terms of priorities, tone or urgency?
The dialogue has become much more urgent and practical. Governments are far more engaged because they recognise that prevention isn’t simply good for individuals, it’s essential for tackling ageing populations, rising healthcare costs and long-term economic resilience. Consumers increasingly demand evidence, and wellness is now seen as a lifelong ecosystem connecting medicine, lifestyle, environment and community.
How are markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore and mainland China redefining what modern wellness looks like, especially for affluent, time-poor consumers?
Singapore has become one of the most compelling examples of how public policy, healthcare and wellness can work together, with imaginative strategies — from step challenges that earn rewards to tax breaks for intergenerational living — showing how a city can engineer healthier outcomes.
China’s extraordinary enthusiasm for fitness, preventative health and indigenous wellness traditions, especially among younger generations, is reshaping the global conversation. There’s growing confidence in combining TCM with modern science, alongside remarkable innovation in digital health and wellness technologies.
Hong Kong continues to show leadership in urban wellness, finding ways to integrate nature, movement, green spaces and wellness infrastructure into one of the world’s densest cities. Across all three markets, wellness is increasingly embedded into how cities, hotels, workplaces and homes are designed.
What does longevity-driven wellness programming look like when it’s done well?
The best longevity programming isn’t about living to 120, it’s about living well for as long as possible, with the emphasis on healthspan rather than lifespan. Done well, longevity isn’t just a collection of expensive tests or treatments; it’s a comprehensive, long-term approach that combines movement, nutrition, sleep, stress management, social connection, purpose and preventive healthcare, all supported by appropriate scientific evidence and united with cutting-edge medicine.
How is guest behaviour changing postpandemic in terms of what people expect from wellness experiences?
Before Covid, many viewed wellness as an occasional activity — a spa treatment, a fitness class or a healthy holiday. Today, wellness is far more integrated into daily life, and guests expect it to touch every aspect of their experience. Sleep, nutrition, movement, emotional wellbeing, social connection and even environmental design are now seen as interconnected parts of a larger whole.
What responsibilities do industry leaders have to make wellness more inclusive and accessible?
We’ve seen a stronger commitment to democratising wellness through initiatives like Global Wellness Day and more accessible models. Preventative diagnostics are dropping in price, and even brands once synonymous with ultrapremium longevity are introducing more attainable memberships. At the same time, more midmarket hospitality brands are integrating wellness into everyday offerings instead of positioning it as an expensive add-on, which is exactly the direction the industry needs to pursue.
‘The understanding that movement, nutrition, sleep, social connection, purpose and preventative care are the true foundations of healthy longevity will be even more firmly established in the years ahead’
How is the Global Wellness Summit addressing questions of equity, ethics and cultural sensitivity in the way wellness is defined and promoted globally?
Our non-profit sister organisation, the Global Wellness Institute, was founded with the vision of “empowering wellness worldwide”, recognising that the consumer market alone cannot deliver wellness for all. Its policy work and evidence resources help governments, communities and businesses address gaps and expand access, while industry initiatives and scholarships encourage broader conversations around representation, accessibility and cultural inclusion and bring emerging leaders from underrepresented communities to the Summit.
It’s vital that we honour authentic origins. This year’s Summit in Thailand puts Asia’s remarkable heritage in the spotlight while exploring how those traditions are evolving alongside modern science.
What emerging theme at the 2026 Summit do you think will still feel relevant — or even more urgent — five years from now?
The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness theme will only grow more relevant because it reflects where wellness is heading while honouring its roots. Science will continue to transform the industry and the integration of medicine and wellness will accelerate. At the same time, we’re recognising that clinical interventions alone aren’t enough; people need beauty, creativity, purpose and connection. That’s why we’re emphasising the role of the arts in wellbeing, from music and performance to architecture, design and neuroaesthetics.
The understanding that movement, nutrition, sleep, social connection, purpose and preventative care are the true foundations of healthy longevity will be even more firmly established in the years ahead.