Global Wellness Summit 2026 to be held in Phuket, Thailand

The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) has revealed that next year’s event will take place in Phuket, Thailand.

Speaking at the grand finale of the 2025 GWS in Dubai, chair and CEO Susie Ellis announced that next year will mark the 20th anniversary summit.

Alongside Nancy Davis, GWS chief creative officer and executive director of the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), Ellis revealed the location during the annual flag-raising ceremony.

Thailand’s director-general of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Dr Pongsathorn Pokpermdee, attended the GWS to formally receive the hosting rights.

The event will take place on November 10-13 2026. Registration details can be found here.

Leading Woman in Wellness Award

GWS 2025 also recognised Mary Tabacchi with its annual Leading Woman in Wellness Award at the event.

A spa industry pioneer, Tabacchi is professor emirata of the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration as well as an author and researcher.

Cited as being one of the first academics to study wellness, she has a PhD in biochemical nutrition and biostatistics, and has served on the boards of both GWS and ISPA.

The award was presented by the 2024 award winner Amy McDonald, founder of Under a Tree consulting. Previous winners also include ESPA founder Sue Harmsworth and spa training expert Julie Bach.

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