Global Wellness Summit 2026: Precision Longevity, Women's Health, and Neuroaesthetics Take Center Stage at Landmark 20th Anniversary Conference
Key Insights
The 20th annual Global Wellness Summit (search) will convene in Phuket, Thailand, from November 10–13, 2026, under the theme "The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness."
Leading geroscientist Andrea Maier, MD, PhD, will discuss the future of precision geromedicine and radically personalized longevity science, while Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner will keynote on lifestyle-driven healthspan.
The Global Wellness Institute (search) will unveil the 2026 Global Wellness Economy Monitor, providing new data on the $6.8 trillion global wellness economy and the rapidly expanding Asian wellness market.
The Global Wellness Summit (search) (GWS) has announced the full speaker lineup and agenda for its landmark 20th anniversary conference, set to take place at Angsana Laguna Phuket, Thailand, from November 10–13, 2026. Under the theme "The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness," the Summit will convene CEOs of wellness companies, physicians, academics, investors, tech innovators, and policymakers to explore what organizers describe as a critical inflection point for the $6.8 trillion global wellness industry.
"Our industry is at another pivotal moment, where advances in science, medicine and longevity are converging with a return to—but also a reinvention of—the timeless need for connection, creativity and purpose," said Susie Ellis, GWS chair and CEO. "There's no more perfect place to explore this future than Thailand, where ancient wellness traditions are being united with an impressive push to become the world's newest medical-wellness and preventative health destination."
Patana Promphat, Thailand's Minister of Public Health, echoed this sentiment, stating, "The theme, The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness, truly reflects Thailand's identity, heritage and way of life. For centuries, Thailand has embraced a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, one that connects body, mind, spirit, community and nature."
Precision Longevity and the Future of Medicine
A central focus of the Summit will be the evolution of precision and longevity medicine, with experts examining how these fields are becoming radically personalized and increasingly attentive to women's health. Andrea Maier, MD, PhD, a globally renowned geroscientist, professor of medicine at the National University of Singapore, and founder of Asia's first precision geromedicine clinics (Chi Longevity (search)), will deliver a keynote on the trajectory of longevity science.
Dan Buettner, founder of the Blue Zones movement and #1 New York Times bestselling author, will present on what he describes as a personal bet on the future of longevity. His decades of research have demonstrated that some of the world's healthiest, longest-lived populations owe more to culture, community, and lifestyle than to clinical interventions.
George Gaitanos, MSc, PhD, chief operating and scientific officer of Chenot Group (search), brings over 30 years of experience spanning elite sports performance, lifestyle medicine, and preventive health. He will deliver what organizers call a provocative keynote arguing for a far broader understanding of lifelong health.
Christopher Asandra, MD, founder and medical director of AsandraMD in Beverly Hills, California, and a leader in precision and age-management medicine, hormone optimization, and personalized preventive healthcare, will explore what he characterizes as a massive, unmet opportunity in Asia for women's health, hormone therapy, and personalized longevity medicine.
Asia's Booming Wellness Tourism Market
The Summit will spotlight Asia's remarkable growth in wellness tourism. According to data released by GWS, the Asian wellness tourism market grew 31% in 2024 to reach $215 billion, surpassing Europe for the number of wellness trips. Four of the top five recent annual growth leaders are in Asia: India at 57%, Thailand at 36%, South Korea at 36%, and China at 35%.
William E. Heinecke, founder and chairman of Minor International (search), will deliver a keynote drawing on his experience building one of the world's largest hospitality and restaurant groups from Thailand. He will offer perspective on why Asia is now setting the pace in wellness travel and the opportunity for the region to define, rather than follow, what comes next.
Cathy Feliciano-Chon, managing partner of FINN Partners APAC, will moderate a conversation with Ronald Akili, co-founder of Bali's Potato Head, and Huy Hoang, founder of Japan's Shishi-Iwa House, examining how Asia's independent hospitality brands are creating a different future for wellness travel—with creativity, culture, community, and sustainability at the core. Ingo Schweder, founder and CEO of GOCO Hospitality (search), will lead a panel of experts discussing the wealth of opportunities emerging across Asia.
Neuroaesthetics and the Intentional Spaces Design Challenge
The Summit will delve into the emotional and creative dimensions of wellness, with a particular emphasis on the role of the arts in human wellbeing. Susan Magsamen, neuroaesthetics pioneer, founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and co-author of the New York Times bestseller Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, will present the latest research on how music, art, and architecture can transform brain health and overall wellbeing.
Tal Danai, founder and CEO of ArtLink, will preview an ambitious film initiative celebrating traditional craftsmanship and artisan cultures around the world, arguing for the crucial role that creativity and cultural preservation will play in the future of wellness.
A highlight of the conference will be the launch of a first-of-its-kind Intentional Spaces Design Challenge, developed by the GWS and Johns Hopkins University's Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics, in strategic partnership with Aldar Properties (search). The initiative will explore how neuroaesthetics and neuroarchitecture can shape healthier buildings, communities, and public spaces.
Market Intelligence and Industry Evolution
The Global Wellness Institute (search) will unveil the 2026 Global Wellness Economy Monitor, the industry's authoritative research publication, providing new data and insights on both the global and Asian wellness markets. Additionally, strategists will analyze the evolution of beauty, consumer wellness trends, and wellness marketing over the past 20 years while forecasting what the next two decades may hold. Keynotes in this segment include Kelly Kovack, founder and CEO of BeautyMatter; global brand strategist Nick Vaus, founder of Free The Birds; Beth McGroarty, vice president of research at the Global Wellness Institute; and Dave McCaughan, an Asia-based marketing expert.
The conference will also celebrate Thailand's wellness traditions, featuring the award-winning Buddhist Chanting Team from Dhammajarinee Witthaya School, an initiative that empowers underserved young women through education, made possible by Summit co-chair Jessica Jesse, founder, CEO, and creative director of Zen Collective and BuDhaGirl.