Future of Wellness 2026 Report Signals Shift Toward Human-Centered Health and Women’s Longevity
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
The Global Wellness Summit has released its annual Future of Wellness report, offering a comprehensive forecast of the ideas and forces expected to shape the global health and wellness sector in the year ahead. Now in its longest-running edition, the 150-page report draws on insights from hundreds of experts who convene annually at the Summit, making it one of the most detailed outlooks on the evolving wellness economy.
According to the report, the wellness market has undergone more disruption in the past two years than in the previous two decades. Rapid growth in high-tech, medical, and data-driven approaches—ranging from longevity clinics and advanced diagnostics to the widespread adoption of wearables—has fundamentally reshaped how health is pursued and measured. At the same time, the report notes a growing countercurrent: a strong desire for lower-tech, more human-centered wellness experiences focused on emotional, social, and sensory needs. These opposing forces now define much of the modern wellness landscape and form a central tension explored throughout the 2026 forecast.
The Global Wellness Summit identifies 2026 as another pivotal year, marked by market corrections, cultural backlashes, and renewed focus on populations and challenges that have historically been underserved. The report highlights women’s health as a major inflection point, alongside shifting definitions of longevity, and a broader role for wellness in addressing environmental and human crises.
One of the defining themes of the report is what it calls an over-optimization backlash. As wellness has become increasingly quantified, with constant tracking of sleep, glucose, aging, and performance, the report suggests that many consumers are experiencing fatigue and psychological pressure rather than clarity. In response, wellness offerings are expected to move away from relentless measurement and toward experiences that prioritize emotional repair, pleasure, meaning, and human connection. This shift is reflected in trends such as wellness festivals and social movement gatherings that emphasize music, dance, creativity, and collective release, as well as a resurgence of sensory practices like fragrance layering as a form of personal and cultural expression.
The report also positions 2026 as a turning point for women’s health, particularly within the longevity market. Historically shaped around male biology, the longevity sector is expected to pivot toward women-specific diagnostics, interventions, and life-stage-based care. The report highlights growing recognition of the ovary’s central role in women’s aging and health outcomes, reframing longevity around women’s healthspan rather than symptom management alone. Parallel to this shift, the women’s sports economy is projected to continue its rapid expansion, with new leagues, rising female fandom, and women athletes emerging as influential cultural and commercial leaders.
Longevity itself is expected to expand beyond clinics and retreats into everyday living. The report outlines the rise of longevity-focused residential developments that integrate preventive medicine, diagnostics, AI-enabled health tracking, and wellness infrastructure directly into the home environment. At the same time, beauty and skincare are being redefined through the lens of skin longevity, with advances in biotechnology, diagnostics, and regenerative treatments moving the conversation beyond traditional anti-aging narratives.
Another major focus of the 2026 outlook is the growing role of wellness in responding to large-scale environmental and societal challenges. As climate-related disasters and chronic stress become more prevalent, the report suggests that preparedness and resilience will become core components of wellness. This includes practical readiness planning alongside mental and emotional support. The report also addresses microplastics as an emerging human health issue, noting increasing scientific evidence of their presence in the body and potential links to serious health conditions. In 2026, the emphasis is expected to shift from awareness to action across public health and the wellness industry.
The report further identifies neurowellness as a rapidly emerging frontier, driven by widespread nervous system dysregulation linked to modern digital life. With sleep disruption often serving as an early warning sign, both consumer neurotechnology and established somatic practices are increasingly being positioned as tools for nervous system regulation, with potential applications across healthcare, fitness, hospitality, and real estate.
The Future of Wellness report is the only global wellness trends analysis based on the collective expertise of hundreds of industry leaders, researchers, clinicians, and innovators. Each trend is supported by in-depth research, real-world examples, and emerging business models shaping the next phase of the wellness economy. Amway serves as the exclusive sponsor of the report, supporting its development and global distribution.
Amway Chief Marketing Officer Melodie Nakhle said the annual report provides critical insight into the forces reshaping wellness worldwide, adding that the research supports the company’s commitment to science-driven innovation aimed at improving health and wellbeing across communities.
Media outlets can request access to the full report, while additional copies are available for purchase through the Global Wellness Summit.
