The winner was a mountain spa center with an area of approximately 5,000 square meters. It offers 9 different saunas to suit every taste.
Italy won the World Spa Awards‑2026, earning the title of the world’s best destination for spa holidays.
According to The Independent, the main award among resort spa centers was received by Lefay Spa World at Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti, which covers an area of about 5,000 square meters and is located among the mountains.
It is noted that the complex offers guests 9 saunas with varying temperatures and humidity levels, which they can enjoy using five different modes; several indoor and outdoor pools; a hydromassage area with magnesium‑rich salt water; massages; phytotherapy; qigong; and meditation.
Palazzo Fiuggi received another prestigious award – it was recognized as the best wellness retreat in the world. This establishment in central Italy combines healing traditions with advanced medicine, creating personalized programs and individual treatments for its guests. Among the available treatments are cryotherapy, intravenous procedures, IV drips and blood tests as part of the medical package, saunas, light and sound therapy.
In the category of thermal spa caves, the Tuscan Grotta Giusti won. The resort is located in a thousand‑year‑old cave, the largest of its kind in Europe, where guests can recover in natural thermal waters.
At the same time, important awards also went to New York. Thus, Guerlain Wellness Spa at Waldorf Astoria New York was named the best hotel spa in the world in 2026. The facility offers, among other things, exclusive massages, a sauna, a steam bath, an Arctic cave, and a wellness center.
Another New York complex, World Spa, won in the category of the best day spa. Guests there receive an impressive range of services, including Eastern European baths, Finnish saunas, Turkish and Moroccan hammams, and Japanese onsens, as well as 70 treatment rooms.
“This year’s winners embody the highest standards of excellence, innovation, and guest service, demonstrating the ongoing vitality and development of our industry. ‘Their achievements inspire travelers around the world and confirm the important role that spa and wellness play in improving well‑being and quality of life,’” Rebecca Cohen, Managing Director of the World Spa Awards, concluded.
The most popular countries for spa holidays
As we reported, Vietnam previously topped the list of popular spa destinations, showing a staggering 175% increase in the number of Google search queries. This Asian country offers a huge variety of leisure options — from thermal springs and meditation to herbal baths and Vietnamese massage.
Second place in the ranking was taken by Morocco in northern Africa, interest in which increased by 84%, where, in addition to traditional Moroccan hammams, visitors sought to try thalassotherapy (procedures using seawater).
Konstantin is an acclaimed travel writer, celebrated for transforming ordinary journeys into extraordinary narratives. With years of experience exploring diverse destinations across the globe, his work blends vivid storytelling, cultural insights, and practical advice to inspire wanderlust and guide readers toward unforgettable adventures.
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