The World Spa Awards has announced its 2026 winners, recognising the top spas, wellness retreats, brands and experiences across the globe.
In its 12th edition, the platform highlighted that Italy made a “strong showing” this year, as it was named the World’s Best Spa Destination for 2026 – ahead of nominees from Australia, Hawai’i, the Maldives and Japan.
Several Italian properties also took home global titles this year, including the Palazzo Fiuggi, which was crowned the World’s Best Wellness Retreat.
Located in the historic spa town of Fiuggi, known for its mineral rich waters and sweeping hilltop views, the expansive retreat has built its wellness programme around what it calls the “Fiuggi method”. This draws on the town’s natural springs, alongside medical and holistic treatments.
Centred on four pillars – purify, nourish, energise and connect – Palazzo Fiuggi utilises ancient holistic practices alongside traditional western medicines to support guests’ wellbeing, health and longevity.
Each stay begins with a targeted evaluation and diagnostic consultancy involving the facility’s scientists, doctors and specialists to curate a personalised programme for best results.
Which other Italian spas ranked best in the world?
Lefay SPA World at Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti was named the World’s Best Resort Spa.
This property in the Dolomites offers a “temple of wellness” which stretches more than 5,000 square metres. Promising a synergy of East meets West, available treatments include lymphatic drainage, detoxifying massage, cupping and mud therapies.
This year’s World’s Best Thermal Grotto Spa also went to an Italian nominee: Grotta Giusti Thermal Spa Resort. Grotto-inspired retreats blend spa therapies with recreating a small cave environment – think stone-clad interiors and a subterranean vibe.
Located in Tuscany, Grotta Giusti features a millenary cave, which is Europe’s largest natural thermal grotto that extends over 200 metres in the resort’s subsoil. Here, temperatures range from 28C to 34C, with the steam released being beneficial and therapeutic, according to the resort.
Guests can take steam baths, try their hands at “pil-oga”, which combines pilates and yoga, and even go scuba diving into the cave’s thermal water.
Europe reigns at the World Spa Awards
Italian resorts weren’t the only European winners to claim a title this year, with Air France by Sisley named the World’s Best Airline Lounge Spa. The wellness and relaxation space at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport offers a selection of treatments for Air France La Première passengers.
Meanwhile, Switzerland was named the World’s Best Wellness Destination, while Austria’s Geinberg5 Villas received the World’s Best Private Spa award.
France’s Spa L’Occitane en Provence at Le Couvent des Minimes won the World’s Best Eco Spa title and Portugal’s Vila Vita Spa by Sisley at Vila Vita Parc the World’s Best Spa Service Excellence.
Elsewhere in Europe, there were awards for Six Senses in London for the World’s Best New Wellness Retreat, Greece’s Guerlain Spa at One&Only Aesthesis as the World’s Best City Resort Spa, and, among others, SHA Spain as the World’s Best Wellness Clinic.