Spa Awards · Annual 12 · 2026

The independent standard for global wellness.

A published annual programme recognising spa and wellness properties through a clear framework, informed review and a permanent public record.

The current annual record is now published.

Wellness architecture opening onto a mountain landscape
Global wellnessPublished 2026
Spa Awards 2026 seal
Independent recognition 2026 Annual 12
Countries
57+
Spa brands
1,316+
Awards given
1,182
Record
Global reach.
Local context.

The 2026 laureate record

A public record of recognised places.

Each published profile connects a property to its location, experience type and current record of recognition.

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From the Spa Awards archive

Places in focus.

A selection previously highlighted by Spa Awards, reunited with each property’s published profile and official website.

Explore the spa directory

Why the distinction matters

Recognition with value for guests and properties.

01

For guests

A concise way to discover properties whose identity, experience and published recognition can be examined in one place.

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02

For properties

A structured programme that places achievements in context and preserves confirmed recognition in a durable record.

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Treatment setting surrounded by a living landscape
Context is considered alongside the complete experience.

Governance & independence

A standard is credible only when its process is visible.

The programme separates nomination, evaluation and publication, and gives every distinction a clear place in the annual record.

Our purpose and principles
  1. 01

    Published methodology

    The framework and stages are available before a property enters.

  2. 02

    Structured review

    Evidence is considered within the relevant category and local context.

  3. 03

    Clear principles

    Recognition and commercial activity remain distinct in the published programme.

  4. 04

    Permanent public record

    Confirmed distinctions remain connected to their edition and profile.

The evaluation framework

Five connected measures of the whole experience.

No single facility or headline feature stands in for the quality of the complete guest journey.

  1. 01

    Service

    Expertise, consistency and care across the complete guest journey.

  2. 02

    Facilities

    Purposeful spaces, maintenance and a setting aligned with wellbeing.

  3. 03

    Innovation

    Relevant programmes and thoughtful evolution of established practice.

  4. 04

    Guest experience

    Clarity, personalisation and value that extends beyond the visit.

  5. 05

    Sustainability

    Responsible choices embedded in operations, culture and place.

The annual programme

From entry to published recognition.

Four distinct stages make the process easier to understand for applicants, properties and readers of the annual.

View the full procedure
  1. 01

    Nomination

    A property enters the programme with an initial record of identity, context and eligibility.

  2. 02

    Review

    Evidence is considered against the published framework and the category entered.

  3. 03

    Evaluation

    The complete experience is examined across five connected criteria.

  4. 04

    Publication

    Confirmed laureates are added to the annual edition and to a permanent public record.

Laureate case study

Published profile · 2026

Cal-a-Vie Health Spa

California, United States

Escape to Cal-a-Vie Health Spa, a Provencal-style sanctuary in California. Experience transformative wellness with 5:1 service, vinotherapy, and elite fitness.

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Cal-a-Vie Health Spa
Luxury Boutique Spa2026 record

Knowledge & perspective

Context for a changing culture of wellbeing.

Editorial analysis, destination intelligence and ideas shaping the way wellness is designed and experienced.

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Destination Portfolio Commissioning & Governance

Wellness Destination Portfolios: Commissioning Before Scale

Wellness destination portfolios bring different spa, performance, hospitality and clinical services into one guest journey. This evidence-led framework helps developers and operators maintain truthful opening status, separate service scopes, test shared infrastructure, verify workforce competence and measure sustainability at both destination and property level before scale becomes the claim.

Read the article

Digital Booking Security & AI Governance

Spa Booking Security: Authorisation Before AI Automation

Spa booking security now extends beyond passwords to every action a person or automated agent can take. This evidence-led framework helps spa operators enforce server-side authorisation, limit AI permissions, protect guest data, make high-impact changes reversible, monitor decisions and rehearse restoration before connecting automation to live reservations.

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Cross-Sector Care & Referral Governance

Spa and Healthcare Partnerships: Scope Before Referral

Spa and healthcare partnerships can connect guest experience with professional care, but only when service boundaries stay visible. This evidence-led framework shows spa leaders how to distinguish signposting from clinical referral, separate consent and sensitive data, govern joint claims, disclose responsibility and test the partnership before a guest pathway goes live.

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Independent recognition

Recognition built to endure.

A transparent annual programme celebrating exceptional properties that advance the culture, craft and enduring practice of wellbeing around the world.