To find the best spa resort on the planet, this year, you don’t need to take a plane, just go up to Pinzolo, in Val Rendena. This is the result of the event World Spa Awardsnow in its twelfth edition, where the title of World’s Best Resort Spa 2026 went to Lefay SPA World, the wellness center of the Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti. From the same award ceremony, Italy also takes home the recognition of the best spa destination in the world.
How prizes are awarded
The World Spa Awards are the little brother of the World Travel Awards and were born from an online vote, which this year was open from 27 May to 4 August. The winners were announced on September 22nd.
The world ranking
There are almost forty global categories, from casino spas to those in airport lounges. These are the main ones:
The Italian winners
Four world titles, therefore, for Italy. Palazzo Fiuggi, which already had the recognition, confirms itself as the best wellness retreat, while the Grotta Giusti in Monsummano Terme wins in a category that seems designed specifically for its underground cavities. On a continental level, Lefay and Palazzo Fiuggi do an encore in their respective categories and Italy also takes the title of best spa destination in Europe. Then there is the national ranking, which the organizers draw up country by country:
