The global wellness industry is now worth $6.8 trillion – that’s more than the pharmaceutical industry.
Wellness is officially big business – and it’s inescapable.
Scroll your socials. Open your news feed. Watch a reel. Check your inbox. Play a podcast. It’s all wellness – all the time. Which is great… but also totally overwhelming.
We’re being told to meditate, hydrate, fast, track, ice-bath, avoid seed oils, get our steps in, stretch before bed – and somehow stay calm about it all.
It’s not that we don’t care about our health. It’s that we’re burnt out by the volume of advice.
That’s the real shift in 2026. People are walking away from the noise. Not from wellness – but from the pressure, perfectionism and performance that’s been layered on top of it.
The trends that are landing now are the ones that simplify, not stress. They fit real life. They make us feel human again.
So here’s what’s in, what’s out, and where wellness is really heading.
Camilla Thompson (pictured) is the author of Biohack Me. She reduced her bio-age by 10 years
WHAT’S IN FOR 2026
The buzzword is ‘HEALTHGEVITY’ – moving away from talking about longevity (how many years we live for) and moving towards how many years we live in good health!
1. Social Wellness Comes First
Connection is the cornerstone. Walking with a mate, sauna catch-ups, group swims – social interaction is finally being recognised as a form of health, not just a by-product of it. Sober sauna raves are even popping up globally.
2. Joy as a Health Metric
It’s not just about reducing stress anymore – it’s about increasing joy. Laughter, dancing, creative flow, silliness, play. The next frontier in wellness isn’t discipline. It’s pleasure. Book time for it like you would a meeting.
3. Digital Boundaries
Tech-free hours, app limits, phones out of the bedroom – presence is now part of the protocol. We’re using devices to help us use them less. The irony isn’t lost on anyone.
Functional Strength: Over Aesthetics It’s not about visible abs. It’s about being able to lift, carry, move, climb stairs and age well. Being strong, mobile and pain-free is the new goal
4. Real-Life Biohacking
No more elite protocols or overpriced gear. Australians are redefining biohacking: supporting energy, brain function and recovery with simple, sustainable basics. It’s about tuning into your body – not outsourcing it.
5. Sleep That Actually Feels Good
We’re past obsessing over sleep scores. While tracking can help shift habits (68% of people who track their sleep change their behaviour because of it), it’s not the goal. In 2026, sleep is about feeling rested, not chasing a number. Rest is real when it’s felt – not just measured.
6. Test, Don’t Guess
Guesswork is out. Data is in. More Australians are turning to DNA testing, hormone panels and gut analysis to personalise their health. Preventative care is becoming proactive – not reactive. We’re finally asking better questions and getting more targeted answers.
7. Walking for the Win
The most underrated movement is making a comeback. No gym, no app, no expensive gear. Just movement, ideally barefoot on the grass or beach. Low effort, high impact – for body and brain.
Nature as Daily Medicine: Ocean dips, sun on your skin, hands in the soil. We’re coming back to the oldest wellness tool there is – the outdoors. Doctors in some countries are even prescribing time in nature
8. Recovery is Non-Negotiable
Cold showers, stretching, sauna sessions, slow Sundays – recovery is now seen as part of the process, not a break from it. Rest is where growth happens. Prioritise it like you would your work.
9. Functional Strength Over Aesthetics
It’s not about visible abs. It’s about being able to lift, carry, move, climb stairs and age well. Being strong, mobile and pain-free is the new goal.
10. Nature as Daily Medicine
Ocean dips, sun on your skin, hands in the soil. We’re coming back to the oldest wellness tool there is – the outdoors. Doctors in some countries are even prescribing time in nature.
WHAT’S OUT IN 2026
1. Drinking to Cope or ‘Switch Off’
That after-work ritual is losing its glow. More Australians are questioning their relationship with alcohol – not from fear, but from clarity. Energy, mood and sleep all improve without it. Alcohol is becoming a conscious choice, not a default.
2. Performative Wellness
Curated morning routines, aesthetic smoothie bowls and unrealistic daily schedules are falling flat. In 2026, if it doesn’t work IRL, it’s out. No more trying to impress the algorithm.
3. Celebrity Wellness Plans
Unless you’ve got a private chef, trainer and 12 hours a day, it’s not relevant. People are tuning out health advice that doesn’t apply to real lives.
4. Ultra-Processed Foods Are Out
The science is catching up to what many already suspected: ultra-processed foods are doing serious damage. A major 2025 global review linked them to harm across nearly every organ system – not just weight gain. People are now prioritising real, whole foods most of the time, not because of a diet trend, but because it’s a foundational investment in long-term health.
‘Pushing too far, too fast or too often isn’t aspirational anymore,’ she said
5. Shame and Guilt Culture
No more ‘being good’ or ‘falling off the wagon.’ Wellness in 2026 is consistent, flexible and kind. Life happens – health doesn’t need a moral scorecard.
6. Extreme Wellness Trends & Quick Fix Culture
Pushing too far, too fast or too often isn’t aspirational anymore – it’s exhausting. Harsh restrictions and extreme routines are being replaced with balance and sustainability. 30-day resets. Detox teas. Unrealistic overhauls. These are losing traction. Long-term health doesn’t happen in 30 days.
7. Supplement Overload
The overflowing drawer of pills and powders? People are over it. Testing-led, targeted supplementation is in – but the focus is shifting back to real food and habits first.
8. Gimmicky Wellness Products
If it needs a huge marketing campaign to explain it, it probably isn’t working. Consumers are getting smarter, and wellness spending is becoming more discerning.
No more ‘being good’ or ‘falling off the wagon.’ Wellness in 2026 is consistent, flexible and kind. Life happens – health doesn’t need a moral scorecard
9. Social Media Comparison
We’re seeing through the filters. Health looks different for everyone. Most online content is curated – not real. And AI isn’t helping.
10. Treating Health Like a Hustle
Grinding through fatigue. Skipping rest. Pushing harder. That mindset is on its way out. Listening to your body is now seen as the new high performance.
Wellness certainly isn’t new. But how we do it is evolving.
We’re stripping it back. Returning to basics. Ditching the noise. And focusing on what actually works.
The trends that are sticking in 2026 are the ones that acknowledge how people really live – not how they wish they did.
