ALMA FESTIVAL UNVEILS ITS FIFTH EDITION IN THE BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES OF SICILY | News
From September 17 to 20, 2026, Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte hotel, will host ALMA by ANÍMA, marking a new chapter for the wellness festival as it celebrates its fifth edition in Sicily. The annual immersive gathering brings together wellness, culture, longevity and human connection in an environment deeply rooted in Mediterranean life. Surrounded by nature and the resort’s expansive beauty, guests are invited to slow down, reconnect and experience a more intentional pace of life.
Over the past four editions, ALMA has become a defining voice in the global wellness world, curating transformative experiences that unite visionary thinkers, practitioners, creatives and cultural leaders shaping the future of modern wellness.
This year’s program offers an inspiring range of experiences and conversations, including movement sessions with Kim Strother, breathwork with Rob Rea and explorations of Sicily’s famous Blue Zone lifestyle with longevity physician Dr. Ingrid Yang.
“The framework for longevity has existed in Sicily for centuries, woven into the way Sicilians eat, move, rest and show up for each other. ALMA is an opportunity to experience these principles not as a concept, but as a lived practice,” says Dr. Ingrid Yang.
Close to the resort is the emerging Blue Zone of Caltafellotta, a region increasingly recognized in sustainability research, supported by the Verdura Resort and often listed alongside the world’s most celebrated Mediterranean Blue Zones. Here, daily exercise, nutritious food, strong social connection and a deep relationship with nature continue to shape a way of life associated with long-term health and vitality.
These principles are naturally integrated into every aspect of the Verdura Resort experience, from nutrition and exercise to tranquility, community and holistic wellbeing, making Sicily a fitting home for ALMA 2026.
Designed to be experienced at an individual pace, the festival flows between guided sessions and open moments for rest, reflection, learning and integration. Days move seamlessly from movement and conversation to immersive wellness experiences, while evenings bring guests together through music, ceremonies and communal dining under the Sicilian sky.
“Verdura Resort is a place where the life-extending Mediterranean lifestyle truly reigns supreme. Located near an emerging Blue Zone, it is also home to the organic farm that supplies ingredients for Irene Forte Skincare and Irene Forte Spa, which is rooted in this holistic wellness mindset. I couldn’t imagine a more fitting setting for Alma Festival.” Irene Forte
Highlights of the program
• Opening Ceremony: Manifesting Miracles with David Ghiyam
• Lasting Power Morning Exercise with Kim Strother
• The Breath Connection: Rest and Digestion with Rob Rea
• Living in the Blue Zone: Mediterranean Principles for Longevity with Dr. Ingrid Yang
• Caltafellotta excursion: exploring an emerging blue zone in practice
• Rituals for a longer life of the skin with Irene Forte
• Contrast Therapy: Hot & Cold with Dr. Ingrid Yang
• Sanctum Movement Series with Luuk Melisse, including a coastal walk and Signature Sanctum Sequence
• Yoga, Pilates and daily exercise
• Evening music performances and ceremonies
Mediterranean living has long embodied what modern wellness increasingly seeks to define: a balance between nutrition, exercise, rest and meaningful connection. ALMA by ANÍMA brings these elements together in a carefully curated experience designed not just to be attended, but to truly be lived.
“We’re moving beyond wellness as something incidental. The focus now is on how to build a way of life that supports you physically, mentally and emotionally every day.” Talana Bestall, founder of ALMA & ANÍMA.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
A three night stay at Verdura Resort. Full access to the Alma Frequency Program and Visionaries from September 17 to 20, 2026. Full Board: The Alma Meal Package includes breakfast, lunch and community dinners as part of the Alma Program. *excluding alcohol
Resort Room with Sea View:
€3,928 / single use
3 bedroom villa with sea view:
€4,143 / single use
ALMA | ALMA is ANÍMA’s annual gathering, a transformative, immersive experience focused on wellness, culture and longevity. Over the past five years, ALMA has developed through a series of curated festivals and experiences in breathtaking locations including Ibiza and the Swiss Alps, building a global community of practitioners, visionaries and cultural voices. Conceived as an intimate, multi-day experience, it unfolds through movement, nourishment, ritual and connection, led by a curated collective of visionaries shaping a global community that continues to grow. Designed as a catalyst for change, ALMA offers a regenerative experience that invites guests to reconnect, reset and reimagine their lives.
ANÍMA Frequency | ANÍMA Frequency is a modern wellness platform dedicated to optimal living, bringing longevity and rituals into daily practice. Combining clinical expertise with a wellness perspective, ANÍMA offers expert-led protocols, wellness tools, digital content and immersive experiences designed to support lasting change.
Verdura Resort and Rocco Forte Private Villas | Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte hotel is spread over 230 hectares of olive groves, citrus groves and 1.8 km of private coastline, between the Valley of the Temples and Sciacca on the south-west coast of Sicily. The resort combines modern architecture with Sicilian tradition, with 203 rooms and suites and 20 exclusive private villas: luxury hilltop residences with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. The diverse dining options range from specialty cocktail bars and all-day casual dining to luxury dining, each highlighting the best of Sicilian cuisine, with an international twist. The flagship Irene Forte Spa offers a 4,000 m² retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation. Kyle Phillips’ two award-winning 18-hole golf courses make Verdura Resort a premier destination for golf enthusiasts.
