5 Interesting Wellness Trends for 2026
With the global wellness industry worth around $6.8 trillion according to McKinsey, the world continues to embrace and adopt new ideas and trends to help with boosting physical appearance, mental wellbeing and maximising longevity. Whether these trends start with influencers or celebrities, we soon find them being used and consumed in our daily lives.
We discuss 5 interesting ones that continue to grow and emerge in 2026.
Dry January: A Health Habit Going Mainstream
Dry January has become far more than a one-month challenge — it’s now a major cultural health trend in the UK.
Every January, millions of people choose to cut out alcohol for the whole month to reset their bodies after the festive season. In recent years participation has grown dramatically.
In 2025, around 32 % of British adults planned to take part in Dry January, according to community group, Help4Addiction.co.uk. This means roughly one in three people intended to give up alcohol for January. This represents millions of individuals choosing a booze-free month rather than casual drinking.
This trend is about more than just abstaining for 31 days. Many people use it to reassess their relationship with alcohol, improve sleep, boost energy and support weight management. Support tools like tracking apps and daily motivational emails help participants stay focused, and studies show that those who use these supports are more likely to stay alcohol-free for the month and maintain lower drinking levels later in the year.
The popularity of this approach has prompted venues and brands to cater to low- and no-alcohol lifestyles all year round. While “Dry January” began as a short-term challenge, it is evolving into a year-round shift where many people moderate their drinking or choose mindful consumption habits instead of regular alcohol use.
Aesthetic Skincare and Cosmetic Procedures Through New Providers
In 2026, skincare and cosmetic treatments are no longer the sole domain of high-street salons and beauty clinics. A growing number of dentists and dental practices are now offering treatments like microneedling, Dermapen therapies, and Botox, expanding access and normalising these services outside traditional aesthetics clinics.
Microneedling and Dermapen treatments involve tiny needles that stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture and tone. Botox injections, meanwhile, relax muscles to smooth lines and wrinkles. These procedures used to be associated with specialised skin clinics, but now many private dental practices — which already handle injections and facial anatomy — are offering cosmetic versions as part of broader facial health services.
This shift is partly driven by patient demand for convenience and professionals looking to diversify services. Dentists are well placed for some of these treatments because they already have medical training, sterility standards, and experience with facial tissues. The result is a more widespread availability of cosmetic skin treatments, potentially at lower cost and with more medically regulated oversight.
This trend also reflects a broader shift towards medical-aesthetic integration, where traditional medical practices offer treatments that support both appearance and wellbeing.
Brain Health Supplements: NMN, Creatine and Turmeric
Brain health is gaining serious attention in 2026 as people seek ways to support memory, focus, energy and long-term cognitive function. Alongside lifestyle efforts like sleep and exercise, supplements that promise support for mental performance and cellular health have become more popular.
One of the most discussed compounds is NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), which is a precursor to NAD⁺, a molecule involved in cellular energy production and repair. Research suggests NMN supplementation can help increase NAD⁺ levels in cells, which may support ageing and brain health processes.
Other widely used supplements include creatine, traditionally known for muscle health but also recognised for potential cognitive benefits, and turmeric, which contains curcumin — an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound that scientists link to brain health and reduced neuroinflammation.
According to wellness reports, turmeric was among the best-selling supplements of 2025, showing how consumers prioritise anti-inflammatory and antioxidant support going into 2026.
Interest in brain health reflects a broader wellness emphasis on prevention. Instead of just treating illness, people are looking for routine practices and products that help their minds stay sharp now and in the future.
Weight-Loss Injections Like Ozempic and Mounjaro
A hugely visible health trend for 2026 is the widespread use of weight loss medications, especially injectable drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, which were originally developed for type 2 diabetes.
In the UK, research shows about 1.6 million adults used these medications for weight loss in the past year — and an additional 3.3 million said they would be interested in using them soon. Other polling suggests millions more plan to use similar treatments in 2026 as weight management continues to be a public health concern.
These drugs mimic natural hormones in the gut to reduce appetite and help people feel fuller, often resulting in significant weight loss when used alongside lifestyle changes. Their popularity is creating new conversations about obesity, health equity and clinical oversight, since many people are accessing these medications privately or online without regular medical supervision.
Whether for health goals or body confidence, weight-loss jabs remain one of the biggest stories in personal health this year, influencing both clinical practice and consumer behaviour.
AI and Smart Tracking: Smarter Health and Sleep Monitoring
Finally, AI-powered tools and smart trackers are transforming how people monitor their health. Wearables and apps can now track sleep patterns, heart rate, activity levels and even stress and recovery signals more accurately than ever before.
Instead of relying on rough estimates, users can get personalised insights powered by machine learning. These systems learn your patterns over time, suggesting when you need more rest, when your body is stressed, or how lifestyle changes impact your wellbeing.
Artificial intelligence also supports predictive health planning. Apps can suggest tweaks to routines, flag potential issues early, and create tailored wellness plans — all from data gathered passively through wearables or entered manually.
In 2026, this trend reflects a deeper shift away from reactive health care (“only go to the doctor when you feel unwell”) towards proactive, continuous monitoring that integrates daily habits, sleep, diet, movement and mood into one comprehensive picture of wellbeing.
