ALMA FESTIVAL UNVEILS ITS FIFTH EDITION IN THE BREATHTAKING LANDSCAPES OF SICILY | News
From 17 to 20 September 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 wellbeing, culture, longevity, and human connection in a setting deeply rooted in Mediterranean living. Surrounded by nature and the expansive beauty of the resort, guests are invited to slow down, reconnect and experience a more intentional rhythm of life.
Over the past four editions, ALMA has become a defining voice in the global wellness space curating transformative experiences that unite visionary thinkers, practitioners, creatives and cultural leaders shaping the future of modern wellbeing.
This year’s programme features an inspiring lineup of experiences and conversations, including movement sessions with Kim Strother, breathwork with Rob Rea, and explorations into Sicily’s renowned Blue Zone lifestyle alongside longevity physician Dr. Ingrid Yang.
“The framework for longevity has existed in Sicily for centuries, woven into how the 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.
Located near the resort is the emerging Blue Zone of Caltabellotta, a region increasingly recognised in longevity research, supported by Verdura Resort, and often referenced alongside the world’s most celebrated Mediterranean Blue Zones. Here, daily movement, nourishing 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 movement to rest, 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 gather guests together through music, ceremonies and communal dining beneath the Sicilian sky.
“Verdura Resort is a place where the longevity-enhancing Mediterranean lifestyle truly reigns. 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 could not imagine a more fitting setting for Alma Festival.” Irene Forte
Programme Highlights
• Opening Ceremony: Manifesting Miracles with David Ghiyam
• Lasting Strength Morning Movement with Kim Strother
• The Breath Connection: Rest & Digest with Rob Rea
• Living the Blue Zone: Mediterranean Principles for Longevity with Dr. Ingrid Yang
• Caltabellotta Excursion: Exploring an Emerging Blue Zone in Practice
• Skin Longevity Rituals with Irene Forte
• Contrast Therapy: Hot & Cold with Dr. Ingrid Yang
• Sanctum Movement Series with Luuk Melisse, including a coastal hike and Signature Sanctum Sequence
• Yoga, Pilates, and daily movement practices
• Evening music performances and ceremonies
Mediterranean living has long embodied what modern wellness is increasingly seeking to define: a balance of nourishment, movement, rest and meaningful connection. ALMA by ANÍMA brings these elements together in a thoughtfully curated experience designed not simply to be attended but truly lived.
“We are moving beyond wellness as something occasional. The focus now is on how to build a way of living 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 Alma Frequency program and visionaries from September 17 to 20, 2026. Full board: Alma meal package includes breakfast, lunch, and community dinners as part of the Alma Program. *excluding alcohol
Seaview Resort Room:
€3,928 / single occupancy
3-Bedroom Seaview Villa:
€4,143 / single occupancy
ALMA | ALMA is ANÍMA’s annual gathering, a transformative, immersive experience centred on wellbeing, culture and longevity. Over five years, ALMA has evolved through a series of curated festivals and experiences hosted 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, guided 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 how they live.
ANÍMA Frequency | ANÍMA Frequency is a modern wellbeing platform dedicated to optimal living, bringing longevity and rituals into daily practice. Combining clinical expertise with a wellbeing perspective, ANÍMA offers expert-led protocols, wellbeing tools, digital content and immersive experiences designed to support lasting change.
Verdura Resort and Rocco Forte Private Villas | Set across 230 hectares of olive groves, citrus orchards, and 1.8 km of private coastline, Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte hotel lies between the Valley of the Temples and Sciacca on Sicily’s southwest coast. The resort blends modern architecture with Sicilian tradition, featuring 203 rooms and suites, and 20 exclusive Private Villas—luxurious hillside residences with breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea. The diverse dining options range from specialty cocktail bars and casual all-day dining to upscale dining, each highlighting the best of Sicilian cuisine, with an international twist. The flagship Irene Forte Spa offers a 4,000m² sanctuary of relaxation and rejuvenation. The two award-winning 18-hole golf courses by Kyle Phillips make Verdura Resort a premier destination for golf enthusiasts.
