The majority of us immediately envision soothing music, oily hands, and a massage. Pure tranquility. However, the world of massage has actually changed significantly in recent years—it’s often quieter in the spa, but louder in everyday life. I talked to 17 sustainable hotels about the massage and spa trends for 2026 for this article. Almost all of them described the same change: a conscious return to the essence of touch.
Why massages have become so technical in the past
The massage industry has been significantly impacted by two recent developments. Firstly, the pandemic saw spas close and physical contact become the exception, bringing self-massage into focus. Second, there was a boom in technology. The market was flooded with pads, so-called “shiatsu” tools, and electronic massage devices. The terms used in Far Eastern healing practices sounded familiar and promised quick and effective outcomes that were ideal for today’s lifestyle. This development does not occur by chance. In countries such as Japan, South Korea, and China, technology, robotics, and automated applications have long been part of everyday life, including in the wellness sector. However, something was in danger of being lost on the way to the West: the traditional craft of touch.
Sustainable massage trends for 2026
This makes what is now emerging all the more exciting. In 2026, spas won’t be asking which device will bring the next upgrade, but rather, which technology works without electricity. Gua Sha is one of the most striking examples of this shift. This simple scraping stone is making a comeback as a serious massage technique, not a beauty gadget, and is now being integrated into full-body rituals.
But Gua Sha is only one component of this movement. The targeted application of essential oils, bamboo massages, hot stone massages, and sound massages are also gaining popularity. So, let’s take a closer look at which massage techniques will be popular in 2026, how to perform them at home, and which experiences are only possible at a spa.
Gua Sha – from beauty tool to full-body ritual
The Gua Sha massage stone is presented by a woman. The jade-based “magical” Gua Sha Stone BILD: Pexels Although Gua Sha is not brand-new, it is making a comeback in 2026. Once limited to facial massages, it has found its way back into spas as a technique that targets blood circulation, energy flow, and deep relaxation.
Gua Sha is an essential component of the holistic TCM philosophy at the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten on the Moselle. The wellness hotel was built with Feng Shui principles in mind. It has its own TCM center where traditional Chinese medicine teaches that Gua Sha can be used to get blood and Qi out of a rut. Therapists scrape the skin with an oil and a jade stone until it is well-supplied with blood, typically in the shoulder and neck areas. Experienced TCM therapists determine if and how to use the method after an initial diagnosis.
Gua Sha’s slowed-down appearance The Hotel Korinjak, located on the Croatian island of Iz, provides a tranquil, nature-oriented experience. The hotel, which is right on the beach, provides holistic treatments like Gua Sha facials, head massages, and body rituals, vegetarian and vegan cuisine, and daily yoga classes under pine trees. The treatments, which are based on Ayurvedic and Far Eastern practices, aim to balance energy flow and encourage physical renewal without technology. Research shows that Gua Sha is more than just a wellness trend; a pilot study by the University of Duisburg-Essen (2007) demonstrated increased microcirculation and immediate relief from muscular discomfort after treatment. These results suggest that the centuries-old technique has physiological effects.
The familiar full-body massage, reinterpreted in 2026 The full-body massage is still the most important part of any spa culture. Nevertheless, it has developed. Rather than standardized procedures, today’s focus is on the experience, which is often embedded in rituals, scents, and regional references.
At OLM Nature Escape, a full-body massage begins with smoke, not oil. An incense made from alpine herbs opens the senses before arnica and Swiss stone pine relax the muscles. The massage becomes part of a transition from everyday life to tranquility.
At SANDnature, too, it’s evident that guests are seeking simplicity. The most popular treatment here is the classic full-body massage, which can be 30 or 60 minutes long. There are no therapeutic promises or superstructure. Instead, it provides soothing rhythm, clear touch, and relaxation. The full-body massage at the Hotel Das Rübezahl is designed to detoxify. Depending on the guest, alternate gentle and firm strokes are applied. Exfoliating gloves are used to stimulate blood circulation, leaving your body “glowing”.
Massage with bamboo is great for athletes. A dynamic type of massage is bamboo massage. Smooth bamboo sticks are used for rolling and deep tissue work. The result is increased blood circulation, loosened muscle tension, and activated lymph flow.
The Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten offers bamboo massage as one of its services. Legs, back, and arms are treated with different techniques—powerful but fluid. The massage fits perfectly into the hotel’s holistic concept, which combines traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and modern wellness.
At the Hotel Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bayerisch Gmain, the bamboo massage is interpreted in an even more athletic way. It is specifically aimed at active guests. The newly renovated 1,500-square-meter Artemacur Spa combines medical expertise with alpine relaxation. This assertion is further supported by the fact that the Klosterhof was given the title of “Medical Spa” in the year 2025.
Trend: Aromatherapy massages
Woman enjoying a massage at the sustainable Hotel Weihrerhof in South Tyrol
©Hotel Weihrerhof
An essential component of aromatherapy massage is the use of essential oils. They are absorbed through the skin, respiratory system, and nervous system.
At Naturhotel Outside, this unfolds in a particularly sensual way. The Mind Relaxing Aroma Massage combines gentle touch with select organic aromatic oils. Every movement is accompanied by the scent, which helps to restore equilibrium to the body and calm the mind for a multisensory experience. The hotel also uses essential oils for chakra massages. To learn more about this, including how to use essential oils in your everyday life, check out our blog post on essential oils.
The Hotel Weihrerhof in South Tyrol combines aromatherapy with a focus on regional products. The hotel’s BergSea cosmetics line uses water from Lake Wolfsgruben (which borders the hotel directly). In the boathouse sauna, essential oils from South Tyrol—Swiss stone pine and mountain pine—fill the air. Here, wellness smells like the surrounding landscape.
Hot stone therapy — the timeless power of heat — remains in vogue.
Heat relaxes, opens, and supports muscles, making it a central element of any massage. So it’s no surprise that hot stone massages will still be popular in 2026.
For example, at the Naturhotel Outside mentioned above, warm basalt stones are used before the aromatic oil massage to stimulate energy centers. In the Hohe Tauern National Park, the hotel’s Natur Spa was completely redesigned in 2025 and now includes a healing water brine bath, pools, and a spa garden. The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA also shows how closely linked hot stone and aromatic oil massages are: individually tailored, calming, and restorative. According to the hosts, hot stone massages were one of the most popular in 2025, which is why they will continue to be offered in 2026.
At the Naturresort Gerbehof on Lake Constance, stone massage is a classic that guests enjoy time and again.
