World Happiness Summit heads to Portugal for first time

By AI, Created 10:08 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – The World Happiness Summit will take place in Portugal for the first time on May 16-17, 2026, bringing global leaders in wellbeing, business, leadership and policy to Cascais. The event highlights a growing focus on linking performance, purpose and wellbeing as drivers of long-term success.

Why it matters: - The World Happiness Summit is moving to Portugal for the first time, expanding a global forum focused on wellbeing, leadership and human flourishing. - The 2026 event puts wellbeing, organizational performance and longevity in the same conversation, reflecting a broader shift in how leaders think about success. - The summit is designed for senior leaders, policymakers, researchers and practitioners who shape culture, policy and workplace health.

What happened: - The World Happiness Summit® (WOHASU®) will be held on May 16 and 17, 2026, at Nova School of Business and Economics in Cascais, Portugal. - The summit has previously been held in Miami, London and Lake Como. - WOHASU is in its 8th edition. - The summit has been recognized in Forbes as one of the “Top Five Leadership Summits to Attend.” - Sheraton Cascais Resort will serve as the Official Hotel Partner and host the VIP Opening Reception.

The details: - Karen Guggenheim, founder and CEO of WOHASU, said the summit is meant to help people reconnect, build meaning and design lives and organizations “from the inside out.” - WOHASU 2026 will examine how individuals, organizations and societies can embed wellbeing into leadership, culture and decision-making. - The summit will focus on the link between personal and collective wellbeing and organizational health. - The program will feature Dr. Marc Schulz, Lord Gus O’Donnell, Professor Fred Luskin, Dr. Laura Kubzansky and Dr. Judith Joseph. - Dr. Marc Schulz is associate director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development and co-author of The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. - Lord Gus O’Donnell is a former Cabinet Secretary of the United Kingdom and a leading voice in wellbeing policy. - Professor Fred Luskin is with Stanford University and directs the Stanford Forgiveness Project. - Dr. Laura Kubzansky is a professor of social and behavioral sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. - Dr. Judith Joseph is a researcher and best-selling author of High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy. - The summit will also include insights from Gallup, the World Wellbeing Movement and the World Happiness Report. - Global heads of wellbeing from Cisco, LEGO, Siemens and Unilever will discuss how they are advancing wellbeing at work and building more human-centered, high-performing organizations. - The event will include keynotes, panels and small-group sessions. - The experience will also include book signings, experiential art, wellbeing practices, facilitated group work and curated networking opportunities. - The event will be held at the Jerónimo Martins Grand Auditorium at Nova School of Business and Economics in Carcavelos, Portugal. - Limited tickets are still available at the summit website.

Between the lines: - WOHASU is positioning wellbeing as a business and policy issue, not just a personal wellness topic. - The focus on longevity suggests the summit is tapping into interest in how daily habits, relationships and leadership style shape long-term outcomes. - Bringing corporate wellbeing leaders together with researchers and policymakers signals an effort to move ideas from theory into workplace and public-sector practice. - The choice of Cascais and the Sheraton Cascais Resort adds a destination element aimed at reflection, networking and high-touch convening.

What’s next: - WOHASU will continue building toward the May 2026 summit in Cascais. - Speakers, partners and attendees will gather in Portugal for two days of programming centered on wellbeing, performance and leadership. - The summit is expected to use its international network of participants from more than 80 countries to extend ideas beyond the event itself.

The bottom line: - WOHASU is bringing its global wellbeing summit to Portugal for the first time, betting that the next era of leadership will be defined by how well organizations combine performance with human flourishing.