Former Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will be one of the guest speakers at a new Gay Wellness Week taking place in Ibiza this October.

The inaugural event is scheduled for October 10 to 17, 2026, bringing a week-long programme of wellness, movement, nature, workshops and conversations to the island.

Varadkar, who served twice as Taoiseach of Ireland, is among a group of contributors invited to take part in the programme.

A different kind of Ibiza week

Gay Wellness Week is designed specifically for gay men and is being presented as a wellness-focused alternative to the traditional Ibiza holiday.

The organisers describe the programme as combining morning movement sessions with guest speakers, workshops, community dinners, outdoor activities and opportunities to explore the island.

The programme is also deliberately alcohol-free.

Leo Varadkar joins the speaker programme

Varadkar is listed as one of the event's headline contributors.

The official biography describes him as an Irish politician and qualified GP who served as Taoiseach from 2017 to 2020 and again from 2022 until his resignation in March 2024.

He became Ireland's first openly gay head of government and has continued working in advisory and academic roles since leaving office.

His session forms part of the event's wider programme of conversations covering subjects including wellbeing, longevity and personal development.

A week based in northern Ibiza

The main Gay Wellness Week programme is centred at S'ermita, a former monastery in the hills above Sant Miguel in the north of Ibiza.

The organisers describe the location as the base for the week's accommodation, meals and core programming.

Participants will have access to movement sessions, workshops, talks and social activities throughout the week.

Movement, nature and wellness

The programme includes morning movement sessions throughout the week, alongside activities designed to get participants outdoors.

Planned activities include nature walks, beach experiences and a sailing trip to Formentera.

There are also sessions covering yoga, meditation and fitness, depending on the programme selected.

Workshops and conversations

The week is not limited to physical activities.

The organisers have announced workshops covering areas including breathwork, sound healing and tantra, together with talks on emotional wellbeing, longevity and career development.

The programme is described as lightly structured, allowing participants time to rest or explore Ibiza independently rather than following a completely fixed schedule.

More contributors

Varadkar is not the only speaker involved.

The official programme also lists contributors including Stanford professor and other specialists, as well as Matt James, whose work includes movement and fitness, and Sadiq Gillani, an Ibiza resident and travel industry advisor who is involved in hosting the programme.

The exact contribution of each speaker or instructor varies across the different programme options.

A week without alcohol

One of the defining characteristics of Gay Wellness Week is that it is alcohol-free.

The organisers explicitly state that alcohol is not included as part of the experience and describe the approach as a deliberate part of the programme.

That distinguishes the event from many Ibiza experiences traditionally associated with nightlife and drinking.

Accommodation and meals

Participants staying at the main S'ermita programme can combine accommodation and the wellness programme in the same setting.

The organisers currently list accommodation from €110 per person per night for a twin-share room, while the food and wellness package is listed at €80 per person per day.

The main Gay Wellness Week pass is currently listed at €300 after September 7, although the organisers' pricing can change according to booking dates.

Other ways to take part

The organisers are also offering different programme formats rather than requiring every participant to follow exactly the same week.

Current information lists options including OutSync, Tri Fitness with Josh and Ruben, Sacred Medicine Healing with Joey Bothwell and a Wellness Pass designed to allow participants to create a more flexible schedule.

Places are limited and some programmes require an application.

The first Gay Wellness Week in Ibiza

The organisers describe the October event as the first edition of Gay Wellness Week.

The seven-day programme begins with an opening circle on Saturday, October 10 and concludes with a closing party on Friday, October 16.

The overall event runs through October 17, with accommodation and programming centred around the week-long experience.

Why Ibiza in October?

The organisers are deliberately positioning October as part of the experience.

Their programme description highlights the quieter atmosphere of Ibiza after the main summer season, while retaining the island's outdoor appeal.

For participants, the idea is to experience Ibiza through movement, nature, food and conversation rather than making nightlife the central focus.

A new side of Ibiza's wellness calendar

Gay Wellness Week adds another event to Ibiza's growing autumn programme of wellness and lifestyle experiences.

Its combination of a residential format, specialist contributors, outdoor activities and LGBTQ+ community programming gives it a different structure from a conventional festival or retreat.

With Leo Varadkar among the confirmed speakers, the first edition will also bring a prominent former head of government into the programme's conversations around wellbeing, personal development and community.

Gay Wellness Week 2026: confirmed details

• Event: Gay Wellness Week

• Dates: October 10-17, 2026

• Location: Ibiza

• Main base: S'ermita, northern Ibiza

• Audience: Gay men

• Guest speaker: Leo Varadkar

• Programme: Movement, wellness, talks, workshops, nature activities, community events and sailing

• Programme: Alcohol-free

• Opening Circle: Saturday, October 10

• Closing Party: Friday, October 16

• First edition: 2026

From politics to wellness

Leo Varadkar's participation gives the new Ibiza event a speaker with a significant public career outside the wellness sector.

His role is not as a political representative, but as one of the contributors invited to speak during a programme focused on wellbeing, personal development and community.

For its first edition, Gay Wellness Week is bringing together wellness activities, expert conversations and LGBTQ+ community experiences in Ibiza during the quieter autumn period.