Longevity Weeks in Porto Cervo: Sports and Wellness in Sardinia’s Blue Zone
From September 25 to October 11, sports, wellness, nutrition, and meetings with experts will bring the town to life
From September 25 to October 11, the Costa Smeralda transforms into a large-scale workshop dedicated to health, wellness, and quality of life with the Costa Smeralda Longevity Weeks. For over two weeks, Porto Cervo and the surrounding area will host a rich calendar of events that bring together sports, preventive care, medicine, nutrition, holistic practices, culture, and nature.
The project originated in Sardinia, one of the world’s most studied regions for longevity and known for its Blue Zone, and stems from a simple premise: living longer doesn’t just mean adding years to one’s life, but striving to preserve health, independence, energy, and quality of life as much as possible.
This has given rise to a comprehensive program that alternates between sports competitions, outdoor activities, yoga, and mindfulness; experiences focused on creativity and well-being; meetings with doctors and researchers; and events dedicated to new models of prevention.
Horseback Riding in SardiniaLongevity Fest Costa Smeralda: The Scientific Heart of the Event
As part of Longevity Weeks, the Longevity Fest Costa Smeralda, scheduled for October 3 and 4 in Porto Cervo, is the event’s main cultural and scientific highlight.
Two days dedicated to the theme of longevity, featuring contributions from doctors, researchers, innovators, and cultural leaders, with presentations ranging from Blue Zones to genetics, from epigenetics to biotechnology, from artificial intelligence to nutrition, all the way to the relationship between the environment, creativity, and quality of life.
Maddalena AdornoAmong the announced guests are Gianni Pes, one of the scholars involved in identifying the Sardinian Blue Zone, and Maddalena Adorno, co-founder of Dorian Therapeutics, along with other leading figures in research and innovation in the field of longevity such as Alessandro Luciani, Giovanni Scapagnini, Francesco Landi, Antonio Nieddu, Pier Luigi Scapicchio, Alessandro Melis, Filippo Nigro, and Eleonora Chioda.
While the Costa Smeralda Longevity Weeks invite participants to experience wellness firsthand through movement, sports, preventive care, and daily practices, the Longevity Fest delves into its scientific foundations, new frontiers, and potential developments.
These are two complementary aspects of a single project, with Porto Cervo and the Costa Smeralda as the setting and Sardinia as the starting point for a reflection that goes beyond the simple concept of living longer: the goal is to understand how to live better and longer.
Costa Smeralda Longevity Weeks 2026: The Program
September 25–27 | Padel Tournament
Location: Hotel Cala di Volpe – padel courtsLongevity Weeks kicks off with a padel tournament open to FITP-registered players. This sport perfectly embodies one of the event’s core principles: physical activity as a means of promoting health, but also as an opportunity for socializing and building connections.Playing in pairs combines physical activity, coordination, speed, concentration, and teamwork.
October 3–4 | Longevity Fest Costa Smeralda
Location: Porto CervoThe first major cultural event of Longevity Weeks focuses on the theme of longevity from various perspectives: from scientific research to medicine, from technology to nutrition, from the environment to culture. The starting point is, of course, Sardinia, with the theme of the Blue Zones, but the focus expands to include genetics, epigenetics, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and new models of prevention. The goal is to approach longevity not merely as the number of years lived, but as the ability to maintain health, independence, and quality of life over time.
October 4 | Steve McCurry Master Class
Time: 11:00 a.m. Location: Porto Cervo – Longevity FestAmong the events at the Longevity Fest is also a two-hour master class with Steve McCurry, one of the leading figures in contemporary photography. This paid session brings a different perspective on the theme of longevity to the program, linked to curiosity, creativity, and the ability to continue observing and interpreting the world over time.
Steve McCurryOctober 4 | Costa Smeralda 2026 Longevity Award – Steve McCurry
Location: Porto Cervo – Longevity FestThe Costa Smeralda 2026 Longevity Award will be presented to Steve McCurry, celebrating a career that has maintained creative vitality, contemporary relevance, and the ability to reinvent itself over time. This award expands the concept of longevity beyond the physical, also encompassing energy, experience, curiosity, and intellectual vitality.
October 4–11 | Porto Cervo Fitness
Location: Porto Cervo – Porto Vecchio areaThroughout the final week of Longevity Weeks, Porto Cervo will host activities dedicated to fitness and movement. The idea is to transform physical activity into a daily and accessible practice, integrating it into the broader program of the event dedicated to prevention, health, and quality of life.
October 4–6 | Tennis
Location: Hotel Cervo Tennis Center, Porto CervoA tennis tournament open to FITP members brings to the court another discipline closely linked to the concept of well-being.Tennis combines cardiovascular activity, agility, coordination, strategy, and concentration, adding a social dimension to the sporting aspect.
October 8 | Beach Tennis
Location: Waterfront Beach Arena, Porto Vecchio – Porto CervoThe beach sports program continues with Beach Tennis, a sport that combines speed, reflexes, coordination, and team play. The Beach Arena competitions are reserved for invited athletes and teams.
October 9 | Beach Soccer
Location: Waterfront Beach Arena, Porto Vecchio – Porto CervoBeach soccer kicks off the final weekend of the Beach Arena. Accelerations, changes of direction, and endurance make the sport particularly dynamic, while teamwork reinforces its social aspect.
October 9–11 | Metabolic Walking
Location: Porto CervoAmong the most accessible activities in the program is Metabolic Walking, a form of guided walking that combines walking with postural exercises, breathing, and targeted movements. This practice embodies one of the fundamental principles of Longevity Weeks: moving regularly and mindfully can become an integral part of a wellness-oriented lifestyle. On October 10, there will also be a special session covering approximately 2 km on the Pevero Health Trail, held in conjunction with the Trail Run.
Holistic Activities: Well-being for Body, Mind, and Nature
October 9–11 | Cala di Volpe
In addition to sports, the Costa Smeralda Longevity Weeks offer a program dedicated to holistic practices, with activities that explore the relationship between body, mind, breathing, creativity, and mindfulness. The events are primarily held at Cala di Volpe and include yoga, mindfulness, sound healing, art therapy, eco-art, and ecstatic dance.
October 9–11 | Yoga
Location: Cala di VolpePostures, sequences, breathing, and movement control are at the heart of the yoga sessions, designed to improve flexibility, posture, and awareness, with an emphasis on psychophysical balance.
October 9–11 | Awakened Flow
Location: Cala di VolpeA practice based on mindful movement and breathing, where performance gives way to listening to the body, the quality of movement, and mental presence.
October 9–11 | Family Constellations & Mindfulness
Location: Cala di VolpeA journey dedicated to awareness, listening, and relational dynamics. Mindfulness invites us to bring our attention back to the present moment, expanding the concept of well-being to include the emotional and social dimensions as well.
October 9 and 11 | Sound Bath / Sound Healing
Location: Cala di VolpeBells, gongs, and other instruments create a sound experience dedicated to relaxation, listening, and breathing. A moment of respite in which well-being comes above all from stillness and the opportunity to slow down.
October 10–11 | Art Therapy & Ecoart
Location: Cala di VolpeCreativity and nature become tools for exploring new forms of well-being. Colors, shapes, and materials are used to stimulate attention, manual dexterity, and expressive ability, without the artistic result being the primary goal.
October 10–11 | Ecstatic Dance
Location: Cala di VolpeMusic, free dance, and listening to the body come together in an activity without predetermined choreography, designed to combine movement, personal expression, and connection with others.
Sports Events for the Final Weekend
October 10 | Porto Cervo Trail Run
Start: 3:00 p.m. Location: Pevero Health TrailOne of the events most closely tied to the local area is the Porto Cervo Trail Run, a race that winds through the Sardinian landscape. The competitive course spans 10 km along the headland overlooking the bays of Pevero and Romazzino, winding through Mediterranean scrub, along trails, and offering panoramic views of the sea. There is also a 5 km course, designed for those who want to enjoy the experience without competing.
Pevero Health TrailOctober 10 | Metabolic Walking Special Session
Location: Pevero Health Trail Route: approximately 2 kmMetabolic Walking comes to the Pevero Health Trail with a special session linked to the Trail Run: a more accessible way to explore the area and experience the landscape through movement.
October 10 | Beach Rugby
Location: Waterfront Beach Arena, Porto Vecchio – Porto CervoStrength, speed, coordination, and teamwork are the core elements of Beach Rugby, one of the most dynamic sports on the sand.
October 10–11 | Terra Mare Cup
Location: Porto Cervo / Pevero Health Trail / Porto Cervo Bay Type: multisport – running + swimmingThe Terra Mare Cup is perhaps the competition that best illustrates the connection between sports and the local area. The race combines a land segment and a water segment, with the final ranking determined by the sum of the times. The Long Formula consists of a 10-km trail run + 1,800-meter swim, while the Short Formula consists of a 10-km trail run + 800-meter swim. Participants may compete individually or in teams of two, dividing the running and swimming segments between team members.
October 11 | Porto Cervo Swim
Location: Porto Cervo Bay Start: Spiaggetta di Sottopiazza Type: sports / open-water swimmingThe final day of Longevity Weeks takes the program out to sea with the Porto Cervo Swim, an open-water swimming race in Porto Cervo Bay, starting from Spiaggetta di Sottopiazza.Note: The currently published program lists 800 meters for both distances, while the Terra Mare Cup lists distances of 800 and 1,800 meters. This information should therefore be verified before final publication.
October 11 | Beach Volleyball
Location: Waterfront Beach Arena, Porto Vecchio – Porto CervoThe Beach Arena wraps up the program with beach volleyball, featuring jumps, coordination, speed, and teamwork. This final event perfectly encapsulates the blend of physical activity and social interaction that lies at the heart of Longevity Weeks.
Medical Talks: Prevention, Health, and the New Frontiers of Medicine
The Medical Talks represent the core scientific focus of Longevity Weeks. Doctors, researchers, and specialists explore the topic of longevity by focusing on some of the key tools for maintaining good health: prevention, early diagnosis, nutrition, physical activity, and technological innovation. The scientific direction is led by Prof. Antonio Desogus, a surgeon specializing in General, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery.Among the main topics covered:
Prevention and Early Diagnosis
Understanding risk factors before a disease develops and intervening promptly is one of the fundamental principles of longevity medicine.
Diagnostic Imaging and Ultrasound
New diagnostic technologies enable the early detection of numerous conditions and the development of increasingly personalized monitoring programs.
Heart and Circulation
Sessions dedicated to cardiovascular health address topics such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, sedentary lifestyles, being overweight, and smoking—all major risk factors for the heart and vascular system.
Nutrition and Physical Activity
A balanced diet and physical activity are two pillars of healthspan—that is, the years of life spent in good health. The goal is to view them not as occasional measures, but as daily habits.
Precision Medicine and Regenerative Medicine
The new frontiers of medicine are shifting the focus toward increasingly personalized strategies and treatments, tailored to individual characteristics and needs.
Artificial Intelligence and Technologies for Longevity
Algorithms, data analysis, and new technologies are being integrated into systems for prevention, monitoring, and personalized healthcare, opening up new horizons for the field of longevity medicine.
Biohacking, One Health, and Healthspan
The program also addresses the relationship between environment and health, exploring strategies that aim not simply to extend life but to increase the number of years lived in good health.
To view the complete schedule for the 2026 Costa Smeralda Longevity Weeks, find out about all the events, and check participation guidelines and booking information, please visit the event’s official website.
