Thrive by WHX Debuts in Cape Town With The Ultimate Fitness and Wellness Experience

It’s been an exciting week. Thrive by WHX launched in Cape Town, South Africa. The World Health Expo announced they will host the ultimate fitness and wellness event on the African continent in September 2025. Here’s what you need to know.

Thrive by WHX Cape Town

• Africa’s wellness tourism market is estimated at $94.04 billion in 2025. It’s expected to reach $120.02 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of greater than 5%^[1], with a growing global interest in holistic well-being and increasing investments in luxury wellness infrastructure.
• Inaugural Thrive by WHX, a dynamic event for the sports and wellness sector, is a bold new addition to the World Health Expo Cape Town, set to take place from 2 – 4 September 2025.
• With over 200 participating companies and supported by 100+ global speakers, Thrive by WHX promises an experiential event of fitness, longevity, wellness and real-world health to support the way we live now.

Cape Town leads health and wellness tourism

In South Africa, the Western Cape leads health and wellness tourism, with 45.2% of visitors^[2] actively taking part in wellness activities during their stay.

Cape Town has been recognized as the fittest city in South Africa for three consecutive years, with its residents logging the highest levels of gym visits and steps, according to Discovery Vitality data, and outdoor activities consistently rank among the top five things to do in Cape Town.

It makes sense then that the inaugural Thrive by WHX,  will take place in the “Mother City”.  From 2- 4 September 2025  visitors will gather at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, will feature the ultimate blend of fitness, fun and community as the full spectrum of the fitness and wellness ecosystem comes together.

This will provide sports fans, industry leaders, sports influencers, over 200+ brands and business owners with a space to meet, share and grow.

“In Cape Town, the passion for sport, wellness and longevity is very apparent. This, along with the warm reception from the local government, made Cape Town an easy choice for the launch of our first sports, wellness and longevity event Africa – Thrive by WHX 2025. I’d like to see local exhibitors from the health, wellness and sports sector in Cape Town forming the foundation for Thrive by WHX and have no doubt that this will become a global event over time,” explains Tom Coleman, Portfolio Director for Informa Markets.

A game changer for wellness on the African continent

Thrive by WHX is powered by World Health Expo (WHX), the largest global network of healthcare events. With a proven track record of uniting clinical, digital and wellness communities worldwide, Thrive by WHX is WHX’s bold new step into personal health and consumer wellbeing, co-located with World Health Expo Cape Town.

“This expo fits nicely with the global and indeed local trend of individuals taking personal responsibility for their health.  Some of the themes you can expect will be around longevity, digital health – the future of it and collaboration.  We’ll be working closely with schools and universities to really attract the youth of Cape Town to this event so that we can start changing the narrative around what support means during a sporting career,” notes Coleman.

Three dynamic days of expert led-workshops

Whether a weekend outdoor warrior or a seasoned pro, attendees will experience three dynamic days of expert-led workshops on policy, digital health, nutrition, longevity and sports, energising activities, exclusive meet-and-greets with athletes, sports influencers and local legends, as well as access to the latest innovations in fitness, wellness and tech.

“It’s great to see lots of people moving and exercising – the general public as well as professional athletes – and I’ve noticed how hungry people are for the right knowledge to understand how their bodies work. This event is one not to miss as it’ll offer the general public access to what elite athletes take for granted – the collaborative knowledge provided by nutritionists, physios, chiropractors, psychologists and more,” remarks Rene Naylor, former SA Springbok physiotherapist.

Attendees can expect to see some huge global athletes and leading names participating from the health,  fitness and the wellness world, as well as range of sports influencers, including Bryan Habana and Juandré Kruger (former SA Rugby Springboks), Dr Kamlen Pillay (founder and CEO of InUversal Group), Mandla Ntlanganiso (CEO, SA Boxing Association), Mlondi Mashinini (Managing Director, HYROX), Dricus du Plessis (SA Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) champion), Kevin Lerena (SA professional boxer), Gisèle Wertheim Aymés (Founder of Longevity), Dr Phathokuhle Zondi (sports medicine physician) and Rene Naylor, former Springbok Physiotherapist, as well as Ant Middleton, one of the many keynote speakers at WHX Thrive this year.

Activations, exhibits and experiences

High impact workouts, recovery zones and immersive wellness experiences will make up some of the activities in the action-packed three days – all designed to inspire, energize and support attendees to thrive at every stage of life. Thrive by WHX will unite a vibrant community of passionate individuals, thought leaders, innovators shaping the future of sports, wellbeing and longevity.

“Thrive is not just a typical conference, it’s an immersive experience where we invite parents and the youth to join the conversation along with athletes, coaches, scientists as well as the latest equipment and latest digital technology in a collaborative space to change and shift the way we curate the sporting environment,” adds Dr Phathokuhle Zondi, sports medicine physician.

There’s something to challenge and inspire everyone, whether you’re building strength, testing endurance, or learning new techniques.  Discover the newest launches, meet the brands behind them, and access exclusive offers available only at WHX Thrive. Attendees can also join live fitness classes, obstacle courses, team events, and even performance workshops.

Sign up for Thrive by WHX

“I encourage visitors to come and experience the phenomenal Thrive event in Cape Town, voted by Time Out Magazine as one of the best cities in the world, a city that encourages wellbeing, being outdoors in nature and longevity,” adds Bryan Habana, former SA Rugby Springbok.

Whether you’re a healthcare leader, wellness advocate, sports medicine expert, or championing healthier communities—Thrive by WHX is your platform to drive impact, innovation, and a culture of well-being across Africa.

To find out more and register for Thrive by WHX, visit

https://www.worldhealthexpo.com/events/thrive/capetown/en/home.html

About the World Health Expo

World Health Expo Cape Town, Africa’s healthcare powerhouse uniting thousands of medical professionals under one roof to trade, network, and learn, is one of the World Health Expo’s 15 in-person exhibitions held annually.  The World Health Expo (WHX) is the world’s leading healthcare platform for deeper learning, building relationships and doing business across the healthcare ecosystem.  With a network comprising 15 in-person exhibitions and over 110 conferences, complemented by editorial expertise and continuous opportunities for engagement, WHX has established a global community of more than 600,000 healthcare professionals.

Committed to making the host cities a better place

The World Health Expo is committed to making each of our host cities a better place, creating a positive impact on local businesses and communities globally.  As the world’s leading healthcare exhibition, they’re committed to leading the way in creating a positive impact on the planet to create a healthier, greener future for all. At WHX, their sustainability initiatives are divided into three pillars: inspiring sustainability, environmental responsibility, and social responsibility.

Better Stands’ is their initiative to commit to building reusable or recyclable structures at the World Health Expo to improve the ease, safety, and sustainability.  At each of their events, they aim to inspire all their exhibitors and attendees to take sustainability seriously by reducing the carbon emissions, sourcing sustainable materials for each event as well as reusing and recycling materials wherever possible.

About Informa Markets

Informa is a leading international events, digital services and academic research group. They champion the specialist with hundreds of brands, products and services, connecting businesses and professionals with the knowledge they need to learn more, know more and do more.

Informa is listed on London Stock Exchange and a member of FTSE 100, with 14,000 colleagues working in 30 countries.