Harvard’s Robert Waldinger Brings the World’s Longest Happiness Study to Costa Rica, Hosted by the UN-Founded University for Peace
- One of the world’s leading experts on happiness and wellbeing is coming to Costa Rica, and time is running out to be part of it.
Dr. Robert Waldinger, professor at Harvard University and Director of the renowned Harvard Study of Adult Development, will be the featured keynote speaker at the Gross Global Happiness Summit (GGH) 2026, taking place March 6–8 in Ciudad Colón.
Hosted by the University for Peace (UPEACE)—an institution established by the United Nations—the Summit brings together an intimate group of leaders, academics, professionals, and changemakers from around the globe to explore the science of happiness and wellbeing. GGH evolves from the typical executive conference, offering highly interactive sessions where you establish deep connections that will change the course of your personal and professional trajectory into the future.
Dr. Waldinger leads the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest scientific study ever conducted on human happiness, spanning more than 80 years. His TED Talk, “What Makes a Good Life?”, consistently ranks among the most viewed TED Talks in the world. At GGH 2026, he will share evidence-based insights on relationships, wellbeing, leadership, and meaning, all grounded in decades of rigorous research.
“This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from one of the world’s most respected voices on happiness,” said Julia Delafield, Director of the Centre at UPEACE. “Adding Dr. Waldinger to this impactful event deepens participants’ ability to gain practical insights they can apply immediately in their personal lives, their work, and their communities.”
More than a Summit, an immersive experience
The Summit will be held on the UPEACE campus in Ciudad Colón, set within more than 300 hectares of protected forest. The natural surroundings are an integral part of the experience, offering a space for reflection, connection, and meaningful dialogue.
Over three immersive days, participants will engage in keynote talks, panels, and interactive sessions addressing wellbeing from scientific, organizational, cultural, and educational perspectives, with speakers from across the globe.
Tico Times readers bonus:
If you contact centre@upeace.org and mention that you saw this article in The Tico Times, you will receive a special rate for the Summit. Availability is limited, and registrations are closing soon.
For those seeking inspiration, scientific insight, and meaningful connection, this is a final opportunity to be part of one of the region’s most distinctive global gatherings on wellbeing.
