Whitby named home of Canada's sauna performance tradition
Thermea Spa Village Whitby is set to host Aufgusshow 2026, bringing Canada's national sauna performance championship back to town after the spa staged the country's inaugural competition last year.
The three-day event, held at the Whitby spa in June 2025, welcomed more than 400 guests from across Canada, according to an announcement from Groupe Nordik, the Gatineau-based company that owns the Spa Village and hosted the championship.
The competition featured 18 performances by 20 Aufgussmeisters — sauna masters who choreograph steam, scent, heat, music and storytelling into a theatrical ritual — representing six spas across Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec. A panel of four European-certified judges scored the solo and duo routines on creativity, scent composition, wave technique, storytelling and the overall guest experience.
Winners of the first-ever Canadian title earned the chance to represent the country at the Aufguss World Master Championships at Aquardens in Verona, Italy, while second-place finishers were given a spot in playoffs at SATAMA Sauna Resort & Spa in Wendisch Rietz, Germany, offering a final qualifying route to the world event.
"A historic cultural moment"
Groupe Nordik's CEO and founder called the Whitby event a landmark for Canadian wellness culture.
"This was more than a wellness event, it was a historic cultural moment," said Martin Paquette, CEO and Founder of Groupe Nordik. "We witnessed artistry, storytelling, and tradition come to life, and we're incredibly proud of the performers who brought it to the stage for the first time in Canada."
"Aufgusshow marks the beginning of an exciting new tradition, and we're thrilled to announce that Aufgusshow 2026 will return to Thermea Spa Village Whitby next year as we continue to grow and celebrate sauna culture here at home," Paquette said in the announcement.
Inside Logga, North America's largest event sauna
All performances took place inside Logga, the spa's event sauna described as the largest of its kind in North America, seating 90 guests per show. Ticket holders also received full access to the Spa Village, including its thermal baths, saunas and outdoor relaxation spaces.
Groupe Nordik opened its first location, Nordik Spa Village in Chelsea, Quebec, in 2005, followed by Winnipeg in 2015 and Whitby in 2022. The company employs more than 800 people across its Gatineau head office and Canadian spa locations.
Whitby residents interested in attending the returning championship can subscribe to Thermea Spa Village Whitby's newsletter for dates and early ticket access for Aufgusshow 2026, according to the announcement.
