Thermea Spa Village Whitby will host Canada's national sauna performance championship for a second time, after the town's spa village staged the country's first such competition last June.
Organizer Groupe Nordik confirmed in a news release that Aufgusshow 2026 will return to the Whitby spa, following an inaugural edition that the company described as a milestone for Canadian wellness culture.
A first for Canada
The three-day championship, held at the Whitby spa in June 2025, drew more than 400 guests from across Canada, according to a Groupe Nordik news release. Twenty performers — known as Aufgussmeisters — representing six spas in Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec delivered 18 routines.
Each performance was a choreographed sensory experience combining scent, steam, heat, music and storytelling to present the traditional Aufguss ritual on a theatrical stage. A panel of four European-certified judges scored competitors on creativity, scent composition, wave technique, storytelling and the overall guest experience.
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.
Inside Logga
All performances took place inside Logga, described by the organizers as North America's largest event sauna, which seats 90 guests per show. Ticket holders also had full access to the Spa Village, including its thermal baths, saunas and outdoor relaxation spaces.
The release said first-place winners would represent Canada at the Aufguss World Master Championships at Aquardens in Verona, Italy, from Sept. 15 to 21, 2025. Second-place finishers were given a spot in playoffs at the SATAMA Sauna Resort & Spa in Wendisch Rietz, Germany, from Aug. 28 to 31, 2025, offering a final qualifying route to the world championships.
Groupe Nordik's Whitby connection
Groupe Nordik is Canadian-owned and headquartered in Gatineau, Quebec. The company opened its first location, Nordik Spa Village in Chelsea, in 2005, followed by Winnipeg in 2015 and Whitby in 2022. It now employs more than 800 people across its corporate office and spa locations in Canada.
The company said Whitby-area residents interested in attending the next edition can subscribe to Thermea Spa Village Whitby's newsletter to receive updates, dates and early ticket access for Aufgusshow 2026.
