National Sauna Week is February 15-21, 2026
National Sauna Week Celebrates 5th Anniversary in 2026 with Global Lineup and Expanded Programming
February 15–21, 2026 | Free Online Events & In-Person Experiences Across North America
Pasadena, CA — Finlandia Foundation National (FFN) proudly announces the 5th anniversary of National Sauna Week, taking place February 15–21, 2026. What began in 2021 as a small series of online conversations within the Finnish-American community has grown into one of the most influential sauna-focused cultural initiatives in North America—now spanning 15 free public webinars, in-person gatherings, nationwide sauna partnerships, and major international collaborations.
National Sauna Week was originally launched as an educational effort to deepen understanding of Finnish sauna tradition. Early sessions featured folklorists, historians, and builders—including a foundational talk on smoke saunas that helped establish a culture-first approach. Five years later, the event reaches tens of thousands of participants across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, generating more than 5 million digital impressions in 2025 alone.
A Global Conversation on Sauna Culture
The unofficial theme of National Sauna Week 2026 is “Diversity in Sauna.” This year’s programming explores how sauna culture is practiced, adapted, and evolving far beyond Finland—while remaining rooted in tradition.
Sessions examine:
- The rise of Aufguss culture in Germany
- Sauna scenes in the UK, the Netherlands, Norway, and across the Nordic countries
- Oslo as the floating sauna capital of the world
- The rapid growth of mobile, floating, and public saunas across North America
- Regulatory, design, and cultural challenges shaping public sauna today
At the same time, National Sauna Week continues to honor the deep cultural, spiritual, and historical foundations of Finnish sauna, ensuring authenticity remains central as the practice grows globally.
Notable Speakers & Program Highlights
The 2026 lineup brings together builders, authors, scientists, folklorists, designers, and cultural leaders, including:
- Bill Gifford, science writer and co-author of Outlive with Peter Attia
- Lassi Liikkanen, founder of Saunologia and author of How to Build a Finnish Sauna
- Eero Kilpi, Chair of the North American Sauna Society
- Justin Juntunen, founder of Cedar & Stone Nordic Sauna
- Dalva Lamminmäki, folklorist researching women’s roles in sauna
- Kaarina Kailo, PhD, scholar of sauna, sweat, and spiritual ritual
Topics range from sauna health and science to women’s leadership in sauna, sacred sweat traditions across cultures, sauna textiles, design principles, building codes, and the tension between tradition and social-media-driven wellness trends.
Beyond the Screen: Bringing People into the Sauna
In addition to online programming, National Sauna Week includes a growing Sauna Partners Network, connecting the public with brick-and-mortar, mobile, and floating saunas across North America. Participating saunas offer special discounts and incentives during Sauna Week and throughout February, helping audiences move from learning about sauna to experiencing it firsthand.
FFN is also proud to sponsor the first-ever Willamette Sauna Festivaali in Portland, Oregon, hosted by Sauna Glo. The event is expected to bring together nearly 15 saunas and more than 300 attendees for a weekend-long celebration of sauna culture by the river. Additionally, FFN is sponsoring Mark Babson of Got Sauna, New England’s first mobile sauna, supporting a series of community sauna events that bring authentic Finnish sauna experiences directly to local communities.
A Growing Cultural Movement—with Economic Impact
National Sauna Week 2026 is not only a cultural and educational initiative—it is also a coordinated visibility and marketing platform supporting the growing sauna economy across North America.
This year, more than 30 sauna operators—including brick-and-mortar, mobile, and floating saunas—are participating through the Sauna Partners Network. In addition, five sauna-related retail brands, along with insurance providers, builders, and service professionals, are contributing raffle prizes, expertise, and resources throughout the week’s programming.
National Sauna Week is produced by Finlandia Foundation National in partnership with the North American Sauna Society (NASS), bringing together the two leading sauna-focused nonprofit organizations in North America. Through this partnership, NASS’s network of 150+ corporate members receives discounted visibility and participation opportunities during Sauna Week—ensuring that the growth of sauna culture is paired with responsible, informed business development.
“As sauna continues to gain momentum across North America, it’s critical that its expansion supports the people doing the work on the ground,” said Minea Lindqvist Herwitz, Communications Director of Finlandia Foundation National. “National Sauna Week exists to steward sauna’s cultural integrity while also strengthening the businesses, operators, and professionals who are sharing it—so sauna grows in a way that is ethical, informed, and sustainable.”
Giveaways & International Partnerships
In partnership with the North American Sauna Society and Sauna from Finland, National Sauna Week 2026 will feature:
- Daily raffle prizes
- A grand prize round-trip ticket to Finland to attend the World Sauna Forum in Jyväskylä (June 2026)
In 2025, National Sauna Week awarded a full Finnleo sauna, installed in the home of the winning participant.
Preserving Culture, Sharing Heat
As the premier Finnish-American cultural organization, Finlandia Foundation National is committed to preserving and promoting Finnish heritage—with sauna as one of its most essential living traditions.
“While it’s exciting to see sauna gaining popularity across North America, there is still much to teach about how sauna functions as a daily, relational, and cultural practice in Finland,” Herwitz added. “National Sauna Week exists to steward that knowledge—rooted in history, community, and care—while welcoming new cultures in with that famous Finnish warmth.”
Join National Sauna Week
All sessions are free and open to the public, hosted live on Zoom, with recordings available afterward.
- Dates: February 15–21, 2026
- Register & Learn More: www.nationalsaunaweek.com
- Find a Participating Sauna: nationalsaunaweek.com/findasauna
About Finlandia Foundation National
Finlandia Foundation National preserves and promotes Finnish cultural heritage in the United States through grants, education, arts programming, and cultural partnerships—building bridges between Finland and North America for generations to come.
Sauna Poster Contest 2026 Winner
Congratulations to Rebecca Starliper who created the winning entry in the second National Sauna Week poster contest.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Vilmo Törmälä combines his passion for computer graphics and programming with digital art, blending creativity with advanced technology. While he draws deep inspiration from foreign cultures, his heart remains connected to his Finnish roots and the memories of life at the “Mökki”—especially the sauna. His father’s passion for building saunas has always influenced him, and Vilmo eagerly contributes, whether by cutting planks on the jigsaw or carefully crafting a new “SAUNA” sign. Through his art, he aims to share a glimpse of how much the sauna means to him, capturing both the warmth and tradition it symbolizes in Finnish life.
For chapter inquiries: please email communications@finlandiafoundation.org
To download the free print-at-home version, click here. Please see terms of use below.
Chapters! Apply for a mini-grant today for 2025.
Finlandia Foundation National has designated February 15-21, 2025, as National Sauna Week, a celebration of the authentic Finnish sauna and its rich cultural significance. FFN chapters are encouraged to host events and can apply for a mini-grant of up to $500, with priority given to events scheduled during the official week. Applications are due by January 30, 2026, at 11:59 PST for events taking place between the period of January through March.
Mark your calendar, watch for program details and enter the
3rd National Sauna Week Poster Art Contest
ENTRY DEADLINE WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN 2025.
Finlandia Foundation National announces its 2nd Annual Sauna Week Art Contest for National Sauna Week, February 16-22, 2025. The poster art will promote the authentic Finnish sauna and events surrounding the fourth annual celebration.
The competition is open to those 18 and older who reside in the U.S.
Deadline for entry will be announced in 2025.
For contest information, guidelines and entry form
Sauna Poster Contest Winner 2024
Congratulations to Debbie Paver of Calumet, Michigan, who created the winning entry in the first National Sauna Week poster contest.
“I am incredibly excited to be a part of this tradition,” says Debbie. The graphic designer grew up in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, and loves calling the Upper Peninsula and the Keweenaw Peninsula home. She enjoys hiking, time with her dog and her “beloved Lake Superior,” rockhounding, photography, vinyl records and invitations to her friends’ saunas.
In her Artist Statement Paver says, “For National Sauna Week I want to celebrate the sauna’s role as a central opportunity to rejuvenate, meditate and connect with your own mind, body and spirit. In the heart of winter when our region is cascaded in a palette of blues, whites and grays, the beckoning warmth of the sauna shines brightest. This piece is a celebration of the power of the sauna’s abilities to warm us to the core and provide the energy to wholly enjoy and appreciate both the power and majestic beauty of a Keweenaw winter.”
The judges—noted Vermont artist and FFN Artist of the Year Eric Aho and Finlandia Art Gallery Director and Curator Carrie Vander Veen—pored over the 15 entries from all corners of the United States.
They were impressed by many of the designs submitted, and engaged in quite a bit of discussion before deciding on Debbie Paver’s interpretation, saying, “We liked the elegant, refined view of the winter palette of the Keweenaw and also the inviting warmth of the sauna, making the sauna experience welcoming to all.”
National Sauna Week poster disclaimer:
By downloading and/or using the National Sauna Week poster, you agree to the following terms:
- For FFN Chapters and Non-Affiliated Entities: The National Sauna Week poster is provided as a free resource to promote the celebration of National Sauna Week. The use of this poster by any party, including FFN Chapters or non-affiliated entities, does not imply sponsorship, endorsement, or direct affiliation with Finlandia Foundation National (FFN) unless expressly stated in a written agreement.
- Representation of Events: Only events explicitly designated and promoted by Finlandia Foundation National (FFN) as “Official National Sauna Week Events” are considered official and authorized by FFN. These events will bear an official mark, logo, or statement confirming their status.
- Prohibited Claims: Individuals or organizations may not claim that FFN is a sponsor, partner, or supporter of their event unless there is a separate, written agreement with FFN.
- Clarification: For a list of FFN’s official National Sauna Week events, please visit finlandiafoundation.org. If you have questions or concerns about the status of an event, contact us directly at communications@finlandiafoundation.org.