2026 Aufguss USA Nationals
Aufguss USA Nationals return to Bathhouse in New York with expanded qualification paths into the Aufguss World Championships. The clearest signal yet that the ritual has a US practitioner pipeline.
Aufguss USA announced expanded qualification into the World Championships for the 2026 Nationals. Image: Aufguss USA.
The 2026 Aufguss USA Nationals run May 19 to 21 across Bathhouse's Brooklyn and Flatiron locations in New York. This is the first year US Nationals have expanded qualification into the Aufguss World Championships, which means strong US finishers can advance directly to the global playoff rounds rather than going through a European qualifier.
Why Bathhouse
Bathhouse is one of the largest social sauna operators in North America, with two New York venues currently pacing toward a $120 million run rate. The company has signaled plans to expand to roughly eight more US locations, which positions it as the primary domestic platform for the ritual. Hosting Nationals two years in a row pulls the global competitive circuit directly into the US social-sauna scene.
What the Field Looks Like
This is also the first clean public test of US practitioner depth. If the field is strong, the supply-side constraint on the category is loosening faster than skeptics expected. If it is thin, the US still depends on European-trained Sauna Masters and the training pipeline remains the bottleneck. Operators watching should pay attention to who shows up, not just who wins.
Results
The 2026 Aufguss USA Nationals concluded May 21 with new champions crowned across all three categories. Design for Leisure served as organizing sponsor, Bathhouse as venue partner, and Harvia as Platinum Sponsor and Official Sauna Partner.
Team Show Aufguss: First place Alexi Irvine and Joli Irvine. Second place Tovi Wayne and Alonzo Solorzano. Runners-up Breana Marshall and Muhammad "Mo" Hodge.
Solo Show Aufguss: First place Tovi Wayne. Second place Travis Talmadge. Runner-up Alonzo Solorzano.
Modern Classic Cup (inaugural): First place Travis Talmadge. Second place TJ Lupo. Runner-up Tovi Wayne.
First and second place Show Aufguss finishers qualified directly for the 2026 Aufguss WM Finals at Satama Sauna Resort in Germany (September 13 to 20). Third place finishers advance to the Playoffs at Thermen Bussloo in the Netherlands (August 27 to 30). Modern Classic Cup competitors advance along the international pathway to the Modern Classic Cup Finals at Farris Bad in Norway (October 1 to 4).
For the broader commercial context on why US operators are investing in Aufguss in the first place, see our analysis of the business of Aufguss.
