2026 Aufguss WM Playoffs
The global playoff round of the Aufguss World Masters, hosted at one of the premier Dutch thermal resorts. Top national runners-up fight for World Finals slots.
Thermen Bussloo, one of the largest thermal resort complexes in continental Europe. Photo: Thermen Bussloo.
The 2026 Aufguss World Masters Playoffs run August 27 to 30 at Thermen Bussloo in the Netherlands. This is the "second chance" qualification round for national-championship runners-up who did not advance directly to the World Finals. Top finishers across Show Aufguss and Modern Classic categories earn slots at the Worlds in Germany in September.
Why Thermen Bussloo
Thermen Bussloo is one of the largest thermal resort complexes in continental Europe, with multiple performance saunas configured for ritual programming. The venue has hosted elite Aufguss events before. Using the Netherlands as the playoff site also geographically centers the round for Central European competitors, who account for the bulk of the global field.
Format
Competitors present meticulously choreographed 15-minute performances inside a dedicated event sauna, judged by an international jury stationed inside the room alongside bathers. Scoring matrices grade professionalism, heat distribution, towel technique, fragrance dosing, and (for Show category) narrative and theatrical elements.
