In honor of National Sauna Week, join us on February 12 for a panel on how American cities can take inspiration from Europe’s sauna movement to embed community health and wellbeing into the heart of public spaces. Moderated by Therme Group US’ Adam Bamba Tanaka, the panel discussion features a pioneer of Norway’s nonprofit sauna movement, a global expert on bathing culture, and a leader in programming New York City’s public realm.

Across European cities — from London to Oslo and beyond — a rapidly growing nonprofit sauna movement is charting a dynamic new model of public health infrastructure: low-priced, high-design public saunas located along waterfronts, rooftops, and public parks. At the center of the story is the Oslo Sauna Association (Oslo Badstuforening), a nonprofit that operates over 25 floating saunas across the Norwegian capital. Supported by a grassroots volunteer operation, these saunas have become beloved pieces of civic infrastructure, social lifelines for a city with long winters and a high proportion of residents who live alone. In 2025, the Oslo Badstuforening was recognized by Time magazine as one of the World’s Great Places.

Drawing on Oslo’s experience, the panel will examine how creative activation of public spaces for community health can support physical and mental wellbeing, strengthen social ties, and make cities more livable year-round.

This event is organized by Culture of Bathe-ing, a global community that celebrates the modern resurgence of communal bathing as a tool for preventative health and a response to growing social isolation within modern urban life. Beginning February 12 and running through March 1, 2026, Culture of Bathe-ing will transform Domino Park on the Williamsburg waterfront into the site of an unprecedented sauna festival. The festival marks the first event of its kind in New York City and the largest sauna village ever staged in the United States.

Register