The 2nd UK Aufguss Championships to be held at Galgorm, Belfast
Galgorm in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has been announced as the next venue for the UK Aufguss Championships, taking place Monday 22nd - Wednesday 24th April 2024.
Aerial shot of the thermal village at Galgorm Hotel and Spa, Belfast.
The award-winning hotel and spa, set in 450 acres of parkland, has one of the largest capacity saunas in the UK and is therefore perfectly set up to host competitive Aufguss. What’s more, Galgorm is home to the UK Aufguss Champion Pavel Poliacek who honed his skills in their Celtic Sauna. Representing the UK for the first time on an international stage, he now ranks 32nd in the world.
Pavel Poliacek performing ‘Story of Pavel’ at the first UK Aufguss Championships at Rudding Park, Harrogate, England.
For those unfamiliar with show Aufguss, the concept takes a while to get your head around. Most people are familiar with a sauna experience - but imagine a 15 minute dramatic performance, with storylines, aromatic infusions, costumes and dramatic lighting. On the continent, the Aufguss WM World Championships have been played out over a decade, and saunas in the Netherlands and Germany can accommodate up to 200 bathers to enjoy the performances. It’s not just a European thing - Japan joined the Aufguss WM stage in 2022 where it enjoys a cult following. Around 140 teams enter their national championships, where it’s live-streamed on YouTube and has esports-like commentators. Bathers attending the performances have flags that celebrate their favourite Aufguss Masters.
“Aufguss is sauna theatre. Guests get to experience all of the benefits of authentic sauna - the ritual, the endorphin rush, the health benefits. But they also get to enjoy a theatre show: the storytelling, the costumes, the lighting. Participants really dig deep and show off all kinds of creativity, from gasp-inducing towel techniques to emotionally-laden narratives that have everyone in tears.”
In a departure from the expected peace and quiet spa experience, the Aufguss experience is exhilarating with cheers, clapping, and bathers jostling to get to the intense heat of the top bench. Aufguss is loved by all ages and men and women in equal measure, offering a unique experience somewhere between total relaxation, theatre performance and sports match. It’s really not one to be missed.
The Celtic Sauna at Galgorm, where the UK Aufguss Championship performances will take place
Day passes to Galgorm thermal village and to watch the Aufguss performances cost £85 per person. Accommodation and Aufguss packages start from £180 for two people. Booking is open to British Sauna Society members now - the link has been sent to inboxes or can be found in the members portal. Booking to the general public will open later in January 2024.
Galgorm is located half an hour’s drive from Belfast International Airport. Ferries to Belfast depart from Liverpool (England), Douglas (Isle of Man) and Cainyran (Scotland).
