SAUNA AROUND WEEK RETURNS THIS SPRING AS DOLCE VITA HOTELS MARKS 25 YEARS
Published:
Read Time: 6 mins
SAUNA AROUND WEEK RETURNS THIS SPRING AS DOLCE VITA HOTELS MARKS 25 YEARS
- Taking place from 12 - 19 April 2026, Dolce Vita Hotels’ signature Sauna Around Week returns as the brand celebrates its 25-year anniversary
- The retreat will be led by World Champion aufguss master, Barbora Brožová and former German Champion, Hendrik Bißlich
- Outside of the twice-annual retreat, guests can enjoy performances from resident Aufguss Champions at two hotels in the portfolio, Preidlhof and Lindenhof
- The retreat is FREE to guests of Dolce Vita Hotels
High-res images available to download: HERE
19th February 2026 – Sauna culture is gaining momentum across the UK, with the British Sauna Society now mapping more than 600 public saunas nationwide. At the heart of this growth is social connectedness - a benefit previously overlooked - with new research finding that shared sauna rituals significantly boost wellbeing (1).
As the first study to examine the social impact of sauna culture, the findings explain why Aufguss - a guided group ritual led by an Aufgussmeister, or sauna master - has been cited as a leading travel wellness trend for 2026. Against this backdrop, Dolce Vita Hotels, a collection of five family-run wellness resorts, is preparing for the return of their highly-anticipated ‘Sauna Around Week’.
Taking place between the 12th - 19th April 2026, Sauna Around Week is a dedicated sauna retreat led by Sauna Master World Champions, elite performers who have earned international titles for their artistry, technique and theatrical aufguss presentations.
Guests of Dolce Vita Hotels are invited into the theatrical world of Aufguss, which combines heat, scent, music and movement for a restorative, sensory experience. This year’s line up ranges from a Kingsman Show-Aufguss to culturally inspired experiences such as Sound of Kenya and the Japanese Journey, all expertly delivered by world pros.
This year, the hosting Sauna Masters will be the 2025 Aufguss World Champion, Barbora Brozová and former German Champion, Hendrik Bißlich. From Monday to Friday, the Czech-German duo will bring the heat to the large, communal saunas of Dolce Vita Hotels with spectacular performances.
Both have been collecting international accolades for several years, with Barbora achieving First Place in the 2023 World Championship “Master of Freestyle (Single)” and First Place in the 2025 Team World Championship. Hendrik has also achieved considerable success throughout his career, being awarded First Place in the German Championships in both 2023 and 2024 and most recently Third Place in the 2025 World Championship “Master of Freestyle (Single)”.
Explaining what’s involved in traditional Aufguss, Sabrina Telfser, Sauna Master and Spa Manager at Preidlhof Luxury Dolce Vita Resort says:
“During an Aufguss, water and ice with essential oils are poured onto the stones of the sauna oven. The steam produced increases the humidity in the sauna and makes the heat more intense. By using different rhythmic movements of a towel, accompanied by background music, the Aufgussmaster creates an intense and enjoyable multi-sensory experience. It takes approx. 10-13 minutes and can be optimised and intensified by using essential oils and aromatherapy during sweating. In the Aufguss, we use various utensils to distribute the air, in particular special towels and fans. There is a wide variety of different types of Aufguss and rituals in the sauna, from classic, relaxing, themed, show to singing bowl rituals”.
Guests have the opportunity to experience Aufguss beyond the retreat programme. Resident sauna experts work year-round at Preidlhof and Lindenhof. Sabrina Telfser is a Sauna Master and Spa Manager at Preidlhof, Claudio Massa works at Lindenhof and is the Winner of the 2023 Italian Herbal Cup and Kasia Klajn is the 2025 Italian Champion who also works at Preidlhof, ensuring that beyond Sauna Around Week, guests can take part in ceremonies led by skilled professionals who live and work in the region.
Why settle for one spa, when you can try all five?
Sauna events will take place at a different hotel each day, made possible through the brand’s signature hotel-hopping concept. Guests can enjoy the wellness facilities of ALPIANA, Preidlhof, Lindenhof, Feldhof and Jagdhof when staying at just one. Set in the lesser-known South Tyrolean regions of Naturno and Lana, four of the Dolce Vita Hotels are within walking distance from each other, with the furthest, ALPIANA, taking around 30 minutes to reach by car.
With a combined 41 pools, 35 saunas including a six-foot sauna tower at Preidlhof, 31 relaxation rooms and 5 SkySpas - Dolce Vita Hotels leads the way when it comes to award-winning wellness. The hotels also benefit from a team of award-winning spa therapists and doctors who lead transformative retreats, including the dedicated ‘Women Retreat’ for the menopause.
What’s New for This Spring’s Retreat?
This Sauna Around Week marks the first opportunity to experience the Spring retreat with ALPIANA’s newly opened SkySpa “ALCIELO”, launched in April 2025. Up in the pine-scented air of the mountains, ALCIELO spreads across two floors and features a Black Diamond bio sauna with a glass dome, a cold-water pool and a Turkish steam bath. One level above, the rooftop garden is full of verdant Mediterranean plant beds, an infinity pool and a yoga deck for sun salutations over panoramic Alpine views. In 2026, Hotel Feldhof is expanding its Sky Spa to include more lounging areas, a garden and an open training area, while Hotel Preidlhof also introduces a new thermal pool with healing water, an infinity rooftop spa, a 90°C Sunset Sauna and a -10°C Snowroom, adding new contrasts to this year’s programme.
Guests can book their Sauna Around Week here: https://www.dolcevitahotels.com/en/wellness/sauna-around-week
Ends
Editors notes
ENDS-
Notes to editors:
Prices: The Sauna Around Week is free to guests of Dolce Vita Hotels. Room prices start from 190 euros per person per night, approx £165 (includes 3/4 board - breakfast, afternoon buffet and dinner included)
All hotel packages can be found here: https://www.dolcevitahotels.com/en/offer-prices/offers
About Dolce Vita Hotels:
Dolce Vita Hotels is a collection of five independent wellness hotels – ALPIANA, Preidlhof, Lindenhof, Feldhof and Jagdhof - located at the foot of the Texel Group Nature Park. Open in spring, summer and autumn seasons the collection includes family-friendly and adults-only options, with family hotels offering family spas set to lower temperatures. Through their hotel hopping concept, when you book one hotel, you benefit from the facilities and services of all five, free of charge. Whether it’s enjoying the region’s culinary delights in a choice of 5 restaurants or basking in multiple infinity pools set against the backdrop of stunning mountain vistas, all the properties are just a short walk or drive away. An hour and 30 minutes away from the Dolomites, Dolce Vita Hotels is perfectly located for a day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Leading the way in wellness, the collection offers the largest spa and wellness facilities in South Tyrol made up of 41 pools, 35 saunas, 31 relaxation rooms and 5 SkySpas - including a six-floor Sauna Tower at Preidlhof. The hotels also benefit from a team of award-winning spa therapists and doctors who lead transformative wellness retreats, including menopause, and is also home to Sauna Master World Champions. Twice annually, Dolce Vita Hotels hosts their sauna retreat – the Sauna Around Week – with traditional Aufguss, sauna shows and rituals performed daily.
Prices: From 190 euros per person per night, approx. £165 (breakfast, afternoon buffet and dinner included)
