WORLD CHAMPION SAUNA MASTERS BRING THE HEAT TO DOLCE VITA HOTELS IN SOUTH TYROL THIS NOVEMBER

WORLD CHAMPION SAUNA MASTERS BRING THE HEAT TO DOLCE VITA HOTELS IN SOUTH TYROL THIS NOVEMBER 

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• Taking place from 15 - 22 November 2026, Dolce Vita Hotels’ signature Sauna Around Week returns as the brand marks its 25-year anniversary 
• It comes as saunas evolve into immersive, social experiences, with an 80-person Sauna Theatre becoming the hottest new venue at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer 
• The retreat will be led by Sauna Aufguss World Champion, Róbert Zidek and reigning Freestyle Vice World Champion, David Zatočil 
• 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  

September 2026 - From the 15–22 November 2026, the highly anticipated Sauna Around Week returns to Dolce Vita Hotels. 

The collection of five South Tyrolean wellness hotels host a twice-annual sauna retreat, centred around Aufguss, the centuries-old ritual gaining international momentum in which trained masters transform the sauna into a stage, using music, light, scent and choreographed towel-spinning. Across the collection’s 35 saunas, guests will experience a week of guided experiences and theatrical performances led by some of the world’s most decorated Sauna Masters. 

In a culture wired for noise, saunas offer something rare, a ritual that restores presence, clarity and resilience. Though, the latest research suggests the appeal is rooted in the social connection found within a heightened, communal space (1). With the hottest venue at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival being the Sauna Theatre, an 80-person space staging everything from sauna raves to a reimagined Virginia Woolf's The Waves, it is evident saunas have evolved from what was traditionally understood into immersive theatrical stages. 

For Dolce Vita Hotels, this is nothing new. Aufguss is rooted in South Tyrol's wellness heritage and sits at the forefront of the collection's wellness philosophy. Sauna Around Week gives this tradition its biggest stage yet: a whole week dedicated entirely to the ritual, with the collection's signature Hotel Hopping allowing guests to move between all five hotels to experience Aufguss at each, free of charge.

Headlining the week are Róbert Zidek, multiple reigning Sauna Aufguss World Champion, and David Zatočil, reigning Freestyle Vice World Champion. Between them, the two have amassed an impressive collection of international titles. Zidek took first place in both the 2025 World Championship Team competition and 2025 Masters Freestyle Aufguss, having previously won the World Championship Singles title in 2023 and 2021. Zatočil was named Vice World Champion at the 2026 Masters Freestyle Aufguss Championship, following second-place finishes in both the Single and Masters Freestyle categories in 2024.

This Year’s Sauna Programme

Opening on Sunday 15th November, Sauna Around Week unfolds across the collection with a diverse programme staged simultaneously moving from hotel to hotel through the week. Alpiana, Feldhof, Preidlhof and Lindenhof each take turns to host Róbert Zidek and David Zatočil for an afternoon of Modern Classic, Freestyle and Show Aufguss performances, with routines spanning Zidek's 'Viking Path' and 'Legacy' to Zatočil's 'Divine Comedy' and 'Rise'. The week closes on Saturday 21 November as the full sauna programme returns across the collection for one final night of performances.

Guests can book their Sauna Around Week here: https://www.dolcevitahotels.com/en/offer-prices/offers/details-offers/dolcevita-sauna-around-week 

Ends

Editors notes

Notes to editors:  

1)University of Greenwich, "New research finds collective sauna rituals associated with a deep sense of belonging and greater physical and mental wellbeing," gre.ac.uk 

Prices: The Sauna Around Week is free to guests of Dolce Vita Hotels. Room prices start from 171 euros per person per night, approx £147 (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 171 euros per person per night, approx. £152 (breakfast, afternoon buffet and dinner included)