What’s on at Soul Gathering 2026

Celebrating Grounding and Wintering, the festival will focus on the deep connections between sauna, community, creativity and seasonal wellbeing.

*Most sessions are included in the price of a ticket, but some may be reserved ahead of time due to limited capacities.

Sauna rituals

With beautiful saunas bringing fire, steam, and soul, this year’s gatherings will be guided by an inspiring circle of sauna masters from across Europe and the UK. Together, they’ll create spaces for ritual, connection, and deep restoration.

Lithuanian Pirtis with Birutė Time 10:15 The Shore | Big Bear

Rooted in the traditions of Lithuanian pirtis, this session with Birutė Masiliauskienė offers a deeply transformative sauna journey. Drawing on generations of wisdom and her years of teaching students the art of steam bathing, Birutė guides guests through a sequence of heat, steam, herbs, body treatments and rest designed to nurture both body and spirit.

Journeys by Steam - Aufguss with Nick 11:30 The Shore | Big Bear

Have you ever heard a piece of music or smelt an aroma and been instantly transported back in time? During this fully guided session taking in: Curated music, breath work, essential oils and steam manipulation, Aufguss Master Nick McEwen will transport you to six stunning holiday destinations.

NEW Power in the Pause 17:00 The Shore | Mama Bear

Founder of SaunaPause, Kate uses her blended experience of Lithuanian Pirtis and Finnish Saunotus as a powerful tool for exploring how rest and connection can lead to a greater sense of wellbeing. This might be particularly enjoyable for women navigating menopause or other life’s transitions. Nature and nurture play central roles in Kate’s ritual; Take this immersive, multi-sensory journey which offers both the time & space to pause, reflect and reconnect to what matters.

Sauna Astrology with Foxey Hardman Time 16:00 The Shore | Big Bear

Join Foxey as she places the landscape of the New Moon in Virgo within the fascia of your body. Through sensory rituals, music, storytelling and moments of deep inner reflection, you'll step out refreshed, revitalised and a little more connected to the skies above you and the power within you.

Amberwave Aufguss with Doro‍ 18:45 The Shore | Big Bear

A deeply relaxing, three-round guided Aufguss rooted in the traditional sauna ritual Doro grew up with in Germany.

Doro Weber-Passmore is a certified Sauna Master and co-founder of AMBERWAVE SAUNA in Glasgow's West End.

Originally from southern Germany, Doro has lived in Scotland for 20 years. She grew up with German sauna culture and later trained as an Aufguss Sauna Master in Germany through the Deutscher Sauna-Bund.

Intro to the elements with Oscar 13:00 The Shore | Big Bear

Join Oscar for 4 rounds of leaf whisking, steam work and meditation with guided breaks. This Finnish, Lithuanian inspired session will engage the senses, balance the body and bring presence, with a few Irish twists along the way!

Oscar is a Sauna Guide holding sessions across the beautiful aisle of Ireland. He is trained in Saunotus, Pirtis & Aufguss, and began guiding in The Hot Box Sauna in Dublin which has taken him to Finland, Lithuania, and now Scotland!

Saunotus with Eva 17:30 The Shore | Big Bear

In a Saunotus ritual we work through the elements Air, Fire, Water, Earth using plants and herbal waters in order to relax and be guided through each one in a meditative way. We will heat up and cool down with cooling water in the sauna, and also leave the sauna together for cooling breaks as Eva guides us through the hour.Experience a true Finnish sauna Ritual and dive deep into relaxation with the elements and plants 🌿😊

NEW Daoist Flow with Wendy Liu Time 20:00 The Shore | Big Bear

The Sauna Daoist Flow is a meditative sequence that unites the elemental power of heat with the gentle circulation of qi. It is practiced in a sauna, where warmth relaxes the sinews and opens the meridians, allowing energy to move with ease.

Aufguss & Pirtis with Meg 14:30 The Shore | Big Bear

Over four rounds inspired by the elements, Meg will use heat, steam, plants, scent and guided body work to leave you feeling grounded, renewed and fully relaxed.

Sit back, relax and let yourself simply exist in a beautiful ritual combining multiple sauna ancient traditions designed to leave you feeling grounded, renewed and relaxed.

Visiting Saunas

A whole gathering of Scottish saunas is heading to Soul Gathering. From yurts and tent saunas to horseboxes and more, each brings its own character, heat and flavour of löyly. If you haven't visited them yet, take the opportunity to sauna-hop and discover a few new favourites. These are in addition to our two permanent saunas at Granton Big Bear and Little Bear.

SOUL WATER SAUNAS

Mama Bear - Soul Water Sauna

Our original seaside sauna makes the journey along the Edinburgh coast from Portobello to join us. Clad in larch and lined with birch and hazel, it's where the Soul Water Sauna story began.

Big Bear & Little Bear - Soul Water Sauna

Big Bear and Little Bear, our Granton residents. Named after the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, these sister saunas offer two distinct styles of heat, from Big Bear's soft, humid embrace to Little Bear's hotter, drier atmosphere.

Each bear has its own character, its own loyal following and its own way of holding space. Together they tell the story of Soul Water Sauna and the journey we've been on over the years.

Wandering Bear - Soul Water Sauna

Usually found amongst the ancient oaks of Dalkeith Country Park, Wandering Bear is crafted from Siberian cedar. This beautiful barrel sauna holds heat gently and evenly, creating a soft, steady warmth that's perfect for long, restorative sauna sessions.

Baby Bear - Soul Water Sauna

Don’t let the name fool you. Baby Bear packs a punch.

Our new tent sauna delivers an intense, radiant heat that feels dry and sharp in the air. But the magic happens when water meets stone. A ladle of water creates a rush of löyly, transforming the atmosphere into a deeply enveloping, humid heat that wraps around the body and settles into every muscle.

Black Bear - Soul Water Sauna

The newest addition to our fleet, Black Bear is a converted horsebox sauna with plenty of character. Hot, fiery, and full of charm, she produces exceptional steam and delivers an intense, invigorating sauna experience.

VISITING SAUNAS 📍The Hearth

NEW Wild Dook Sauna Dumfries & Galloway

Based in Dumfries & Galloway, Wild Dook Sauna is a fully mobile, wood-fired sauna on a mission to bring nature-based wellbeing to some of southern Scotland’s most rural communities.

The sauna was founded by Mhairi Burnett, who first discovered outdoor sauna culture at Soul Water Sauna. Falling in love with the power of deep heat, Mhairi found it to be such a beautiful space to melt away life's stresses and connect with like-minded people. Inspired to bring that same magic home to Dumfries and Galloway, she went on to become a fully qualified sauna master by attending a training course with Soul Water Sauna.

Hot & Bothy Archerfield Walled Garden - East Lothian

Based at Archerfield Walled Garden in East Lothian, Hot & Bothy's Bothy Sauna is a cosy, wood-fired retreat inspired by traditional Highland shelters. Built to withstand the coastal winds, it offers deep, restorative heat, beautiful views through wide windows, and the perfect contrast to a refreshing cold plunge. A warm and welcoming space at the heart of their thriving sauna community.

NEW Cairn Sauna Lasswade

We're excited to welcome Cairn Sauna to Soul Gathering, travelling from Lasswade.

Founded by Darren, Cairn Sauna is rooted in a deep respect for traditional sauna culture and a commitment to safe, high-quality thermal experiences. Darren has trained through the residential Saunotus programme with Laura Foon, completed Level 2 training and online modules with the International Bath Academy and Birutė Masiliauskienė, and undertaken Lakota Sweat Lodge training with Two Birds Cunningham. He is also an Oxygen Advantage Advanced Instructor, Soberg Thermalist, and brings over 20 years of experience working with wood-burning stoves and heating systems.

Cairn Sauna delivers thermal programmes for The One Eighty, working alongside a clinical-grade team of metabolic and addiction specialists, medical doctors and psychiatrists to provide structured, secure and effective heat and cold experiences.

Sauna Yurt Red Kite Yurts

We're delighted to welcome the yurt sauna specialists from Red Kite Yurts to Soul Gathering. Pioneers of yurt sauna design in the UK, they have spent years refining these beautiful, wood-fired spaces. With its circular layout, central stove and soft, spiralling löyly, their handcrafted yurt sauna offers a truly unique sauna experience and a rare chance to experience this distinctive style of heat.

Wisdom, stories and skills

Join us in the Hearth for a programme of talks, demonstrations, conversations, films and hands-on learning. A space to share knowledge, stories and traditions from sauna cultures near and far.

Practical Introduction to Aufguss with Meg 11:00 The Junction | Fireside

Join Meg as she gives an insight into the basics behind Aufguss, the traditional German sauna ritual technique. Learn about the use of different aromas and scents, how to use them safely in the sauna, and explore simple towel-waving movements that help circulate heat and enhance the sauna experience. You'll also have the chance to practise a few fundamental techniques yourself.

Menopause is often spoken about as an ending. What if it could also be understood as a powerful transition, a time of transformation, recalibration and renewed connection to ourselves?

In this thought-provoking panel, GP and menopause specialist Dr Claire joins her sister somatic therapist Caroline (and other half of the Menopause Sisters) and Sauna Pause founder Kate to explore menopause through both medical and experiential lenses. Together they'll discuss hormonal health, nervous system regulation, emotional wellbeing, and the role that community, ritual and sauna may play in supporting women through this significant life stage.

Wild Scotland: Stories of Nature, Water & Transformation - with authors Anna Deacon & Brigid Lowe 16:00 The Junction | Fireside

Introduction to Lithuanian Pirtis with Birutė 14:00 The Junction | Fireside

Join renowned sauna master Birutė Masiliauskienė for an introduction to the traditions of Lithuanian pirtis. Birutė will share the role of plants, herbs and trees in the sauna, exploring their unique qualities and the benefits they can bring to the body and mind. You'll learn about the cultural significance of these natural elements, how they are used in pirtis rituals, and experience a demonstration of dry whisking, a gentle technique that uses sauna whisks to stimulate the body, improve circulation and deepen relaxation.

Join writer and photographer Anna Deacon (The Wild Fix Scotland) and author Brigid Lowe (Shiver: Lessons of the Loch) for an inspiring conversation exploring the transformative power of nature and Scotland's wild landscapes.

Through stories of lochs, coastlines, forests and mountains, Anna and Brigid will reflect on how immersion in the natural world can shape our wellbeing, resilience and sense of self. Together, they'll explore the pull of cold water, the wisdom held within the landscape, and the ways that time spent outdoors can help us navigate challenge, reconnect with what matters, and rediscover our own wild nature.

Building a Forest Earth Sauna with Rory Macphee 13:00 The Hearth | Roundhouse

Join Rory for an immersive exploration of the Forest Earth Sauna, a one-of-a-kind nature-based sauna experience designed to awaken the senses and deepen your connection to the natural world.

In this 20-minute talk, you'll learn about the construction and philosophy behind the Forest Earth Sauna, and the unique ways natural materials are woven into the experience. Discover how seaweed and hay are used inside the sauna for gentle exfoliation, sensory engagement and connection to the landscapes that inspire the practice.

Following the presentation, there will be a 20-minute Q&A, offering the chance to delve deeper into the design, traditions and thinking behind this profoundly multi-sensory experience.

Smoke, Story & Scent with Herb and Soul Scotland 18:00 (120 mins) The Hearth | Roundhouse

Explore the traditions of sacred smoke, incense and smudging through the stories, customs and folklore of native plants.

In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn about a range of seasonal herbs and their traditional uses before creating your own smudge bundle and/or loose incense blend to take home. Along the way, we'll uncover old tales and cultural traditions connected to scent, smoke and ritual.

Part storytelling, part creative workshop, this session offers a chance to connect with the plants of the season and craft something meaningful to take home. A perfect fit for sauna culture and anyone curious about the folklore of herbs and nature.

Heat, Hormones & Transformation (Caroline and Dr Claire Phipps, Kate Rawson) 13:00 The Junction | Fireside

In conversation with Mikkel Aaland 17:30 The Junction | Fireside

Join Mikkel Aaland for an inspiring conversation all about sauna. Mikkel is an award-winning photographer, author of Sweat and Naked Sweat and host of the Perfect Sweat documentary series. He is the co-founder of Sauna Aid, a multicountry initiative, dedicated to providing movable sauna facilities and supportive services to people facing natural and man-made disasters. He is also an honorary member of the International Sauna Association (ISA) and the British Sauna Society and a founding member of the Norwegian Sauna Association (Badstulaug). Aaland splits his time between San Francisco and Telemark, Norway.

Across the day, step into a space of creativity, ritual, and imagination. These sessions invite you to slow down, find inspiration, play with materials, and discover new ways of reconnecting with yourself and the elements around you. MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

Creative workshops & Art

Land Art with Laurence 14:00 & 16:00 The Shore | The Beach

Join land artist Lawrence Winram on the shoreline for a collaborative exploration of creativity, nature and place. Using sand, stones, driftwood, seaweed and treasures brought in by the tide, you'll help create striking works of land art inspired by the landscape around us.

Whether you choose to contribute to a shared installation, lose yourself in the meditative rhythm of arranging natural materials, or simply enjoy the quiet act of creating outdoors, this workshop invites you to slow down and connect. Together we'll make something beautiful and temporary, celebrating the meeting of art, community and the ever-changing elements.

NEW EXHIBITION Löyly by Lezanne Scott ALL DAY The Junction | Sew-Cial Club

In August 2025, Lezanne Scott attended an artist residency at Arteles, located in Haukijärvi, Finland.
Löyly is the Finnish word for the steam that rises when water is thrown onto hot sauna stones. The word holds a broader meaning too, one that encompasses the ritual as a whole: from the preparation and the heat to the stillness and sense of wellbeing it produces.

The works in this exhibition were made during time spent in and around the sauna, working from observation, memory and the forest surroundings. They explore the body, stillness, and the experience of
being fully present, without distraction.

The exhibition includes oil paintings on canvas, works on paper, and a short film documenting the slow ritual of preparing a traditional wood-fired sauna.

Make your own Sauna hat with Belinda* 11:00 & 16:30 The Junction | Sew-cial Club

Join Belinda for a relaxed, beginner-friendly workshop where you'll create your own sauna hat using simple hand-sewing techniques and pre-felted materials. Personalise your design and leave with a practical handmade hat to protect your hair and keep you comfortable in the sauna.

A sauna lover and keen fibre crafter, Belinda delights in bringing her two passions together through creative, mindful making.

*Additional charge of £3 to cover material costs

**Mindful Botanical Embroidery with Jessica Ahmed* 13:00** The Junction | Sew-cial Club

Slow down, settle in, and stitch your own botanical keepsake with artist and jeweller Jessica Ahmed. Inspired by the leaves traditionally used in sauna whisking, this mindful embroidery workshop explores folk interpretations of eucalyptus, birch and oak.

Guided by Jessica, you'll create a beautiful embroidered piece to take home while enjoying a peaceful moment of creativity and connection. No experience is needed, just a willingness to slow down, make with your hands, and immerse yourself in the calming rhythm of stitch and thread.

*Additional charge of £20 applies for material costs

**Making Connections - Textured Pendant workshop* 16:30** The Hearth | Roundhouse

Join Flourish Jewellery Project for a relaxed, hands-on jewellery-making workshop inspired by nature, wellbeing and the rituals that help us slow down and reconnect.

In this one-hour workshop, participants will create their own unique brass pendant to wear as a personal reminder of something meaningful to them. Starting with a simple brass disc, you’ll use hammers and small natural stones to create texture on the surface, exploring the marks and patterns that can be made through touch, movement and repetition.

Once your pendant has been textured, you’ll choose a word that connects to your own experiences. Words might be something personal, such as breathe, rest, renew, ground, warmth or flow. Using traditional metal letter stamps and a hammer, you’ll impress your chosen word directly into the brass.

To finish, your pendant will be attached to an 18-inch gold-plated chain, ready to wear.

Cost: £10 per person

The Arts of Noticing with Anna Deacon 14:30 The Hearth | Roundhouse

Join Anna Deacon for a mindful walk along the shoreline, using photography as a way to slow down and connect with the world around you.

This isn't about taking the perfect photograph. It's about paying attention. Through gentle prompts and observation, you'll explore nature, light, texture and place, discovering how a camera phone can become a tool for mindfulness, creativity and presence.

NEW INSTALLATION Sauna Ambient by Mika Meskanen 10:00, 12:00, 18:45‍ ‍The Junction | Fireside

Experience the premiere of a new ambient composition and multimedia installation by Mika Meskanen, weaving together the textures, voices and landscapes of the UK's growing sauna movement. Through immersive sound, moving image and breath, you'll be guided on a contemplative journey exploring connection, ritual and the restorative power of heat, water and place.

Visible Mending with Natalie 17:30 The Junction | Sew-cial Club

Visible mending is the art of fixing textiles in a decorative and playful way. It helps us to prolong the life of our clothes and add a wee personal stamp onto them, making them unique! Based on a mindful Japanese method called sashiko, this workshop will run through the basic techniques and stitches you can use, plus offer a welcoming space for you to try out different ideas and ask questions. Everyone is welcome.

NEW EXHIBITION Jään Alla - UNDER THE ICE by Louise Roberts ALL DAY The Junction | Sew-Cial Club

Louise has a BA in Fine Art and a creative career that has spanned over 25 years.

Her fine art photography depicts ‘The Entanglement of Nature’ and explores the natural world with a focus on the passage of time, shape, form, texture, movement and light. A rolling wave which creates the most intricate visual form existing only for a nano second before evolving into something new. Ancient woodlands which left to a natural lifecycle reflect both centuries gone by as well centuries to come. Ice which reveals hidden treasures as it starts to melt.

Movement & Yoga

Our movement programme is designed to help you ground, release, and reconnect through a diverse range of practices ~ from flows to mindful movement, kundalini, posture release, and therapeutic yoga. Whether you want to energise, reflect, or simply come home to your body, these sessions will hold space for you just as you are.

Foundation Training with Mora Time 10:30 The Junction | Studio

Through Foundation Training, somatic movement and fascial release, Mora will guide you into a deeper connection with your body. Explore simple yet powerful whole-body practices that create space in the joints, calm the nervous system and unwind patterns of tension. Strengthen your structure from within, improve posture and leave feeling lighter, stronger and more at home in your body.

Breathwork with Caroline Time 11:30 The Hearth | Roundhouse

Discover the power of your breath in this guided session combining functional breathing, breath awareness, and pranayama-inspired techniques. Learn how conscious breathing can support your nervous system, reduce stress, and bring greater balance to body and mind. Expect simple, accessible practices that leave you feeling calmer, clearer, and more deeply connected to yourself.

Move to Feel with Ailsa Time 12:30 The Junction | Studio

Move to Feel invites you to connect inwards through an immersive, intuitive movement meditation that awakens your natural rhythm, imagination, and joy. Guided by somatic practitioner Ailsa Lochhead, and set to an eclectic soundscape via headsets, it's a silent disco for the soul.

Kundalini Yoga with Gemma 15:30 The Junction | Studio

Awaken your energy, calm your mind, and reconnect with your body through a gentle Kundalini Yoga practice. Combining breathwork, movement, meditation and mantra, this session is designed to support your nervous system and create space for both deep rest and renewed vitality. No experience needed—just come as you are and leave feeling grounded, present, and refreshed.

Movement & Yoga Nidra with Laura Time 19:30 The Junction | Studio

Ease into stillness through gentle movement, breathwork, and relaxation practices designed to prepare body and mind for rest. Guided by Laura, you'll then be led into Yoga Nidra, a deeply restorative meditation often known as yogic sleep. Expect a nourishing journey into profound physical, mental, and emotional relaxation, leaving you feeling grounded, rested, and renewed.

One to One Rituals

Take a little extra time for yourself with our one-to-one ritual series. From seated massage to oracle readings, these intimate sessions offer space to pause, reflect, restore and reconnect. Available to book in advance or on the day*.

*Subject to availability. Supplementary cost applies.

NEW Seated Massage with Gemma 20 minute sessions 11:00 - 13:25, 17:00 - 18:35 The Hearth | Nest

Sometimes all it takes is twenty minutes to change how you feel.

This fully clothed seated chair massage is designed to melt away the tension your body has been carrying. Focusing on the back, shoulders, neck and arms, I’ll work deeply into tight, tired muscles to release areas of holding and tension, before using flowing techniques that leave you feeling lighter, looser and energised.

It’s the perfect balance of therapeutic pressure and soothing touch—awakening the body while calming the mind. Whether you’re feeling stiff from the day, carrying the weight of stress, or simply craving a moment to pause, you’ll leave feeling refreshed, restored and ready for whatever comes next.

Come as you are. Leave feeling like you’ve found a little more space to breathe

Book your massage here

NEW Oracle Card readings 20 minute sessions 14:00 - 15:35 The Hearth | Nest

Looking for clarity, reassurance or a fresh perspective? These intimate 15-minute one-to-one sessions use oracle cards as a tool for reflection, insight and self-discovery.

Whether your questions relate to love, relationships, career, family or a life transition, you'll be invited to explore what your highest self wants you to know right now. Through guided conversation and intuitive card reading, you'll receive supportive guidance to help illuminate your next steps.

If 2026 has been a year of growth, change or transformation, this session offers a chance to pause, tune in and move into the winter months with greater ease, confidence and clarity.

Bring your questions, an open mind and curiosity about what may be waiting to reveal itself. ✨

Book your Oracle Reading here

Music

Join DJ Lu for a sunset session from 7-9pm

DJ Lu The Hearth 7-9pm

Classically trained DJLu honed her craft on piano and violin at a specialist music school in Manchester before turning her skills to the decks.

Renowned for her versatility and infectious energy, DJLu loves the heat, fresh from the Fringe's Summerhall Sauna Theatre, Mistral Beach Club in Split and the Sephora Scotland Edinburgh and Glasgow launch weekends.