The Big Sweat at Blue Mountains Sauna, Leura

What is the Big Sweat

The Big Sweat is a 2 day community sauna festival, hosted at Blue Mountains Sauna in Leura and supported by the Australian Sauna Association.

Across the weekend you'll experience communal sauna sessions, live music, food and market stalls, talks, workshops, a celebration of traditional sauna rituals & ceremonies and immersive wellness experiences.

Come to sweat, learn, connect, and discover why sauna has become one of the world's oldest and most enduring traditions.

Whether you're a seasoned sauna-goer or have never stepped foot in a sauna, you belong here.

A weekend of sauna, music, food, and connection

What to expect

Full program coming soon.

Community sauna sessions

Communal sauna across BM Sauna, including the new Savu smoke sauna.

Aufguss traditions

Guided steam and towel work led by experienced facilitators, plus hands-on towel waving workshops to learn the craft yourself.

Outdoor wood-fired saunas

Mobile sauna operators from across Australia are bringing their trailer saunas to BM Sauna for us to enjoy.

Live music & DJs

Local artists and DJs keeping the good vibes going throughout the day.

Talks & panel discussions

Conversations on sauna culture with the ASA and industry professionals.

Yoga & movement

Yoga and movement workshops weave through the day alongside the sauna program.

Food & market stalls

Local food and makers to browse between sessions.

Arts & crafts

Hands-on craft workshops for all ages, from sauna hat making to embroidery and beyond.

The details

Who it's for

Everyone. Whether you're new to sauna or sauna-crazy.

Adult & kids tickets available.

Tickets

Adult: Single-day (Sat or Sun)$80
Adult: Weekend pass$150
Kids: Single-day (Sat or Sun)$40
Kids: Weekend pass$70

Each ticket includes a 2-hour bathing slot per day purchased, plus full festival access: music, food stalls, talks, workshops, movement classes and market stalls.

Hours

Saturday 10am till late.

Sunday 10am–8pm (TBD).

What to bring

Swimwear (sessions are clothed)
Two towels: one to sit on, one to dry off
Water bottle
Robe or warm layer
Slides or waterproof footwear
Good vibes

Book your tickets

Honouring the ritual

The art of Aufguss.

As sauna grows in Australia, so does the responsibility to honour the traditions behind it. Aufguss, pronounced owf-gooss, is one of the most celebrated of these. A trained sauna master pours water infused with essential oils over the stones, then uses carefully choreographed towel work to circulate the steam through the room. It is immersive, physical and deeply grounding.

At The Big Sweat we bring Aufguss to life across the weekend through dedicated Aufguss saunas, run by experienced facilitators, alongside hands-on towel work workshops so you can feel the craft yourself rather than only watch it. It is part of how the ASA is helping Aufguss take root here with authenticity and respect, building toward a national championship and a pathway for Australian competitors on the world stage.

Aufguss training coming soon

Why this matters

A culture finding its feet

Australia's sauna culture is young, but it is growing quickly and with real heart. Wood-fired saunas are appearing on beaches and in backyards, communities are forming around the shared ritual of heat and cold, and a genuinely local way of bathing is beginning to take shape.

The Big Sweat is where that emerging culture gathers in one place for the first time. It is a chance to celebrate how far things have come, and to imagine together where they might go next.

What the ASA is building

The Australian Sauna Association exists to support this movement with care: developing standards and safety, sharing education, and connecting operators, bathers and makers across the country. We are building the quiet infrastructure that lets a culture mature well.

Consider this weekend a launching board. From here we hope to carry The Big Sweat, and gatherings like it, to communities right around the country.

Frequently asked

Do I need any sauna experience?

None at all. The weekend is designed to welcome complete first-timers alongside seasoned bathers. Come as you are and go at your own pace.

What do I wear?

Sessions are clothed, so bring swimwear. Pack two towels, a robe or warm layer, and waterproof footwear such as slides.

Can I bring children?

Yes. Child tickets are available and family-friendly bathing times and activities are part of the program.

What is Aufguss?

Aufguss is a guided steam ritual where a sauna master pours infused water over the stones and circulates the steam with choreographed towel work. You can experience it across the weekend in our dedicated Aufguss saunas.

Where does the donation go?

Ten percent of net proceeds goes to Sauna Aid, which brings the warmth and comfort of sauna to communities in need.

Get involved

There is more than one way to be part of The Big Sweat. If any of these sound like you, we would love to hear from you.

Run a market stall

Makers, sauna-adjacent brands and local businesses are invited to express interest in a stall at the festival.

Host a session

Pitch a workshop, movement class, talk or something in between as part of the weekend program.

Volunteer

Keen to help make the weekend happen? Put your hand up to volunteer with the team.

Sponsors & Press

Sponsor the event

Brands and partners interested in supporting The Big Sweat are warmly invited to get in touch. Come and be part of Australia's first national sauna gathering, with a captive audience of sauna & wellness enthusiasts.

Media & press

Journalists and outlets are welcome to reach out for interviews, images and press access across the weekend.

Get in touch

Join the fun.

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