Edinburgh Fringe 2026: UKs First Sauna Theatre

The Edinburgh Fringe, the largest and most open arts festival in the world, will host a theater set up in a sauna this year. Taking place from August 7 to 31, the event attracts nearly 3 million visitors every year.

For the 2026 edition of the Fringe, the Sauna Sessions Art Club will bring to life the first “Sauna Theatre” specifically designed in the UK, within the cultural venue of Summerhall Arts. It will be the first theater and artistic center of its kind in the country, as well as the largest sauna in the UK.

Founded by Lucy Osborne and James Grieve, the project will blend electrifying music and artistic performances with the traditional culture of well-being and sauna. It will also make use of the Summerhall site, one of the most popular venues at the Fringe.

The sauna environment, conducive to the release of endorphins, is expected to stimulate blood circulation and relax muscles, creating an immersive experience that heightens the audience’s senses and allows them to fully enjoy the shows without distractions.

“We intimately understand the power of theater to connect people, ignite the imagination, broaden horizons, and promote happiness,” Osborne and Grieve stated regarding their new theater model, as quoted by Time Out.

“We believe that combining the enrichment of art and culture with the incredible health and well-being benefits that the sauna provides will double the benefits and joy.”

What to expect at the Sauna Theatre during this Fringe

The venue will accommodate 80 people and will be equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems for performances. The temperature will be maintained at around 90 degrees Celsius.

The Sauna Theatre’s programming includes, among other things, “morning sauna raves,” literary salons, and Aufguss sessions, which involve immersive rituals with essential oils, towel games, and storytelling. It will also offer a range of other music, theater, and dance events, as well as club nights.

Attendees can also experience a sauna reinterpretation of Virginia Woolf’s The Waves and a remixed version of Nick Cassenbaum’s Bubble Schmeisis.

The project is designed to be adaptable and could go on tour throughout the UK after its debut at the Fringe.

Set designer Lucy Osborne and director James Grieve previously launched the Roundabout Theatre for Paines Plough, a traveling auditorium with a capacity of 167 seats.

This year, the Fringe will also feature the premiere of Shaparak Khorsandi’s first play, a show celebrating Jack Dee’s 40-year comedy career, Jack’s Joke Show, as well as a one-woman show by actress Hannah Reilly.