Interbad 2026 will bring together professionals from the sauna, swimming pool and spa industries in Stuttgart from 6 to 8 October. Around 300 companies will present the latest technologies, products and design solutions over three days, with particular attention this year given to health, sustainability, energy efficiency and the changing future of the modern sauna and spa industry.
On 6 October, Messe Stuttgart will open its doors for Interbad 2026, one of Europe’s most important professional exhibitions for swimming pools, saunas and spas.
Unlike exhibitions aimed primarily at consumers, Interbad is a meeting place for industry professionals. Sauna and pool manufacturers, technology companies, architects, planners, hotel and spa operators, municipal representatives and other professionals come together in one location.
Organisers expect around 300 companies from Germany and other countries to participate this year.
At Interbad 2026, a sauna is no longer just a wooden room with a heater
Sauna is one of Interbad’s three principal sectors alongside swimming pools and spas.
Within the sauna segment, organisers particularly highlight new design concepts and technologies that could influence the wider market in the coming years.
This is significant because the sauna industry has been changing rapidly. Traditional heaters and wooden benches are increasingly being complemented by automated controls, sensors, energy monitoring, infrared technology, new ventilation systems and remote sauna management.
At the same time, manufacturers are looking for ways to reduce energy consumption without compromising the quality of the sauna experience.
Professional exhibitions are often among the first places where ideas can be seen before they eventually reach private and public saunas.
An entire day dedicated to Sauna, Spa & Longevity
Interbad is interesting this year not only because of its exhibition stands.
Each of the three event days has its own central theme for professional discussions.
On 6 October, the focus will be on planning and architecture. Discussions will examine how swimming pool and spa facilities can be designed for the future and how functionality, aesthetics and quality of life can be combined.
7 October will be dedicated to “Sauna, Spa & Longevity”.
This reflects one of the clearest current trends in the industry – sauna is increasingly viewed not only as relaxation or a traditional ritual, but also as part of a broader approach to health, recovery and long-term wellbeing.
On 8 October, the main focus will shift to sustainability and future challenges.
Energy consumption is becoming a major issue
For the sauna industry, energy efficiency is not a theoretical concern.
A sauna heater consumes a significant amount of energy over a relatively short period, while equipment in public saunas and spa centres may operate for many hours every day.
As a result, efficient heaters are only one part of the equation. Building insulation, ventilation management, heat recovery and intelligent scheduling of equipment are becoming increasingly important.
Interbad 2026 organisers identify energy efficiency as one of the central issues of the exhibition.
This means competition in future sauna technology may not only be about who offers the most attractive design or the most powerful heater, but also about who can provide a high-quality sauna experience while using less energy.
Finnish sauna culture will have its own space
The Finnish sauna industry traditionally has a strong presence at Interbad.
In 2026, the exhibition will once again feature the Finnish Sauna Lounge, organised by Sauna from Finland.
This year, its central theme will be the forest.
The concept is intended to demonstrate the connection between Finnish sauna culture and nature, allowing professional visitors to discover not only individual products but also the broader concept of the Finnish sauna experience.
Sauna from Finland brings together around 200 companies working with products and services connected to the Finnish sauna experience.
Baltic companies will also be represented in Stuttgart
The Interbad 2026 exhibitor list also includes companies from the Baltic region.
Among them are Latvia-based Auroom Saunas SIA, Estonia’s Palmako AS and other companies from the region.
Participation in an international exhibition of this scale is significant for the Baltic sauna industry.
It allows local manufacturers to compare themselves not only with competitors from neighbouring countries, but with companies from around the world.
At the same time, exhibitions such as Interbad create partnerships, distribution networks and supply relationships that can later influence which sauna products and technologies reach the Baltic market.
Health is becoming an increasingly serious topic for the sauna industry
Interbad’s decision to dedicate an entire day of its professional programme to longevity is particularly interesting.
In recent years, interest in the effects of heat on the human body has increased considerably. Researchers are examining possible links between sauna use and cardiovascular health, recovery, sleep, metabolism and other aspects of wellbeing.
At the same time, scientists increasingly emphasise the need for more precise research standards and caution against exaggerated health claims.
This creates a new responsibility for the professional sauna industry – health-related benefits need to be communicated responsibly and based on evidence rather than marketing alone.
Architecture is becoming as important as technology
Architecture also plays a significant role in the Interbad programme.
Modern public saunas are increasingly viewed as part of a larger environment – a swimming pool, spa, hotel, wellness complex or even an urban public space.
This changes the requirements for sauna architecture itself.
Visitor flow, cooling areas, privacy, accessibility, ventilation, energy use and the relationship between the sauna and the rest of the building all become important considerations.
As a result, sauna design is increasingly becoming a collaborative effort involving architects, engineers, sauna technology manufacturers and facility operators.
Interbad reveals where the sauna market is heading
The most interesting aspect of a professional exhibition is often not a single new product.
It is much more revealing to see which issues many different companies are trying to solve at the same time.
When energy efficiency, automation, health, longevity, natural materials and sustainable architecture repeatedly appear at the same exhibition, they indicate a broader direction for the industry.
The Interbad 2026 programme suggests that the sauna market is currently trying to connect two seemingly opposite worlds – centuries-old sauna traditions and increasingly sophisticated modern technology.
Three days to see the next trends in sauna
Interbad 2026 will take place from 6 to 8 October at Messe Stuttgart.
The exhibition will be open from 09:00 to 18:00 on the first two days and until 17:00 on 8 October.
For three days, manufacturers, architects, sauna and spa operators, researchers and other professionals who influence the development of the industry will meet in one place.
Interbad 2026 will be interesting not only because of the new heaters, saunas and control systems displayed at the exhibition. The more important question is what kind of sauna the industry is trying to create for the coming years. The programme already provides a fairly clear answer – one that is more energy-efficient, technologically intelligent, architecturally considered and increasingly connected with health and human wellbeing.
Sources
Messe Stuttgart – Interbad 2026.
Messe Stuttgart – Interbad Forum 2026.
Messe Stuttgart – Sauna from Finland.
Messe Stuttgart – Interbad 2026 exhibitor list.
