Call for speakers

Graphic symbol: the symbol shows a piece of a ring, which is part of the Sauna Congress logo. The ring symbolizes degrees Celsius

Become a part of ISC 2026!

International Sauna Congress provides an opportunity for scientists, sauna professionals and those interested in sauna to share their research and other thematic contributions with the sauna community through presentations.

The aim is to broaden the understanding of the health effects, history, culture, technology, and the societal and environmental impact of sauna.

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We’re looking for speakers who can:

  • Share expertise: Bring deep knowledge and insights in sauna, whether it’s through case studies, research findings, or personal experiences in the field.

  • Inspire innovation: Present innovative ideas, new perspectives and insights.

  • Engage the audience: Deliver through compelling storytelling and/or interactive elements that captivate attendees.

Presentation details:

  • Language: English

  • The speaking time must not exceed 20 minutes. There will be up to 10 mins for questions/discussion after each presentation. The presentation must be accompanied by a written manuscript (max. 7 pages) in English.

  • The rights to the presentations, and use of the manuscript are assigned to the International Sauna Association and Norwegian Sauna Association. A documentation of the conference is planned. The presentations will be streamed to registered conference participants.

  • Speakers who whose costs are not covered by their employer get a 50% discount on their congress ticket. If a further discount is needed because of your employment or financial situation, please notify the organizing committee. Speakers cover their own flights and accommodation.

  • Topics: Presentations can be based on original works, surveys or reports. They can represent recent research results, academic or journalistic inquiry, or professional insight.

    The following themes and topics are offered:

    Sauna and Health

    We invite submissions exploring the physical, mental and societal health effects of sauna use. Contributions on methodology development and innovative research techniques are also welcomed.

    Global Sauna Culture

     We invite submissions exploring the history and development of global sauna culture, including rituals, folklore, spirituality, trends, reputation, attitudes, marketability, cultural exchange and travel.


    Technology, Architecture and Sustainability 

    We invite submissions exploring and showcasing developments within sauna technology, architecture and sustainability, including design, building, upkeep and management, energy efficiency, accessibility, interaction with nature and urban environments, and the environmental impact of sauna building and use.

Selection process

Our team will review all submissions and rate them based on relevance to our theme, speaker expertise, and presentation skills. Selected speakers will be notified and provided with further details and support to prepare for the conference.

We will be selecting speakers continuously, but the deadline is January 15th 2026.

For presentations, the abstract should include the following headings:

  1. Title of the presentation

  2. Summary of main points (will be published in programme)

  3. Short bio of presenting author (max. 5 lines - also to be published in programme) 

  4. Short relevance statement about which theme/topic you are submitting for

  5. If applicable, indication of previous publications on the topic, and links to articles

  6. Name and contact details of presenter, and names of collaborators

Thank you for considering this opportunity. We look forward to the possibility of welcoming you to our speaker lineup!