Sauna raves, Digi Mart USA News: Dancing to techno at 80 degrees Celsius, in swimsuits and without a drop of alcohol: welcome to the “sauna raves.” From Barcelona to New York, Raphaëlle Baillot examines this new trend that is making clubbers sweat and reinventing the party, according to a Radio France commentary published November 4, 2026.
In the commentary, Baillot explains that the trend, known as spa raves or sauna raves, requires nothing more than a swimsuit. Participants leave their phones and street clothes in the cloakroom, then alternate between heat sessions at 70 to 80 degrees Celsius and plunges into icy water, all set to loud music at about 120 BPM.
According to the commentary, the format differs from a traditional sauna in that friends dance together instead of sitting silently in towels. The report cites CNN, which interviewed Emili Hernandez, owner of the Sauna Inner Flow on the Barceloneta beach in Barcelona, who described how the venue evolved from quiet sauna sessions into a spa rave with music and DJs.
Baillot also notes that American producer Diplo made a surprise appearance at a sauna club in Brooklyn, New York, days before the broadcast. She adds that these events are 100 percent alcohol-free and usually end before 10:30 p.m., reflecting a broader sober party trend as Gen Z turns away from nightclubs.
The commentary closes by noting that Diplo followed his appearance with a Run Club event, a 5-kilometer run before a concert. Baillot did not say whether she planned to attend.
