Opinion festival in saunas, where the sauna benches are the discussion stages. The goal is a nice get-together, promotion of sauna culture and development of conversation culture based on the example of sauna. Saun helps us to be better version of ourselves.

Mobile saunas are collected on the Emajõgi City Beach near the city center. Each full hour begins with a conversation that lasts 20-30 minutes. Then there’s the cooling. The conversations have three topics: tradition (rehe), green (rohe), and peace (rahu). A new start at full hour again. It is possible to continue the conversation while cooling.

The conversation style in saunas is what it should be like everywhere – friendly, avoiding confrontation, looking for common ground, inclusive. The sauna is a deep root of our culture, and nowadays bringing well-being and relaxation, pop in every age group and layer of community. The sauna is equal, there are no titles, decorations, or uniforms.

People in the sauna treat each other with respect, friendliness, and sincerity. Without smart phones the focus is on the personal contact. The truth is naked in the literal sense of the word.

Discussions start at full time and last about 30 minutes. The moderators (heat-masters) of the discussion are, among others, the “sauna minister” Rein SikkIlmar Raag, who organizes frontline saunas for Ukraine, Marianne Ostrat, producer of the film “Savvusanna sõsarad”, writer Mika KeränenDaniel Vaarik, founder of Levila, and Triinu Laan, project manager of UT World University, journalist Marti Aavik, sauna activist Marko “Pluto” Puksing, Tampere house director Sakari Neuvonen, Tampere’s oldest public sauna Rajaportt sauna heater Alexander Lembke, forest expert Liis Kuresoo, Eda Veeroja and Helen Moppel promoting the smoke sauna culture in Southeast Estonia, Oulu 2026 team Katri Tenetz, Kati Koivunen, Piia Rantala-Korhonen and Katri Kärkkäinen.

Researchers from the University of Tartu’s Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies and experienced sauna bathers Piret EhinUrmas Hõbepappel and Maili Vilson will bring distant and close topics to the festival. They show how to talk about politics in the sauna – exceptionally calmly, interestingly and respectfully. In the Skytte sauna on May 10, there will be a talk about China, political culture, and whether and what could be transferred from sauna culture to politics. On Saturday, May 11, the ship Signild will become a “Euro vessel” for four hours, because Estonia just celebrated 20 years as a member of the European Union.

“Naked Truth” is part of the main programme of the European Capital of Culture in Tartu 2024.

Date:
Friday, the 10th of May, at 17-21 o’clock
Saturday, the 11th of May, at 15-20 o’clock

Place:
Emajõe City Beach, Ujula street 102, Tartu city

Language:
Mostly in Estonian, some discussions also in English

There is a tent for dressing up, and drinks and food for sale next to sauna area.

Tickets from Piletilevi:
5 euros (children under 12 years for free)

Partners and supporters:

Eesti MaaturismOulu 2026Oulun Rantasaunaseura,  International Sauna Association (ISA), MTÜ Emajoe LodjaseltsOperaatio PirkanmaaVisit Tampere/The Sauna CapitalTarton Suomi-seuraTartto 2024Narvi, Metsä Group PärnuHUUM, Lemmik MeesKärg SaunBrek, SaunumSaunas for UkraineSuomen SaunaseuraEckerö LineA. Le CoqMustamäe Elamus SpaJohan Skytte Institute of Political Studies in University of Tartu/REPAIR Rejuvenating DEMOCRACY in the EU