Discussion Festival in Saunas by the Emajõgi River in May – The Naked Truth. It is a discussion festival in saunas, is returning to Tartu! This event combines a sauna festival and a discussion festival, where the sauna benches serve as discussion stages. The goal is to create a pleasant gathering, promote sauna culture, and develop a conversation culture inspired by the sauna experience.
Mobile saunas will be set up at the city beach by the Emajõgi River. Every full hour, a dialogue-based discussion will start, lasting 20–30 minutes, followed by a cooling-off session. Discussions will revolve around three themes: heritage, green living, and peace. A new discussion will start at the next full hour, and conversations can continue even during the cooling-off period. There will be a total of eight saunas for the discussions.
- Friday, May 16: Discussions at 5 PM, 6 PM, and 7 PM
- Saturday, May 17: Discussions at 4 PM, 5 PM, and 6 PM
- No discussions will take place during the first and last hours.
The culture of discussion in saunas reflects what society should strive for—friendly, non-confrontational, inclusive, and focused on finding common ground. Sauna is a deeply rooted part of our culture, but it is also a source of well-being and relaxation, appealing to people of all ages and backgrounds. Sauna makes everyone equal—there are no titles, medals, or uniforms.
In saunas, people communicate with respect, friendliness, and sincerity. Without smartphones, the focus is on human interaction, and conversations are open and honest. Only the person matters. This is the Naked Truth—literally and figuratively.
Equal Participation in Discussions
Everyone is an equal participant in the discussions. The discussion leaders (“steam masters”) include:
- Rein Sikk, “Sauna Minister”
- Mika Keränen, writer
- Daniel Vaarik, founder of Levila
- Eda Veeroja, promoter of smoke sauna culture
- Triinu Laan, writer
- Toomas Trapido, trainer
- Anna Hints, Smoke Sauna Sisters’s film director
The first Naked Truth event was held last year as part of the Tartu 2024 European Capital of Culture main program.
Event Details
📅 Dates & Times:
- Friday, May 16, 2024 – 4 PM to 9 PM
- Saturday, May 17, 2024 – 3 PM to 8 PM
📍 Location:
Emajõe city beach, Ujula Street 102, Tartu
🗣 Languages:
Most discussions will be in Estonian, with one sauna offering discussions in English.
🎟 Tickets:
- €10
- €5 (for pensioners, students and children between 12-17 y)
- Free for children under 12
Tickets on site or in advance from Piletilevi. Please note, that there are limited number of places. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance.
Tickets 16.05.2025 here: https://www.piletilevi.ee/est/piletid/varia/alasti-tode-463407/
Tickets 17.05.2025: https://www.piletilevi.ee/est/piletid/varia/alasti-tode-463408/
Partners
Eesti Maaturism, Oulu 2026, Oulun Rantasaunaseura, International Sauna Association (ISA), MTÜ Emajõe Lodjaselts, Tarton Suomi-seura, Tartu 2024, City of Tartu, HUUM
🎭 Producer:
Hannele Valkeeniemi, Finnish Institute
📧 hannele.valkeeniemi@finst.ee
Mika Keränen in the Oulu 2026 sauna at the first Naked Truth event. PHOTO: Lauri Kulpsoo