Canada's Nordic Spa Boom: Where New Spas Are Opening (2026)

By Angel Fuentes, founder of Lanoviss · October 21, 2026

Canada's Nordic spa boom is real but patchy: Nova Scotia went from zero to four Nordic spas since 2020 with a fifth due in 2026, Edmonton is getting three by 2028, Basecamp Resorts is building two large Everwild spas in Banff (fall 2027) and Harmony, Alberta (winter 2028), and Metro Vancouver has about 20 Finnish-style circuit saunas that opened in six years. We found no authoritative national count, so the picture below is assembled city by city from news reports.

We make sauna hats, so we have a stake in sauna culture growing. That is why every claim here links to its source and we flag what we could not verify.

What is a Nordic spa, and how is it different from a regular spa?

A Nordic spa is a hydrothermal circuit: you cycle between hot (sauna, steam, hot pool), cold (plunge or waterfall) and rest, usually outdoors and often in a quiet or silent setting. Treatments like massage are optional extras. The model comes from Scandinavian bathing habits; Finland alone reports 3.2 million saunas for about 5 million people, according to the Finnish Sauna Society.

The long-established Canadian operator is Scandinave Spa, which lists locations in Whistler, Blue Mountain (Ontario), Mont-Tremblant and Vieux-Montréal on its Whistler site. At Whistler, silence is a core rule and phones stay in lockers.

How fast is the Nordic spa market growing in Canada?

The clearest growth numbers are regional. Nova Scotia's first Nordic spa, Sensea in Chester, opened at the start of 2020; by April 2026 the province had four, with a fifth expected in 2026, and Tourism Nova Scotia says occupancy is very high, per National Geographic. In Vancouver, The Peak (August 2026) estimates "20 and counting" Finnish-style circuit saunas opened over six years, while warning that building costs are rising and competition is heating up.

Internationally, market research cited by The Peak projects the global sauna industry growing from $1.2 billion in 2023 to $1.78 billion in 2030. Treat projections like that as directional, not precise.

Which companies are building Nordic spas across Canada?

Basecamp Resorts announced three spas under its Everwild concept in Banff, Fernie and Harmony in March 2026; the Banff location converts an existing 21-room hotel, and the Harmony project is described as one of the largest spas in North America (Daily Hive, CTV Calgary). In Edmonton, CP24 reports three projects: ró, a second Scandinave Spa, and an Indigenous thermal spa from Enoch Cree Nation.

Ró's leader Trevor Stride said, "There's something missing in the city, that's for sure, when it comes to wellness." Ró is at 10023 81 Ave NW in Ritchie and was "expected to open soon" as of September 14, 2026, subject to final city permits (Daily Hive).

Why is Nordic spa demand rising in Canada?

No source we found gives a single proven cause, and anyone who does is guessing. The reasons offered in reporting include an ageing population that prioritizes wellness (National Geographic cites Nova Scotia's median age of 45.6 and a 2025 McKinsey consumer survey), coastal and mountain scenery that suits outdoor circuits, and a gap in the market in cities like Edmonton. The Global Wellness Institute's 2026 trend report also cited Toronto's Othership as a scalable model, per The Peak.

Cold winters are a plausible driver too, but we have not seen data that links them to demand, so we leave that as an observation rather than a finding.

Is the boom sustainable?

Not for every operator. The Peak's headline question, "Is anyone making money from Vancouver's sauna boom?", points at rising construction costs and more competition, and its full profitability analysis is paywalled, so we cannot tell you what it concludes. Large builds also carry long timelines: the Banff spa is fall 2027 and Harmony is winter 2028, so some announced projects are still two years away.

[DATO PROPIO PENDIENTE: Fuentes's first-hand take from Vancouver on which venues are busy or closing, and whether any customers mention Nordic spas when buying a hat]

Do you need a sauna hat at a Nordic spa?

Usually no. Nordic spas focus on hot-cold cycling, many prohibit phones, and we have not confirmed a hat policy at any of the spas above, so ask before you pack one. A hat tends to matter most in long rounds in very hot rooms such as banyas; see banya vs Finnish sauna and do sauna hats actually work? for what the evidence supports.

If you want one, the Merino Wool Sauna Hat is 100% merino, pressed from 3 mm felt as one seamless piece, one size for 55–61 cm heads, $59.99 CAD. There is also a five-hat collection at $173.99 CAD. It ships from Canada and returns are free within 30 days in Canada and the US.

[FOTO PROPIA: Lanoviss hat at a Nordic spa or outdoor sauna visited by Fuentes, if allowed by that spa]

Where to read next

Planning visits? See our guides to the best public saunas in Vancouver and Toronto, and what to wear in a sauna country by country.

Frequently asked questions

How many Nordic spas are there in Canada?

We could not find an authoritative national count. Regional reporting includes four in Nova Scotia (a fifth expected in 2026), about 20 Finnish-style circuit saunas in Metro Vancouver, and three projects in Edmonton planned by 2028.

What is the biggest Nordic spa planned in Canada?

Basecamp Resorts' Everwild at Harmony, west of Calgary, on 5.5 acres with over 180,000 sq ft of combined spa and hotel space, targeted for winter 2028. Daily Hive describes it as one of the largest spas in North America.

When is the Banff Nordic spa opening?

Basecamp Resorts' Everwild Nordic spa in downtown Banff, about 34,000 sq ft over two levels, is targeted for fall 2027, per Daily Hive in March 2026.

What are the Nordic spas in Edmonton?

ró nordic spa in Ritchie (opening pending permits as of September 2026), a Scandinave Spa in Brander Gardens, and an Enoch Cree Nation thermal spa of nearly 3,000 square metres, with the last two planned for 2028.

Is Scandinave Spa in Canada?

Yes. Its site lists Whistler (BC), Blue Mountain (Ontario), Mont-Tremblant and Vieux-Montréal, and CP24 reports a planned Edmonton location targeted for 2028.

Should I wear a sauna hat at a Nordic spa?

It is usually optional. We have not confirmed hat policies at specific spas, so check with the venue. Hats matter most in very hot rooms such as banyas.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Heat and cold exposure are not suitable for everyone; speak to a doctor if you have a heart condition, are pregnant or take medication that affects blood pressure.