EWA Awards 2026: Winners Announced in Three Categories

(eap) The European Waterpark Association e.V. (EWA), the association representing European leisure pools and thermal spas, has announced the finalists and winners of this year’s  EWA Awards. Awards were presented in the categories of “Professional Award”, “Marketing Award” and “Sustainability Award”.

This year’s EWA Professional Award for innovative offer design goes to OLantis in Oldenburg. The leisure pool is being honoured for the redesign of its SaunaWorld under the guiding theme “Stadt, Land, Fluss“ (City, Country, River). The transformation, realised within one year, is said to have impressed in particular with its consistent theming. Increased visitor numbers and a 49 percent rise in revenue in the SaunaWorld also speak about the success of the project. The completion of a further construction phase is scheduled for summer 2026, which will include a plunge pool and a warm-water pool in the sauna garden. In a third construction phase, a treetop sauna as well as a relaxation room are also planned. The Spa Resort Geinberg in Austria, for the reconception of its SPAplus area, and Austria's Therme Laa an der Thaya, for the “Silent Villas” as an extension of the “Silent Spa”, were also recognised as finalists.

Germany’s AGGUA in Troisdorf has been honored with this year’s EWA Marketing Award for its “AGGUA BEATS” event series, which was held for the first time in September 2025. Under the motto “A pool becomes a stage and the city becomes the audience,” an event format was created that allowed the Troisdorf leisure pool to creatively utilize its existing infrastructure beyond the usual scope while simultaneously creating space for intergenerational experiences. With a small budget and regional partners, a concept was developed to revitalize periods of low occupancy with guests and revenue. The open-air festival in the outdoor pool area subtly promoted the entire pool, appealing not only to regulars but also to new customers. A continuation of the concept is planned for 2026, this time under the theme “ART meets WAVE.”

In the marketing category as well, two additional finalist entries received special recognition from the judges: The Rulantica Water World at Europa-Park Erlebnis-Resort was also able to market its newly created “Nordic Festival of Lights” – featuring spectacular light installations and shows – very successfully and in a way that captured significant attention during a season when the water park typically sees lower attendance. With its campaign for “World Gift Day” 2025, Therme Wien specifically generated brand-specific value-added momentum beyond traditional discount mechanisms.

This year, the EWA Sustainability Award recognized two projects: the Spa Resort Geinberg in Austria and the aquaferrum in Friesoythe, Germany. The Spa Resort Geinberg impressed the jury with its “Green Geinberg” initiative, which aims to improve the thermal baths’ energy and carbon footprint. Through optimized process controls, the goal is to save 22 million liters of fresh and thermal water and 350,000 kWh of electricity annually, while reducing chemical consumption by 12 percent. The aquaferrum leisure pool was honored for its initiating involvement in the Germany-wide awareness campaign “#initiativeAugenblick,” in which over 200 swimming facilities are now participating. The initiative’s goal is to raise awareness among parents and guardians regarding their duty of supervision and to draw attention to risks posed by distractions – such as those caused by mobile devices.

The award winners will be officially honoured as part of the 10^th International Congress “Future Prospects for the European Waterpark Business” on 27 April 2026 at the MEWA Arena in Mainz. ■