Leather and fetish gear has become almost mainstream in the gay community. But there are some gatherings that separate the puppies from the masters.
We’ve gathered a list of some of the biggest, dirtiest, most twisted, most uninhibited—you get the picture—parties around the world. Some of the larger events are so popular that other promoters host like-minded parties at the same time, giving bad boys lots of options for how they’re going to spend their week or weekend.
Here are our 14 favourite wild gay parties.
November/December
Pig Week (November 29 to December 8, 2024), Fort Lauderdale, Florida
If the daily mix of themed, pool and play parties at this 10-day pig fest aren’t enough for you, there’s also yoga, tutorials in fisting and bondage, and naked shopping. The Psycho Circus party has become notorious over the 10 years of this festival’s existence.
January
Hustlaball Las Vegas (January 16 to 18, 2025), Las Vegas, Nevada
The American iteration of this porn-fuelled gay party brand is probably the sleaziest—in all the right ways. For its 10th anniversary, the promoter is bringing in some of the hottest performers and content creators in the business to get the crowd going. Three nights of sex-charged partying. Pack as many jockstraps as will fit in your suitcase.
Woof Week Rio (January 26 to February 2, 2025), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The definition of “bear” is pretty broad at this South American man-meat extravaganza—any amount of body hair or affection for said body hair qualifies you. The mix of parties, including a sexy pool party, cruises and cultural events, makes this event a must for those south of the equator.
February/March
Darklands (February 25 to March 3, 2025), Antwerp, Belgium
Antwerp is not one of Europe’s biggest cities, but it might be home to one of Europe’s most fetish-inclined gay communities. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Darkland boasts Buffet, “the world’s biggest playroom.” There’s a dress code, but it’s pretty broad: leather and biker, rubber and neoprene, PVC and plastic, skins and punks, sportswear, army and uniforms, pup gear, superhero gear and the easypeasy option, naked and underwear.
April
Easter Berlin (April 16 to April 21, 2025), Berlin, Germany
Hosted by Berlin Leder und Fetisch (BLF) and launched in 1973, this is one of the biggest and most intense fetish events in the world. The official events and parties culminate in the coronation of Mister Leather Berlin, but there are many unofficial themed fetish parties around the city over the weekend. The Easter Snax party at Lab.oratory, in the basement of the legendary Berghain (Am Wriezener bhf, Berlin) nightclub, has a reputation for attracting parties who are particularly shameless and not at all shy.
Sleazy Madrid (dates TBD, usually late April/early May), Madrid, Spain
Spain’s biggest and nastiest gay fetish festival is also an amazing electronic music festival—the largest in southern Europe. Pull on your harness and jockstrap, and check out the beef. Strong Madrid, a fantastic time year-round, is usually the main venue.
May
International Mr. Leather, Chicago (dates TBD, usually late May), Chicago, Illinois
With a history dating back to 1979, and built around a coveted international title, this is the big horny daddy of all leather competitions. The official events are pretty cruisy, as are the hallways of the host hotel, but most of the action takes place at private parties and unofficial events.
July
Fetish Week London (July 6 to 13, 2025), London, UK
It’s London, so suits and ties are considered fetishwear, along with leather, rubber, sports, skinhead, uniform and pup, but “naked is not gear.” Scheduled to happen during or close to Pride in London, there are opportunities to march in the parade, as well as a host of warehouse parties, screenings, a cabaret, and lots of opportunities to buy and swap gear. Remember that some parties target certain fetishes, while others are all-kinksters.
Up Your Alley/Dore Alley Street Fair (July 27, 2025), San Francisco, California
Of course, Folsom Street Fair, Dore Alley’s big brother, gets all the attention, and has spinoff events in Germany and Australia. But for those who feel Folsom has gone mainstream and touristy, Dore Alley is the cutting edge of sexual liberation—players to the front of the line. Why go to a dark corner when you can do it right on the street? San Francisco’s infamous Horse Market, where participants are designated as stallions or mares and get all animal on each other, usually takes place during Up Your Alley.
Daddyland (dates TBD, usually July), Dallas, Texas
At Daddyland 2024, a hotel evicted attendees because, it is alleged, lewd behaviour was taking place in unanticipated parts of the hotel—which is a siren call for naughty boys all over the U.S. And also the daddies who love them. Hopefully they’ll get a more open-minded venue in 2025.
August
Damage Party Pride edition (dates TBD, usually early August), Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is a horny place even in its more prudish moments. But during Pride, the Damage Party takes it up a few notches with dancing, play and wildly kinky performances all happening in the same space.
Folsom Berlin (August 27 to 31, 2025), Berlin, Germany
The European take on San Francisco’s Folsom Street Fair is one of those cases where the spinoff might be wilder and raunchier than the original. From “Prosecco for Pigs” to wrestling and fisting events, you don’t even have to go to the off-the-hook nighttime parties to find some fetish fun. Book your hotel early—Berlin is going to be jam-packed this week.
October
Maspalomas Fetish Pride (dates TBD, usually mid October), Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, Spain
One of the few major fetish festivals that happens right next to the beach—a very cruisy beach, at that—MFP has grown dramatically over the last 13 years. It rivals the Spanish island’s Winter Pride as reason to hop on a plane to Gran Canaria. Lots of porn stars/content creators will be lurking in the dunes, in between pool parties and assorted nightclub nights.
Baltic Battle (dates TBD, usually late October), Stockholm, Sweden
From the northern European region that brought the world Tom of Finland comes a party filled with pumped-up uniformed and leather-wearing men. In fact, the artist Tom of Finland showed up at the inaugural edition of this party in 1978. Who will win this battle? He who has the most fun.
