Top 5 Fetish Festivals in the World

Whether you're a newcomer to the fetish scene or an experienced fetishist, few things can match the shared experience from a fetish festival. The chance to get together with the global kink community at events such as Folsom, the Fetish Balls and Kinky Copenhagen is unique. So, kinksters here's our pick of the top five fetish festivals in the world.

Hundreds of events take place all over the world, celebrating sexual experimentation and bringing fetish enthusiasts together to explore and share our interests and desires. For newbies, a fetish festival can help to build confidence by reinforcing the ideas that kinks are not strange. That they are nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about, and that they can and should be enjoyed. Meanwhile, for the more experienced, a fetish festival is a great way to spend time with like-minded people.
 

So, here are five of the most famous fetish festivals across the globe today. Find out what specific fetishes they focus on, what they have to offer visitors, as well as the type of people they tend to attract.

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Kinksters at Folsom Street Fair fetish festival. Photo: Bluepics via Flickr.com CC BY 2.0 license
 

1. Folsom Street Fair: An outdoor fetish festival

San Francisco's annual Folsom Street Fair is a fetish festival which takes place in September during Leather Pride Week. An outdoor event with a strong focus on leather-based fetishes and BDSM, it draws close to half a million visitors each year and is recognised as the largest leather event in the world.

The Folsom Street Fair attracts a fairly diverse range of people. This includes both the experienced and the curious and is one of the rare places where attendees can take part in kinky activities in public on a central street in San Francisco. Bondage and spanking displays are common sights, and various sex toys and BDSM products are showcased at the fair.

2. London Fetish Weekend: A weekend of kinky fun

London Fetish Weekend sees several of the city's biggest fetish night clubs join forces to promote an annual weekend of seriously kinky fun. The weekend is suitable for couples or singles alike. However, due to the strict entry requirements of some of the clubs, it's primarily attended by experienced kinksters and isn't as open to newbies.

Each night takes place at a different venue, and the venues each have different themes and dress codes. Several venues also put on fetish workshops and special performances. As a result, regardless of whether you're into dressing up, spanking, bondage, or electro play, London Fetish Weekend will have something to offer you.

3. German Fetish Ball: A fetish fair and BDSM convention

Also known as the German Fetish Fair & BDSM Convention, the German Fetish Ball is held annually in either Berlin or Hamburg and began back in 2003. It's the largest fetish weekend in Germany and is attended by both locals and visitors from around the globe. The weekend combines a pre-party, a fetish and BDSM exhibition and the German Fetish Ball itself.
 

The ball includes DJs, a fashion show, drinks, dancing and erotic displays. The dress code is also fairly open, allowing for leather, PVC, latex and various other fetish enthusiasts to get dressed up for the occasion in their own style.

Fetish festival attendees in Germany. Photo: Heinrich von Schimmer via German-Fetish-Ball.com
 

4. Kinky Copenhagen: Focusing on body art

Kinky Copenhagen is an annual Danish fetish festival where people can explore the world of BDSM and other less common kinks. Just about everything you can imagine will be featured here in some way. If chains and whips excite you or if you're looking for something obscure, you this is the festival for you.
 

Aside from the BDSM and sexual fetish element, Kinky Copenhagen places a strong emphasis on body art, such as piercings, tattoos and body modification. Not only are you able to show off existing body art, but you can get work done too. This makes it a good place for those looking to dabble in that aspect for the first time.

5. Japan Fetish Ball: Big on cosplay

The Japan Fetish Ball is an annual event hosted by the Tokyo Kink Society. It is a fetish festival that combines clubbing, dress up, sadomasochism and performance art, all under one especially kinky umbrella. The ball has a rigorous dress code, meaning people in street clothes will be denied entry. In addition to the latex and leather element, there is usually a strong cosplay presence, making it an ideal place to go if your tastes lean in that particular direction.
 

At which fetish festival have you had the most fun? Are you thinking about attending one? Share your fetish festival stories or dreams in the Fetish.com forum. 

Cover image: model released from Shutterstock.com