Sex sells… and so do tickets to porn expos.
These events are a chance for industry professionals (and pornstars) to mingle with the public — for many, it’s an intoxicating mix of business and pleasure.
Our favorite porn conventions are scattered all around the world — from Las Vegas to Sydney, Taipei to Bucharest. But what are the must-visit events? And how do they rank for chasing deals or thrills?
Major Porn Conventions and Adult Trade Fairs
There are different porn conventions targeted to different tastes — and most importantly, two distinct types of attendees: consumers and business.
Some adult expos are marketed as lifestyle events where you can learn about sexuality, while sampling some of the hottest new retail products. Others are promoted as a showcase of the porn industry (and its brightest shining stars).
We start with an event that covers just about everything X-rated:
AVN Adult Entertainment Expo
https://adultentertainmentexpo.com
The AVN Adult Entertainment Expo (AEE) is the biggest and glitziest of them all. Held annually since 1998, it attracts thousands of professionals and fans to its four-day event held every January in Las Vegas.
As soon as you arrive, you’re blasted by banners, billboards, and posters featuring adult stars and the fanciest new gizmos from the sex tech space. It’s hard not to be taken back by the vast scale of this event.
While the majority of attendees are male, there’s a significant number of female attendees and couples exploring the expo together.
AEE hosts six main events/Expos over four days:
- Fan Experience.
- Seminars, meet the stars, entertainment, parties.
- Business Expo.
- Business advertising and networking.
- AVN Awards Show.
- The highlight, the ‘Toscars’ of the porn world.
- Pleasure Product Expo.
- Toys, lingerie, games and other sex-related shopping.
- GayVN Awards.
- The awards ceremony honouring the best in gay porn.
- The Village.
- The gay meet-and-greet, star/fans part of the expo.
The AVN Expo is the most well-attended of any event on our list, attracting over 35,000 guests from more than 35 countries. In recent years, it has allowed the public access to around 800 porn stars. Many adult film stars attend the expo to meet with fans, sign autographs, and take photos. For both fans and stars alike, AEE is a celebration of our industry.
The AVN Awards form part of the expo. Held on one night out, with tickets selling for around $230, and with over 100 awards to give out, this ceremony is the highlight of the convention, and truly is a night of a thousand (porn) stars. There’s a reason why this event is known as the ‘Oscars of Porn‘.
If we’re being honest, there are so many awards that it can drag a little in places. But for anybody who is lucky enough to scoop a gong, it’s a night to remember.
AVN AAE is more than glitz and glamour. It also hosts seminars and educational panels covering everything from sexual health to innovative new tech of the sex industry.
If you’re going to visit any porn conference, we’d have to recommended AVN’s flagship event. It has a unique prestige and gravitas that simply can’t be experienced at any other event.
AVN Expo: Business 50%, Pleasure 50%
XBIZ Awards and Conference
The XBIZ Awards and Conference covers all aspects of adult entertainment. Like AVN, the highlight is the annual awards ceremony, one of the most prestigious events of its kind.
Launched in 2003, and also running for four days, the XBIZ Awards and Conference attracts influencers, newcomers, professionals and fans, and offers a wide variety of functions, entertainments, business opportunities and events.
Compared to AVN AEE, the XBIZ events attract a more industry-centric audience. Expect a lot of focus on B2B and networking, with slightly less glitz and fewer of the PR-hungry attention-seekers found at AEE.
There are two sections to this annual event, the Awards and the Conference.
The XBIZ Conference has a global focus and offers:
- Industry networking
- Workshops, discussions and professional panels
- The chance to showcase products and services
- A focus on the business side of the industry
The XBIZ Awards has expanded over the years to offer:
- Awards in over 150 categories of adult movie making
- A star-studded awards ceremony event
- Networking and publicity
- Prestige within the industry for winners and nominees
The XBIZ conference attracts thousands of people every year, and it starts with a registration day before three full days of expo. Unlike some other conferences, XBIZ doesn’t always choose the same location, although it’s usually held in Las Vegas or Los Angeles — two spiritual ‘homes’ of porn.
While AVN celebrated 25 years in 2023, XBIZ was celebrating over 40 years in existence, making it one of the longest-running adult industry events in history.
In 2023, a two-day ticket cost $25, and fans could meet stars from the top porn sites and studios, before waiting to see porn stars parade into the theatre for the awards ceremony.
XBIZ Conference: Business 60%, Pleasure 40%
Venus Berlin
You might think Venus Berlin (or simply Venus) is the European version of the AVN and XBIZ expos, but it too is global in scope. It’s held in Berlin each year and attracts the best of European porn, but also industry professionals from the USA and elsewhere.
Being held in the centre of the city, it also attracts a local population and is classed as a great day out for the open-minded families of Berlin. Yep, those Germans are a liberal bunch!
Since its inception in the mid-90s, Venus Berlin includes in its entertainment: stalls, sales booths, advertising stands, bierkellers (drinking halls) mainstream exhibitors (usually the sponsors showing their latest car or other product), and live shows. It also hosts awards ceremonies, including the European Porn Awards and the Venus Awards.
Each year, Venus Berlin attracts over 30,000 visitors and hosts over 250 exhibitors from 40 + countries. As well as offering professional workshops, meetings, seminars and networking opportunities, it also offers educational events for everyone. It’s not without its fair share of European and American porn stars, some of whom perform for the public in the main hall.
The event kicks off with the Venus Awards, an invite-only event, and the stars’ walk of fame along the ‘Star Walk,’ 20 meters of runway where top and new starlets show themselves. The Sex Fair also offers specific events and opportunities for fetish lovers, with professional fetish shows, bondage sessions, stalls and ‘meet a star’ opportunities for fetish fans.
Venus Berlin is usually held in October of each year at the Messe (the ‘Berlin ExpoCentre City’), a complex of 27 trade halls covering 190,000 m2 built in 1936/37 in the centre of the city.
Ticket prices vary from €35.00 for a discounted day ticket up to €1,200 for a platinum ticket, which lets you into VIP areas, parties, and erotic shows where you can participate.
Venus Berlin: Business 20%, Pleasure 80%
EXXXOTICA Expo
EXXXOTICA describes itself as ‘The unconventional convention, the world’s largest adult event in the USA dedicated to love and sex.’ In other words: it’s not your typical porn convention.
AVN, XBIZ, and Venus focus on the adult industry, where fans play an essential but not integral role. In contrast, EXXXOTICA targets singles and couples from the general public. It’s more about your sex life than your porn, but porn and its stars play a large part.
Sponsored by the likes of My Free Cams, Chaturbate, and Bad Dragon, the main event takes place over three sex-packed days and includes:
- Guest appearances by adult stars
- Wild stage shows
- Seminars and open discussions
- Exhibitions by providers of adult productions and services
- An exploration of BDSM and fetish in the Dungeon Experience
- The CouplesX Lifestyle Experience
Its Loyal Fans Spotlight feature lets porn fans meet stars such as Violet Myers and Reya Sunshine, and its stage shows include burlesque and adult film star appearances. There are also pole dancing and other competitions, and VIP after-show parties.
These events pack in just about everything sex orientated, and occur at various times of the year and in different locations. Between November 2023 and April 2024, EXXXOTICA Expo will be holding events in Edison, NJ, Washington, DC, and Chicago.
EXXXOTICA celebrates sexuality, diversity and adult entertainment. Anyone over 18 can attend, and ticket prices vary depending on what you want to see. For example, a standard one-day ticket to the Chicago event costs $44.99, while the three-day, All-in VIP admission that covers everything will cost $239.99.
EXXXOTICA Expo: Business 20%, Pleasure 80%
Salon Erotico de Barcelona
https://www.saloneroticodebarcelona.com
Salón Erótico de Barcelona (or SEB) is an erotic fair held each year in Barcelona, Spain.
Also known as the Barcelona Erotic Show, this high-profile event covers all aspects of eroticism and adult entertainment. In the past, it has offered 2,000 live erotic shows on ten stages, appearances by more than 200 stars of adult entertainment, competitions, massages, and lap dancers.
The four days of sexual celebration also include:
- Exhibitions and sales of adult videos, toys, apparel, and other related products.
- Live performances by known adult stars, demonstrations of BDSM live porn film shoots and erotic performances.
- Debates, seminars and discussions about all aspects of sexuality and sexual health.
- ‘Meet the stars’ with autograph sessions, Q&As, and direct interaction.
- There is an emphasis on promoting Spanish talent within the industry.
- Associated cultural events such as art installations, theatre, and exhibitions.
Like Venus, it’s a European event, but one tailored towards Spanish tastes and talent, and like AVN and the other USA biggies, it doesn’t forget the worldwide appeal of porn.
The Salón Erótico de Barcelona is Spain’s oldest erotic event and attracts visitors of all genders and ages. It has a nice mix of erotic fetish-themed areas and booths where you can test out some of the latest sex tech (think VR headsets and adult games).
EXXXOTICA Expo: Business 40%, Pleasure 60%
AdultCon
AdultCon hosts three trade shows per year in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Established in 2001, and starting off as a small convention held in hotels, it moved to a convention centre in 2004, and in 2009, with the demise of Erotica LA, it rose to prominence as the city’s largest porn show.
Attracting up to 30,000 people per event, AdultCon is targeted at the general public rather than B2B. It’s more of a fan convention than a networking event. The headline attractions are typically consumer focused:
- Meet the stars
- Buy adult DVDs directly from the studios
- Buy branded products directly from the models
- Sex tech companies show off their products
- Attend seminars
- See erotic entertainment
If you’ve been to an AVN or XBIZ event, it can often feel like a reunion of industry insiders — a party for those ‘in the know‘. AdultCon is less intimidating. Most of the attendees here simply really love porn.
Last year, tickets were priced at $40.00 for a one-day pass, up to $60.00 for a VIP, three-day pass, and for industry professionals, $150.00 for a full pass. Good value for porn enthusiasts to bump in to their favorite stars!
AdultCon: Business 20%, Pleasure 80%
FetishCon
FetishCon (or FetCon) is an adult industry trade event that specialises in BDSM, S&M, and fetish porn. The event moved to Tampa, Florida in 2004, and the organizers have been holding it regularly in St Petersburg, Florida since 2015.
Over four days, hundreds of vendors, models, fans and other interested parties converge to rub leathery shoulders, exchange views and ideas, sell their wares and enjoy the laid-back, fetish-focused atmosphere.
Among FetishCon’s specialised offerings are:
- Exhibits/stalls for clothing, latex, shoes, ropes and toys
- Workshops and lectures
- BDSM demonstrations
- The Annual Bondage Battle
- The George Pérez Superheroines Showdown
- The private Twisted Dungeon space
- A pervy pool party and other social events
It’s not surprise that such a specialised convention attracts a mix of both fans and professionals. The event has become a focus for all the major fetish porn players, from sales reps at website hosting companies to creators of fetish toys.
FetishCon is one of the most inclusive events on our list. This is a celebration of the kink lifestyle, with meet and greets for business alongside kinky karaoke, and Kinky Red Carpet events taking place alongside the Zipper Film Festival. It strikes the perfect balancing act between business and pleasure.
A FetishCon one-day pass will cost you $40.00, or you can enjoy expanded access for $75.00, with an all-access pass (and a pervy pool party invite) for $150.00 per person.
FetishCon: Business 50%, Pleasure 50%
Adult Novelty Manufacturers Expo (ANME)
The Adult Novelty Manufacturers Expo (ANME) is a specialised trade show for businesses that supply adult novelties. This is a B2B event, intended for the industry and those who work in it rather than the public.
At the heart of ANME are the booths where manufacturers display their latest products, ranging from adult toys and novelties to lingerie and new gizmos.
We often see innovators of sex-toy technology, makers of rubber goods and cosplay outfits, BDSM devices and fetish furniture, and a few porn makers such as Bizarre Video.
If you’re looking for a large porn convention party, ANME is not the best choice. There’s a few social events and mixers in the evening, but they are pretty sedate compared to the wild shenanigans at other events. This is primarily a trade show where manufacturers, distributors, and retailers come together to do business, learn, and get a pulse on the latest trends and innovations in the market.
ANME holds its event over three days at the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel, usually in July.
ANME Expo: Business 90%, Pleasure 10%
EroFame
Like ANME, EroFame is a B2B event catering for the businesses behind the product side of the adult entertainment industry — but in this case, it has an international flavour.
The annual event began in 2010, and usually takes place in Germany. It gives manufacturers the chance to showcase their toys, lubes, costumes, jewellery and other adult-related products over three days in October.
The event has a professional atmosphere, and rather than being all glitz and glamour, as the public trade fairs are, it is more business-centred and focused on buying and selling.
One thing we like about EroFame is that it contains a lot of product launches, particularly from manufacturers in the European market. This can be really interesting if you want to get a taste of exciting product launches in the year to come, but it’s mostly of importance to those in the manufacturing industry.
On the social side, EroFace is known for private dinners and mixers between industry professionals. This is not the sort of event you rock up to expecting naked dancers and live porn shows.
EroFame Expo: Business 100%, Pleasure 0%
X3 Show
The X3 Show is a creator expo, marketed as a fan experience where consumers can meet some of their favorite content producers (think cam girls and OnlyFans stars).
It’s held at the Hollywood Palladium, so it’s not the kind of expo where you can pop in to pick up a dildo; though you can probably order them in bulk if your pockets are deep enough.
X3 is pitched squarely at the new ‘social’ generation of porn producers. You’ll bump in to hundreds of amateur adult movie stars, cam girls and influencers. Their latest event includes Alexis Fawx, Britney Amber, Cheery Kiss, Dani Daniels and Jada Stevens. The full list is in the hundreds.
Of course, the natural repercussion of getting all these stars in one building is that they are all vying to stand out on the show-floor, or in the stage show productions. Some of the expos on our list can be quite dry in comparison. Not X3 Show. The creators here are well and truly dressed to impress.
Or not dressed, for that matter…
There’s eye candy in just about every direction you look, with the room at times resembling a real-life homepage of Chaturbate!
Usually, if you are going to spend time on Sunset Boulevard in LA, good things don’t come cheap. However, entrance to this expo isn’t as costly as you’d expect, with early-booking ticket prices ranging from $60.00 to $150.00 — roughly in line with other consumer-facing porn expos.
X3 Show: Business 20%, Pleasure 80%
The European Summit (TES)
https://tesaffiliateconferences.com
TES (The European Summit) is another B2B gathering with an emphasis on affiliates, buyers, advertisers, publishers and content creators. The pleasure at this event mostly comes from affiliate networks wooing their affiliates with lavish after-parties and proxy events held around the expo.
It’s been in operation for more than ten years and has previously held its events in the heart of the European porn industry in cities such as Prague. TES heads to Portugal in 2024.
TES attracts over 2,000 participants from 80 countries, 200+ exhibitors, and over 75 professional speakers who address seminars and give lectures. It’s all about making money and sharing the wealth through networking and learning how to make more revenue out of the adult industry.
Among the speakers TES attracts are the likes of Aleks Bombus (Stripcash), and Shay E (ImLive), along with university professors of marketing, CEOs of successful affiliate companies, business founders and advertising specialists.
You wouldn’t go to TES for a wild, erotic show, but it’s the place to be to be seen if you’re in the affiliate, marketing or production side of adult entertainment. For example, if you own a cam site or a sex blog. Our editor, Simon, is a regular visitor on behalf of RLN!
We know from experience that a lot of deals are struck at these events. It primarily serves as a networking event for publishers, affiliates and advertises to schmooze and connect in real-life.
TES Expo: Business 60%, Pleasure 40%
SexPo Australia
On the other side of the word we have SexPo Australia, the longest-running adults-only event Down Under.
Drawing in the punters since 1995, and held more than 80 times (multiple times per year), SexPo is promoted as a health, sexuality, and lifestyle exhibition. Most of the events on our list are marketed as adult trade fairs or porn conventions, but SexPo covers a broader view of sexuality.
It’s designed to both educate and entertain.
These days, SexPo is not limited to Australia. It also holds events in New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The event is very much a hybrid between a trade fair and a celebration of sex.
Among its attractions and events, you will find:
- Erotic stage shows with the ‘Kittens’ girls
- Main stage dancers and exotic acts
- Sex Ed classes with sexologists and sexual liberation influencers
- Male strippers and topless waiters
- Tantric sex advisors in the Tantra Temple
- The Kink Studio for demonstrations and fetish workshops
- Adult shopping
- Adult fashion on the runway
- An amateur stripper contest
SexPo has really doubled down on its live entertainment over the years and we were impressed by its latest offerings. You can find everything from nude life drawing classes, to the all-important VIP bar, ‘bottomless’ beer sessions, and champagne on ice.
As with many other general-public expos, SexPo tickets are sold on a sliding scale with general admission at $69.00 (Australian), a VIP Pass at $89.00, and their new ‘Super Sunday Pass’ for the main event day at $179.00.
Sexpo Australia: Business 40%, Pleasure 60%
The Taboo Show (Canada)
The Taboo Show is more of a party-style celebration than a business convention. Just like SexPo, it targets the lifestyle consumer crowd, offering a variety of adult entertainment, promotions, and PR-driven headline acts.
Unlike your typical fixed location adult expo, The Taboo Show is more of a roadshow. It is held in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, and Red Deer at various times of the year.
Among the attractions are stalls, social events and a curated mix of famous adult entertainers. There’s a good chance you’ll bump in to Chaturbate models and visiting porn stars (Lexi Luna was there in 2022). These events come thick and fast, and the events are rarely set in stone, leading to an unpredictable experience that leans more towards the consumer than any trade professional.
It’s not all hedonism, though, and alongside the raunchy social and educational events, you’ll also find networking opportunities for businesses. The show is also a popular choice for seasonal product launches.
The Taboo Show: Business 20%, Pleasure 80%
Montreal Fetish Weekend
https://montrealfetishweekend.com
The Montreal Fetish Weekend celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023. This is one of the most unique events on our list, catering specifically to the BDSM, fetish, and alternative lifestyles communities.
It draws a wild and wacky crowd — we can safely forget about the dress code here. It’s out with the suits, in with the leather and latex.
Montreal Fetish Weekend is known for its public spectacles, like the Latex Fashion Show and Fetish Photo Walk, where attendees parade through the city, interacting with curious onlookers and showcasing the eye-catching appeal of fetish fashion.
The extended show has a range of activities for kink enthusiasts, including:
- Workshops
- Cabaret
- Film screenings
- A fetish circus
- Balls (as in dances)
- After-show parties
- BDSM craft fair
- Live fetish shows
- Retail therapy opportunities
While you’ll still find plenty of vendor kiosks and opportunities to buy fetish accessories (particularly clothing), one of the main draws of the weekend is the relentless schedule of themed parties and dress-up events.
We get the impression that many attendees have waited a long time to let their hair down, and it shows in a carnival-like atmosphere that spills over in to various after-parties and social gatherings.
Montreal Fetish Weekend: Business 10%, Pleasure 90%
What Is The World’s Biggest Convention For Meeting Porn Stars?
Some industry events are more popular than others for attracting porn stars and adult creators.
As a general rule: the bigger the industry expo, the more porn stars are going to attend.
That’s why the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo (AEE) is not only the largest, most well-attended porn expo on the planet, but where you can meet the greatest number of pornstars.
Each year, over 1,000 of the top names in porn make personal appearances at the world’s biggest porn convention. Like the Oscars for mainstream movie stars, it is the place to be seen.
Over the years, porn fans have been able to swoon in the presence of stars like Joanna Angel, Gina Valentina, Lana Rhoades, Mia Khalifa and Abella Danger.
If you are looking to mingle with as many porn stars as possible — specifically A-list names — we’d recommend investing in that ticket to Vegas for the next AVN AEE.
What To Expect At An Adult Trade Show
Are you visiting an adult trade fair for the first time?
Many first-timers confess to feeling nervous.
Uncertainty, tension, but ready to be thrilled, and nervous in case you bump into your old high school teacher, and they’ll think you’re a perv…
Our advice is: don’t get caught up in the taboo nature of an adult conference. Most porn expos are pretty mainstream and will feel ‘normal’ within about 5 minutes of entering the building.
Go to the Venus Fair in Berlin, for example, and you are just as likely to see families on a day out as you are top porn babes showing off their talents.
In fact, you can see both while entering a lottery to win a car and eating a bratwurst served in a bun. You can pick up info on sexual health, see stars being photographed, grab a DVD or two, and take home a shiny new dildo. Nobody is going to bat an eyelid.
That’s not to say a porn expo is the same as the Ideal Home Exhibition. Far from it, and it depends if you are attending an expo or a convention.
- Conventions are more about networking and seminars, development sessions and industry learning, with some product sales on the side, and a few porn stars attending to boost publicity.
- An expo is more to do with selling products and raising public interest through entertainment, and as such, you find stalls and info booths, live performances and product demonstrations.
Some adult trade shows include parties and wild social events, for sure, but these are additional events requiring tickets or guest list entry.
Similarly, some of the wilder trade shows hold raunchier events like sex parties, but these aren’t open to the public. You’re not going to wander into the expo centre and find yourself expected to perform on stage with a naked porn star.
Then, there are the awards ceremonies. Again, these are a mix of industry publicity opportunities and public events — assuming you can get a ticket.
The bottom line is, each porn expo and convention is different, but all of them are attended by interested parties, whether in the biz or fans. There’s no need to feel concerned, and if you’re recognised by someone, then that someone will also be recognised by you. Everyone’s in it together.
Is There A Dress Code?
The Public
If you look at the hundreds of pics that get posted on social media by sexpo promotors, sponsors and visitors, you’ll soon get an idea of how to dress. Again, it depends on the expo and which part of it you’re attending.
The general ‘floor’ — the expo area with shops and stalls — is like any other trade fair; wear what you want. The dress code might be wild if you’re at a fetish fair, but these are inclusive events, and no-one’s going to care if you wander around half naked.
If you’re attending as a company representative, you need to draw a line between the boardroom and the dungeon, and maybe put on a suit rather than a full-body latex number complete with gas mask and puppy tail.
Similarly, if you are attending a red carpet award ceremony at the end of the expo, you’ll want to dress up to be seen.
The Stars
It’s different for pornstars, and some go out of their way to shock the press.
See-through outfits are popular among porn actresses because they show off their product, their bodies.
Kagney Linn Carter has appeared in a totally see-through dress, and Gina Valentina has worn feathers and not much else. Cam girls, like Kait3Kat have been caught on camera half-dressed as a bunny girl, and others have worn fishnets over latex panties, and nothing up top but band aids covering their nipples.
Porn models Ryan and Riley Reid went one step further and famously wore nothing but gold glitter (and gold panties) to the 2020 AVN Awards.
Interestingly, straight male pornstars tend to dress more soberly, maintaining their macho appearance. Meanwhile, the gay award ceremonies and sexpos release the wilder side of porn models.
Diego Sans turned up to the GAYVN Awards dressed for any other work day, apart from a pair of red high heels. Brandon Wilde has worn a latex body suit and bow tie, and Deep Dicc once arrived in one half of an orange jacket over a cream-coloured top and pleated skirt, while brandishing a Gucci clutch purse.
Costume depends on event, so you’ll see lots of near nakedness and lingerie at a VIP party, but ball gowns and glitz at an awards ceremony.
Is It Easy To Get Laid At A Porn Convention?
We thought you’d never ask!
If you’re heading to a porn convention hoping to get laid, you may come away disappointed. The most chance you have of getting into bed with anyone will be with another punter rather than a pornstar.
Remember: A porn convention is not a brothel!
It’s crazy that we have to make a point out of this, but the message is lost on many first-time attendees.
Yes, there will be hundreds of hot girls and guys around, many of them scantily dressed and showing off their assets, and you may even get to see some of them at work. However, it’s highly unlikely you will get to join in.
Many adult industry expos offer the chance to ‘meet the stars’ but meeting is not ‘bedding’, and you can queue for a long time just to say hi or get an autograph.
All is not lost, because some porn conventions offer fully immersive experiences where, for the price of admission, you can get laid.
For example, a platinum ticket to Venus Berlin lets you into at least one erotic show where you can join the fun.
Looking beyond the show floor, it should come as no surprise that after parties are the best place to mix and mingle with fellow adult industry professionals and fans. We’ve heard some wild tales from these, and yes… a lot can happen once the alcohol is flowing and everybody has let their hair down.
Ultimately, though, most people visiting an adult expo are there because they work in the sex industry, or enjoy/buy products associated to it. They are not there looking to actually have sex!
Keep this in mind to avoid disappointment…
