1. Carnival

(February/March – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

The outrageous costumes and topless samba dancers make Rio’s Carnival one of the sexiest events in the world. The event’s centerpiece is the samba parade. It gives competing samba schools the opportunity to show off their sensual dancing in front of judges. The week is full of carnal indulgence in the run-up to Ash Wednesday.

2. Sydney Mardi Gras

(February/March – Sydney, Australia)

What started as a protest march supporting gay rights in 1978 has become a two-week celebration of all things LGBTQI. Events include a parade with hundreds of floats, some sponsored by Australia’s largest corporations; a film festival; parties; a fair; plays and drag shows; queer video games; lectures; and much more. Hotels and AirBnBs sell out well in advance, so book your travel early!

3. Kanamara Matsuri / Festival of the Steel Penis

(April – Tokyo, Japan)

Legend has it that once upon a time in Japan, a demon that liked to bite off penises was defeated when it broke its teeth on a steel phallus. Hundreds of years ago, prostitutes prayed for protection from STDs at this temple. Now, during the festival, giant phalluses are carried in a parade through the streets of Tokyo in order to educate about safer sex and raise money for AIDS research. There’s plenty of penis-shaped souvenirs to take home, too!

4. The Dinah

(April – Palm Springs, CA)

The largest lesbian festival in the world, The Dinah attracts thousands of queer girls from around the globe. The event started as a party to celebrate the LPGA women’s golf tournament, but it left its golf origin—and its namesake, golfer Dinah Shore—behind years ago. It’s full of pool parties, concerts, DJs, comedy shows, and more. If you’re a girl who likes girls, Palm Springs is the place to be in April.

5. Seattle Erotic Art Festival

(April – Seattle, Washington)

If you want to combine the carnal with the cultural, the Seattle Erotic Art Festival is a must-attend. It brings together the best erotic art from around the world, exhibiting everything from painting to sculpture, dance, poetry readings, and more. The schedule of events is so packed that it is impossible to attend even half of what’s in the program. Just don’t bring the kids; daytime events are 18 and over and evening events are 21-plus.

6. German Fetish Ball Weekend

(May – Berlin, Germany)

In a country known for its fetish festivals and a city known for its kink clubs, this sexy event is truly a standout. The Fetishistas say, “If you can only manage one German event…you should probably try to make it this one.” In addition to the ball for which the weekend is named, there’s multiple parties (both part of the festival and independent), as well as Europe’s biggest fetish fair.

7. Swingfields

(June – secret location, UK)

Swingers of all stripes, genders and orientations set up their tents or campervans in a field for this legendary three-day event. The relatively low attendance cap belies (or is, perhaps, the reason for) this secretive event’s legendary status throughout Europe. Like many other festivals, it has DJs, live bands, comedians and food vendors. It also has kink demonstrations, swinging and more. Phones and journalists are banned in order to ensure the privacy of attendees.

8. Wonderlust Festival

(June – Helsinki, Finland)

Wonderlust doesn’t focus on just one aspect of the sexual world. Their mission is to bring together “queers and straights, sex activists and curious neophytes, kinks and shy ones.” There are panels, workshops, and demonstrations during the day, and hot play parties at night. It’s always a sellout, so book your ticket early.

9. Burning Man

(August – Black Rock Desert, Nevada)

Many camps at Burning Man are themed around sex and sexuality. There’s the Orgy Dome, Poly Paradise, Suspended Animation, the School of Consensual Kink, Spanky’s Wine Bar, the Camp Beaverton Home for Wayward Girls, and many more including the legendary Gayborhood. There are lectures, sex parties and burlesque shows you can attend. The most famous sexy event at Burning Man is the Human Carcass Wash, where you can be washed from top to bottom by many other people at once.

10. Southern Decadence

(Labor Day Weekend – New Orleans, Louisiana)

It’s called “New Orleans’ Queerest Weekend.” This three-day party attracts hundreds of thousands of people (mostly gay men) from around the world. Like Mardi Gras, spectators will toss beads from balconies in return for a look at your naughty bits. In New Orleans tradition, there’s a parade on Sunday afternoon. But the most popular component of this event are the non-stop DJs and dancing. In keeping with the theme, event organizers only permit sponsorships from businesses that contribute to decadence: alcohol companies, lube companies, and so on.

11. Folsom Street Fair

(September – San Francisco)

This one-day street fair, which takes over multiple blocks in downtown San Francisco, is the largest fetish event in the world. Over 400,000 people of all genders and preferences attended in 2017. No matter what your kink is, you’ll find like-minded people at Folsom Street Fair. You’ll also find them at the many play parties and socials in the week leading up to the event.

12. Black and Blue Festival

(October – Montreal, Canada)

This party began after Montreal’s version of Stonewall, when the police raided a gay club in 1990. Activists established the event as a fundraiser for AIDS organizations. It’s turned into a very fun way to do it. It has a reputation as “the world’s best circuit party.” However, unlike most circuit parties, all genders and orientations are welcome. The core event is the circuit party held from Sunday to Monday. But there are balls, cocktail events and more for the week surrounding the main event.

Looking for someplace to stay while attending these sexy events? Check out our favorite KinkBnB lodgings!