DEBUTING IN German Fetish Ball 2025 fashion show: Lara Aimée’s Night Edge accessories brand (rear: @metmijelise, @venuss.nightingale; front: @the_lara_aimee; photo: @defotograafsanne)
German Fetish Ball 2025 preview
– full five-day Berlin programme
MAY SPECIAL EVENT: The German Fetish Ball Weekend reconvenes in Berlin on May 28 with another packed programme that attracts stylish kinksters from all over the world for five solid days of fetish festivities. Tony Mitchell provides a three-page preview of the whole programme, from the opening Kinky Cocktails, two river cruises and Sonic Boom pre-party to the two-day German Fetish Fair, Friday night’s stylish, edgy FetishGuerilla Revolution, Saturday’s headlining Ball and the closing Sunday Brunch. Banner image: UK’s Ada Zanditon Couture is the only brand this year exhibiting at the Fair and also appearing in the Ball Fashion Show. Model: @bombaymami; photo: @lilylytton_photography
OVERVIEW OF WHAT’S NEW AT GFB 2025 WEEKEND
With more than 3,000 guests expected from across the globe, the German Fetish Ball 2025 weekend — the most prestigious festival in the international kink calendar — kicks off this year’s five-day programme of partying, socialising, shopping and other hedonistic pursuits on Wednesday May 28.
So what’s new in this year’s programme? To start with: the very first GFB event of 2025 — its traditional launch party — has moved out of recent venue 260Grad bar, on what used to be Mercedes Platz but is now Uber Platz.
Kinky Cocktails on Wednesday 28 has relocated for 2025 to the bar/restaurant Rivo Spreeterrassen, on the other side of the river, opposite the East Side Gallery, near where the famous red-brick Oberbaum Bridge crosses. It’s a nice venue with great river views afforded by the open-air terrace.
Thursday 29 afternoon also brings more new departures — literally — with two three-hour GFB Spree cruises leaving dry land at 14.30. The Fetish Cruise (now on a larger boat with a bar and dancefloor) is joined this year by the all-new Femdom Cruise (for dommes and their subs exclusively). Both cruises sold out soon after being announced, so if you didn’t grab a place then, you’ve missed the boat (literally, again).
Thursday 29 evening sees SonicBoom, the first strict dresscode party in the programme, returning to Matrix to occupy a larger part of the venue this year. There’s now a second dancefloor, and among the DJs will be Vancouver’s pervy power couple, DJ Pandemonium and Evilyn13. Also new at SonicBoom is a Neon Bodypainting zone courtesy of Coco Smos.
Friday 30 daytime sees the first day of the two-day German Fetish Fair opening at Magazin in der Heeresbäckerei with some
46 exhibitors on two floors. The mix of old favourites and new names includes a handful of British brands, among them London’s new alt/fet retail sensation Charmskool making its GFB debut.
Friday 30 evening finds FetishGuerilla Revolution reconvening at KitKatClub with a 13-DJ line-up and five edgy shows headlined by Poland’s legendary Suka Off. GFB veterans know you have to queue outside KitKat to pay on the door unless you’re wearing a GFB Weekend VIP wristband which gets you straight into the venue.
After the second day of the German Fetish Fair at Heeresbäckerei, Saturday 31 evening brings the headlining German Fetish Ball itself at Spindler & Klatt, at the river end of the same complex. The big 2025 story here is Spindler & Klatt’s new Show Hall with more space, better views and — we’re promised — more drama.
This year’s Ball MC is the legendary Jean Bardot, queen of the annual Rubber Ball USA events in Minneapolis. She’ll be introducing five fetish fashion shows from international designers along with two home-grown stage performances. Last but not least, a new addition to the GFB website alongside the attending models page is a page showing attending guests, which seems to have been very popular with dommes!
Sunday June 1 offers a final chance for fetish socialising via the Farewell Brunch, with a buffet running until 14.30 and à la carte menu available thereafter. It will take place, as before, at Alex on what is now Uber Platz.
Immediately below is a quick checklist of all the events mentioned above, then below that, and detailed over three pages, are full listings for each event with a substantial selection of related pictures!
GERMAN FETISH BALL 2025 EVENTS – QUICK CHECKLIST
Wednesday May 28
KINKY COCKTAILS from 20:00 @ RIVO Spreeterrassen
Thursday May 29
FETISH CRUISE & FEMDOM CRUISE 14:30 – 17:30 @ River Spree (both sold out)
SONICBOOM from 21:00 @ Matrix
Friday May 30
GERMAN FETISH FAIR 12:00 – 20:00 @ Heeresbäckerei
FETISHGUERILLA REVOLUTION from 22:00 @ KitKatClub
Saturday May 31
GERMAN FETISH FAIR 12:00 – 19:00 @ Heeresbäckerei
GEFRMAN FETISH BALL from 21:00 @ Spindler & Klatt
Sunday June 1
FAREWELL BRUNCH (brunch buffet 08:00-14:30; after that, à la carte) @ Alex
Note: VIP Weekend ticketholders must exchange their ticket for a VIP wristband which will allow entry into all GFB 2025 events including Fetish Guerilla Revolution but excluding both fetish cruises. Wristbands will be available only on Thursday 29 evening at the VIP Reception & SonicBoom and Friday/Saturday daytimes at the German Fetish Fair.
FULL GFB WEEKEND PROGRAMME DETAILS – DAYS 1 & 2
WEDNESDAY MAY 28
RIVO, on the Banks of the Spree opposite the East Side Gallery and Uber Platz (previously Mercedes Platz), is the new venue for GFB Kinky Cocktails, which opens the 2025 programme on Weds May 28
KINKY COCKTAILS @ RIVO (new location!
From 20:00 @ RIVO Spreeterrassen Restaurant, May-Ayim-Ufer 9, Berlin
Free entry for all. Dresscode welcome but not obligatory
A new setting for the GFB’s legendary opening night! Expect a stylish, urban vibe with sunset views right by the river, sexy drinks, flirty conversations, and the first fashion highlights of the weekend.
THURSDAY MAY 29 – DAYTIME
THIS YEAR, the traditional GFB Fetish Cruise (above) is joined on Thursday 29 by a new GFB Femdom Cruise exclusively for dommes and their subs. Both cruises quickly sold out and are open only to those with prepaid cruise tickets — VIP tickets do not provide access (photo: Tony Mitchell)
GFB FETISH CRUISE & GFB FEMDOM CRUISE (both sold out!)
14:30 – 17:30 (departure points notified to ticketholders)
Cruises NOT included with VIP Weekend Ticket (now sold out)
This year’s three-hour Spree Fetish Cruise, on a larger vessel with bar and dancefloor, sold out within two hours of being announced. Because it sold out so quickly, a second vessel was added this year, offering an exclusive femdom-themed cruise alongside the more traditional offering.
Important note: only holders of prepaid cruise tickets can join the boats — the cruises are not covered by the VIP Weekend Ticket.
THURSDAY MAY 29 – EVENING
EVILYN13 and DJ Pandemonium, Vancouver kink’s royal couple – seen here in an nhow hotel elevator selfie – will be DJing in Berlin this year at SonicBoom (Thu 29) and FetishGuerilla Revolution (Fri 30)
SONICBOOM @ MATRIX
From 21:00 @ Matrix, Warschauer Platz 18, 10245 Berlin
Strict Dresscode. Tickets: Presale €37/Door €40
Entry included with VIP Weekend Ticket (now sold out)
SonicBoom, the GFB programme’s first strict dresccode night, is the pre-party for all GFB Weekend models, artists, designers, exhibitors and most of all, ticketholders. Matrix was the venue of the first German Fetish Balls, and this year SonicBoom has been expanded to offer a second dancefloor, with DJs Bootie Mashup, Pandemonium, Evilyn13, Alf & his personal DJane.
Another new feature this year is the Neon Bodypainting Zone from Coco Smos, while last year’s BDSM playroom will also be making a welcome return.
Tags: Fashion Shows, Fetish Fairs, Fetish Weekends, Models, Parties
Share On Facebook
Tweet It
