Fetishnale Berlin
Fetishnale Berlin is a cultural and artistic festival based in Berlin, dedicated to fetish art, BDSM, kink, and alternative cultures. The event includes art exhibitions, performances, talks, installations, photography, illustration, fashion, and nightlife-related programming, focusing on fetish as a subject of contemporary visual and cultural expression.
The event has taken place in exhibition spaces and clubs in the German capital, including BBA Gallery and KitKatClub, a venue associated with Berlin's [...]-positive and alternative nightlife culture.
History
Fetishnale Berlin was created as a project dedicated to the artistic representation of fetish aesthetics and visual cultures connected to desire, the body, identity, consent, and alternative sexuality. The event is organized by an international collective founded by Joe Carpa, with contributions from Giovanni Di Iacovo. According to Berlino Magazine, the project aims to place fetish imagery within the fields of visual, political, and Cultural Research rather than treating it only as sensationalist material.
In March 2024, the event took place at the basement space of Pandora Art Gallery in Kreuzberg, with a selection of international artists, photographers, and illustrators. The EDition included an exhibition, a vernissage party, a performance by Vince Voltage, and a talk dedicated to fetish, idolatry, objectification, BOUNDARIES, consent, and dissident eroticism.
In December 2024, Fetishnale Berlin organized a vernissage event at the basement space of Pandora, also documented by Resident Advisor, featuring an exhibition, performances, and a MusicAL programme.
2026 edition
The 2026 edition, described by sources as the third edition of the event, took place from 21 to 26 April 2026 at BBA Gallery in Berlin, located at Köpenicker Str. 96. According to KALTBLUT Magazine, the edition included 22 exhibiting artists and a programme comprising an exhibition, an art aperitif, and an opening party.
The vernissage party for the 2026 edition was held on 23 April 2026 at KitKatClub, in the club's Basement area, with a musical programme and a fetish/BDSM/elegant/uniform/lingerie/gothic/total black dress code, as reported by Resident Advisor.
Among the artists and performers mentioned in press coverage of the 2026 edition were Lilith Terra, July Space, Sebastian Laboratory, Felix Scheinberger, Pixel Pop, Tim Arne, Alex Nero, Cameron Stewart, Hans Zeeldieb, and Ruttu/Alejandra Oviedo.
Curatorial approach
Fetishnale Berlin is positioned at the intersection of contemporary art, fetish culture, kink practices, and reflection on identity. Sources describe the event as dealing with materials, visual codes, and body-related practices including latex, rubber, leather, metal, masks, silhouettes, rituality, and clothing.
The event includes a range of media and formats, including photography, illustration, video art, installation, sculpture, performance, fashion, design, and live art. According to available sources, the programme presents fetish as a field of artistic and cultural research into desire, the body, power relations, and the construction of identities.
Venues
Fetishnale Berlin has taken place in several venues in the German capital. The March 2024 edition is documented as having taken place at the basement space of Pandora Art Gallery in Kreuzberg. In 2026, the main exhibition was held at BBA Gallery, while the opening party took place at KitKatClub.
See also
- BDSM
- Fetishism
- Contemporary art
- Performance art
- KitKatClub
- LGBT culture
- [...]-positive movement