By Konstantin Marrach
For four days, everything in the exhibition halls under the radio tower was under the motto: Sex… The world’s largest erotic fair, Venus, ended on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. sharp. And there is an initial balance sheet from the organizers.
The number of visitors from the previous year increased significantly. While around 24,000 erotic fans came in 2022, this year there were exactly 28,080. However, Venus was once again unable to equal or break the visitor record from 2016. At that time, more than 32,000 visitors had bought a ticket.
The organizers say that in times of inflation and rising energy prices, many interested people probably did not want to pay the entrance fee. This year the day ticket cost an impressive 55 euros. For a premium ticket (four days, special access, private shows, Venus poster) you even had to pay 1200 euros!
“We are still very satisfied with the great interest in our trade fair,” says Venus spokesman Walter Hasenclever to the BZ. “We are also likely to have increased sales figures for shopping once again.”
So far, the average price that a visitor spent on site for toys and DVDs was an average of 116 euros. This year, shopping bags mainly included sex toys such as dildos, SM accessories such as whips, blindfolds and handcuffs, but also more expensive items such as high-quality sex dolls from China, for which up to 10,000 euros were shelled out.
Male visitors to Venus in particular took numerous photos of the erotic stars this year Photo: Ufuk Ucta
Over the four days, 600 women from the erotic industry appeared on Venus. These mainly include porn starlets and so-called cam actresses. “Particularly popular this time was the stand of the US porn production Brazzers, which was represented at Venus for the first time,” said Hasenclever. “Long queues of numerous, mostly male, fans formed around the stand over the four days.”
There were also sex coaches on site who offered couples therapy. And sex workers stood up for their rights at the fair.
This time, visitors also picked up autographs and selfies above average from the influencers and reality TV stars who were there – including YouTubers Anne Wunsch and Cornelia Ritzke, TV macho Calvin Kleinen, influencer Yvonne Bar and “Sommerhaus” -Candidate Ricarda Raatz.
Venus returnee Mia Julia, who had previously filmed porn and then had a career as a Mallorca singer, was also an extremely popular photo subject.
This year, visitors also showed great interest in the Kinky Area, where everything revolved around the topic of SM and which was sometimes difficult to access due to the influx. The well-known Berlin nightclubs Insomina and KitKatClub were also represented here with their own stand and their own fetish ensemble.
And Venus should definitely take place again next year. The date has already been set: There will be four days in October again – then from October 24th to 27th, 2024.