Folsom Europe Berlin
About This Event
Folsom Europe is Berlin's leather and fetish street fair, held every September on Fuggerstrasse and Welserstrasse in Schöneberg, a few minutes' walk from Nollendorfplatz. It borrowed the name and idea of San Francisco's Folsom Street Fair, and since 2004 it has been run by Folsom Europe e.V., a Berlin association. The first fair drew about 3,500 people. The organizers now expect more than 20,000 visitors, and it is the biggest fetish weekend on Europe's gay calendar.
The street fair takes up two blocks, and you will see everything there: full leather, rubber, sportswear and pup gear, alongside people in jeans who came to look. Stalls sell gear, and fetish clubs and community groups have booths. Entry is free, but collectors ask for donations, and the money goes to non-profit groups. The organizers say visitors gave almost €66,000 in 2023, a record at the time, and that the total has kept rising since. The fair is the centre of a week of official parties, starting on Thursday and ending with RECON BERLIN on Sunday. PIG, right after the fair on Saturday, draws more than 3,000 men by the organizers' count. Party tickets sell out, so buy them when they go on sale.
Practical points: hotels in Schöneberg and around Wittenbergplatz fill up months ahead. The fair is outdoors in early September, so bring a layer for the evening. The organizers publish a do's and don'ts list on respect in the scene, and it is worth reading before a first visit.
The 2026 edition, the 22nd, ran from September 10 to 13. The street fair was open from 6pm to 9pm on Friday, September 11, and from noon to 9pm on Saturday, September 12. The organizers have announced Folsom Europe 2027 for September 8 to 12, 2027, with the street fair expected on the Friday evening and the Saturday as usual.
Where to stay during Folsom Europe Berlin
via Stay22Our three picks · Berlin
via Stay22We from ebab.com offer private accommodations of gay or gay-friendly hosts in 560 cities and 72 countries.
The Pullman is nicely located close to Ku’damm avenue, the KaDeWe department store, Berlin Zoo and a short walk from some of the best gay bars & clubs in Schöneberg. Splash Club, one of Berlin’s best gay saunas, is almost next door. Guest rooms are modern, spacious and feature super-comfortable beds, a desk, flat screen TV, free WiFi and two free bottles of mineral water. The larger Deluxe rooms include a Nespresso coffee machine. The Pullman offers a superb breakfast buffet and has a nice s
Berlin's best-known luxury hotel, next to the Brandenburg Gate, with a spa, pool and fine dining. Gay-friendly and mainstream.
Practical Tips
Grab a wristband at the info booth on Fuggerstrasse — the charity donation keeps the street fair free and unlocks entry to partner club nights.
Head to Motzstrasse the night before for the pre-parties; Schoeneberg's leather bars book up fast once the fair opens.
Bring cash — many street vendors and pop-up bars still don't take cards, and ATMs on Fuggerstrasse have long queues by mid-afternoon.
Videos
inside Berlin Gay Cruising | Guide 2026: Parks, Saunas, Clubs & More
