Easter Berlin — Leather & Fetish Week

Over Five Decades of Berlin Leather Tradition

Easter Berlin dates back to the early 1970s when the Leather and Fetish scene established itself around the gay neighborhoods in Schöneberg, West Berlin. The first informal "Easter Run" took place in 1973 — over the decades, this evolved into today's Easter Berlin, one of the city's most traditional LGBTQ+ events. The organizer is Berlin Leder und Fetisch e.V. (BLF), a non-profit association that has been networking Berlin's Leather community for decades.

Six Days Between Local Tradition and International Audience

Easter Berlin thrives on the interplay between local community ties and international appeal. A large portion of visitors travel from all over Europe, the USA, and Australia — hotels in Schöneberg and Tiergarten have been fully booked for months. However, the atmosphere on-site remains intimate: many venues are small bars and clubs where regulars and first-time visitors mingle.

Program Pillars

• Mr. Fetish Berlin: The election for Mr. Fetish Berlin on Easter Sunday, April 5, is the week's main event. New since 2026: instead of the previous Mr. Leather Berlin election, there's a broader concept of "Mr. Fetish" — open to all fetish communities (Leather, Rubber, Sneakers, Sports, Puppy Play). The competition takes place on the stage of the Outdoor Fetish Festival.
• Outdoor Fetish Festival at Nollendorfplatz: Market stalls, stage program, international brands showcasing their latest collections. Saturday, April 4 to Monday, April 6, daily from 12 PM to 8 PM, free admission.
• PiG Party: legendary large party at Club Metropol
• Fetish Boat: Spree river boat trip on April 4
• Rubber Lust and Sneakfreaxx: specialized parties for Rubber and Sneaker fetish
• Workshops, cruising events, and get-togethers throughout the week

Schöneberg's Rainbow Kiez as the Stage

The festival takes place exclusively in the so-called Regenbogenkiez (Rainbow Neighborhood) around Nollendorfplatz in the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district — Berlin's historic gay quarter. Motzstraße, Fuggerstraße, and Eisenacher Straße have been queer-influenced since the 1920s; the Schwules Museum, the memorial plaque for Christopher Isherwood, and dozens of bars and clubs are located in the same area. During Easter Berlin, the entire neighborhood becomes the festival grounds: Eisenacher Straße, Welserstraße, and Kalckreuthstraße are filled with visitors, flags, and outfit statements.

Target Audience and Values

Easter Berlin is aimed at the gay, bi, trans, and queer Leather and Fetish community. The festival upholds a clearly defined Code of Conduct: consent, respect, and awareness regarding anti-discrimination issues. First-time visitors are explicitly welcome — many organizations host introductory workshops where newcomers can get to know the scene.