AVN Expo 2026: Trends, Tech, and Wild Surprises

“Wow, this is a lot!” This was the first thought that came to my mind as I stepped into this year’s AVN Expo. It felt bigger than usual. Louder than usual. And brighter and more experimental than anything I have seen in years.

So what exactly is the AVN Expo? Well, it’s a very large convention that brings together thousands of visitors and 500+ adult brands and content creators. This year, it was held at the Virgin (yes, really) hotel in Las Vegas from January 21st to 24th. Our team spent a full day there weaving through crowds, talking to exhibitors, poking at prototypes, touching far too many silicone samples to count, and trying to make sense of the next big wave in pleasure tech.

Here’s everything we loved, found fascinating, or thought was too bizarre not to mention

Our Top Picks of AVN Expo 2026

• Best Overall: Rubjoy Hands-Free Masturbator
• Best Tech Innovation: Motorbunny Fluffer Playmate
• Most Realistic Robotics: Hesen AI
• Most Creative Wearable: Let’s Share Strap-On
• Best Booth Design: Tenga

Gamification Goes Fully Mainstream

Our first pit stop was the Motorbunny booth and we arrived just as a crowd started forming. This year, they had a large booth and it’s apparent they want to be a large player in the realm of online content creation. One thing that drew the crowd in was a demonstration of their new Motorbunny Jack handheld sex machine, which they used to pop bubbles with. These guys definitely know how to put on a show!

One of the founders, Caleb, gave me an overview of their new innovative products on display. The most talked about product was the Fluffer Playmate Haptic Relay Plug-in, a small accessory that links a standard game controller to a Motorbunny-compatible toy (You can see it in the image below). When the controller moves, the toy responds, and whenever an in-game action triggers haptic feedback, the toy mirrors it. It’s playful, innovative, and experimental, all in a uniquely AVN way. You can really feel the direction the industry is going: immersive pleasure experiences that bring media and toys together in a way that’s intuitive, not to mention very fun.

Of course we couldn’t help but contemplate which games would create the most chaotic ride, and the list got… creative. It’s safe to say gamification is going to be one of the defining categories of 2026.

Sex Robots: More Lifelike, More Responsive, More… Present

Our next stop was the large Hesen booth where all sorts of sex robots were on display. Sex robots have always been a crowd magnet but Hesen really stepped up the game in 2026, especially when it comes to realism. What we saw was impressive. Their new models have improved articulation, smoother facial transitions, and a level of presence that made many attendees, myself included, stop mid-stride. We also noted that larger movements are now less mechanical and more fluid, just like in a real human being.

Across the hall, Erovenus doubled down on realism in a different way. They tout their “museum display quality”, and I really can’t argue with that description. Their new silicone dolls are created with full-scale molding taken from real human models. The results are impressive, to say the least. Body contours, skin texture, and proportions, even down to subtle asymmetries, are captured with precision and care. The quality is obvious, even from a distance, and touching the dolls only confirms how well-made they are. That level of realism was definitely one of the more unexpected but exciting shifts we saw on the silicone side of things. I found them a little too realistic for my taste, but I’m sure plenty of people will not have that problem. And as I say, the craftsmanship was undeniable.

The Cute Toy Trend Continues

We’ve noticed that sex toys are getting cuter, and what we saw this year at AVN definitely confirmed that this trend is likely to remain popular in 2026.

Paradise Pleasure Products had one of the most eye-catching booths, simply because everything glowed, and who isn’t attracted by anything shiny and bright? Their new LED-illuminated toy line blends soft pastel coloring with ambient lighting effects, creating toys that are pretty enough to double as decorative objects. Well, maybe not in terms of shape—they are still clearly sex toys, and the glowing does not disguise that fact. If your fantasies have a fantastical or sci-fi bent to them, or if you just like really cool-looking toys, be sure to check these out. I’d definitely give these beauties a…glowing review (I’ll see myself out).

We also visited the Mooligirl booth, which expanded on the rose-toy trend with new interpretations. Some of the toys were more sculptural, while some had more intricate internal textures, which was the addition I was most interested in. Their new innovations haven’t taken away any of their charm, though; they still maintain that same cute, non-threatening look that people love. And by “people”, I mean me; I’m “people”. I love seeing toys that don’t rest on their laurels (not to mix flower metaphors), and that instead come up with real design improvements while still maintaining their beloved aesthetic and appeal.

Over at SIN Premium, we saw a dramatic shift toward luxury craftsmanship in BDSM gear. Think polished materials, refined designs, and an aesthetic closer to high-end fashion accessories than dungeon equipment. It’s a powerful sign of how BDSM has become fully mainstream and design-driven. Will there be an outcry among the purists about people getting into the lifestyle only for the aesthetic? Probably, but I’m always in favor of using aesthetics to make things more fun, approachable, and beginner-friendly. And if someone does get interested in the community purely because they think the gear looks cool, but finds they’re genuinely into it? I think that’s great!

I think that beautiful and/or cute toys are a great way to get people to experiment in ways that they might not with more basic or utilitarian designs. Whatever makes people feel comfortable is fine by me! I’ve been loving the artistic and cute trends for a while now, and AVN Expo 2026 just solidified my theory that the cute category is no longer just a trend, it’s a design philosophy. A philosophy that I can definitely get behind!

Penis Pumps Get Smart

Smarttract showcased a lineup of penis pumps so intelligent, I thought I’d wandered into a fitness tech expo by mistake (the dildos to my right and whips and chains to my left were a sign that I was indeed still in the right spot). Their pumps have built-in sensors, pressure tracking, and app-based routines.

As someone who has tested penis pumps for close to a decade, I know that this niche has always been functional, but this year it’s latching on to the FitBit trend by giving customers access to their data. This brand clearly knows that customers are expecting more from their devices nowadays, even sex toys, as they are becoming part of not just pleasure but our daily self-care routine.

Realdoll Expands Their Ultra-Realistic Dildo Collection

Across from Smarttract we had the Realdoll booth. It’s clear that the beloved company tries to branch out from the sex doll space and cover more areas, for example the realistic dildo space. The helpful sales manager, JC Conway, gave us a demonstration of their new Standard lineup, which is an affordable alternative to their more expensive options. After touching and squeezing the dildos on display we can say that the realism is still unmatched even on the more affordable models, and we are excited that the brand wants to reach a broader audience.

The Most Innovative Strap-On of the Expo (Let’s Share)

The wearable trend is continuing and we saw some exciting new products from established brands like Motorbunny and Honey Play Box. However, our favorite was a new strap-on from a relatively new European brand called Let’s Share. The designers used embedded motion sensors that automatically adjust intensity based on how the wearer moves.

As the CEO, Derek Genoud demonstrated the strap-on, we immediately saw the appeal. It’s responsive, intuitive, and it creates a much smoother rhythmic experience without constant, mood-killing manual adjustments. As someone who has tested dozens of strap-ons, this is one of the smartest concepts we’ve seen in years.

Rubjoy’s Hands-Free Masturbator Steals the Show

We were about to leave when we caught a glimpse of a Canadian company called Rubjoy. At first I thought they were selling a sex doll torso but their product is actually a hands-free, app-controlled masturbator that looks similar to the Handy. But the similarities stop at the design as this device is 100% hands-free and can be used to stimulate different areas of the penis. The stability system did a great job of keeping the device in place without requiring a manual grip or constant shifting. It’s easy to see this becoming a category leader simply because it solves the biggest problem people have with hands-free strokers, and we decided to make this product our pick as the best in show!

Tenga’s Showpiece: FLIP 360 Aurora Green

Tenga brought a huge booth, as always, with their FLIP 360 Aurora Green glowing beautifully under the overhead lights. But it wasn’t just pretty to look at—its internal spiral texture gives this masturbator a unique feel. Tenga is really leaning into giving their toys dynamic, multi-directional stimulations, and they’re doing it better than anyone else. It even has adjustable pressure pads, so you can fully customize your experience. Customization is the name of the game in basically every category nowadays, and Tenga’s success proves it.

The Wildcard Trend: Extreme Booty Slapping

Every AVN has something that catches you off guard. What was it this year?

Extreme. Booty. Slapping.

We didn’t see a live demonstration of the concept but they had several videos running. It looked part athletic competition, part performance art, part… we still don’t know. But it got a reaction from everyone who walked past. And honestly, that’s what makes AVN fun. You’re always one booth away from something unexpected.

Happy vibing!

Tim

Tim is our male sex toy expert, and he has reviewed close to a hundred products. He also worked as an English teacher in Japan throughout his twenties, where he gained extensive knowledge of Japanese sex toys and Shibari. He has been featured in Vice.com, among other things.
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