Xbiz is relaunching its virtual pleasure products industry events, starting with a trade and retail-focused online event in July, with the company saying that industry “headwinds” have led to a need for lower-cost conferences.
The sex industry media company held online conferences at the start of the decade, during the Covid pandemic, but had largely returned to in-person events since. Xbiz’s flagship conference is in Los Angeles and it has had events in Miami, Cabo San Lucas and Ibiza.
The new Xbiz Virtual event will take place online on July 28-30, 2026. It isn’t the only budget virtual option courting the global industry: Australia’s low-cost and free virtual conferences have been working the same angle. With a large focus on sextech retail, the event is marketed at industry figures including sextech manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers.
It will feature online industry networking meet-ups, panel discussions and product showcases. Xbiz hasn’t released attendance fee information publicly yet, but SEXTECHGUIDE has asked for that information and will update this article with any response.
Sara Ramirez, Xbiz’s associate publisher, said that the brand was bringing back virtual conferences because the pleasure industry was “facing headwinds”. Cost-of-living pressure and US President Donald Trump’s China tariff back-and-forths have hit sextech manufacturing hard, as we saw when Dame added a $15 ‘Trump Tariff’ surcharge, then removed it while slamming the instability, and bought Chakrubs amid the tariff chaos.
Ramirez said “this is the right time to bring back virtual events to help stimulate business, create new opportunities and move the industry forward.”
Many sextech conferences and other events (including sex parties) started launching online or hybrid online/’in real life’ versions during Covid pandemic lockdowns. Xbiz is still advertising in-person industry events such as its Miami ‘retreat’, and the timing is convenient. Reviving a lower-cost format Xbiz dropped the moment in-person events came back lets it court cash-strapped manufacturers and dealers while keeping the lucrative Miami and LA shows running for those who can still afford to travel.
Ramirez called Xbiz Virtual “arguably the most efficient format for cutting through the noise and moving business forward, not to mention unmatched value.” The value is, of course, unmatched until the attendance fees Xbiz hasn’t yet disclosed are on the table.
