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We spent two days in Nashville learning about what’s new and exciting in the sexual wellness arena (and, eating barbecue). The STIMULATE Sexual Wellness Show 2026 was held August 3 – 4 and brought together doctors, coaches, and both established and emerging brands to showcase sexual wellness “from head to toe, young to mature, purpose to pleasure.” Keep reading for some of the show highlights!
Oh, and speaking of highlights — we got up early to make sure we were among the first registrants, because they had goodie bags for the early birds:
Educational Sessions
We got to hear from physicians, product developers, therapists, coaches, and other professionals. A common theme was reaching underserved consumers, and these professionals seemed to agree that two categories deserved attention: perimenopausal and menopausal women, and men. Men? If you are surprised to see men in this category, well, we were too. But they made a strong case that the real needs of men have not been adequately addressed, and by the end of the conference, we were in agreement.
Susan Bratton, “Intimacy Expert to Millions,” was Monday’s keynote speaker. She informed us that every decade of orgasmic capacity adds two years of lifespan. Women (and men too!) should keep having sex into middle age and beyond. The oxytocin generated by orgasms counteracts cortisol, which is the “stress hormone.” High levels of cortisol can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, and sleep disturbances. We also heard from Colette Courtion, the founder of Joylux. She reminds us that there are 1.1 billion menopausal women in the world today, and they control $1.5T in spending power.
We admit (and we are not necessarily proud of this) that we were surprised to see scheduled presentations targeting men as underserved consumers. Most people, and we are people too, perceive the adult industry as being very male-focused.
The truth is that the adult industry is erection-focused. Men are more than their erections, and the industry doesn’t often acknowledge this. In a panel discussion on “Understanding the Male Consumer,” men from the Baby Boomer generation, Generation X, and Generation Z agreed that what they crave is feeling relevant and confident. Caitlin V, author of Harder Better Longer Stronger agreed that while men click on content related to their penises’ performance, what actually convinces them to stay on the page is relational and cultural content.
We also don’t always have much to offer men whose erections are not as reliable as they may like, and that’s a very large portion of the adult male population. Urologist Amy Pearlman, MD, told us that for most men, the biggest barrier to successful treatment is their fear of being judged by their partners.
The presentation “Vanilla Is a Flavor” was an excellent reminder that much of the adult industry, in an effort to be open to kink and lifestyle consumers, has inadvertently ostracized the vanilla and mostly-vanilla folks. Pure kink and pure vanilla are at opposite ends of a spectrum, but we should be looking at this spectrum horizontally and not vertically; neither end is above the other.
Sex Toys and Related Products
Of course, since we are My Sex Toy Guide, we also spent a lot of time at the sex toy exhibits!
Highlights (New and Notable)
Lovense: Lovense’s newest toy is Velvo, which is a rabbit vibrator with a rolling bead design on the internal arm. It looks amazing! Even better, Velvo is a “master” controller toy, which means that she can control other Lovense toys that you sync to her. (Other Lovense master toys are Gush 2 Motion, Solace Pro, and Max 2.)
Tenga: Tenga’s newest Flip Flexy toy lets you squeeze it from any angle to target stimulation. Like most of their masturbators, it has an incredibly textured interior — it’s the thickest that they’ve ever produced. Flip Flexy can also accommodate more girth than other Tenga toys:
Popstar: These supplements were created by actively practicing physicians who know what men want and need. They include Volume, which increases semen volume and enhances taste; Harder, which increases erection strength; Swimr, which enhances fertility; and Reload, which decreases refractory time and makes multiple orgasms possible for many men. Gentlemen, this is a game-changer:
b-Vibe/Le Wand: They tell me that retailers can’t keep the Mini Micro Wands in stock, and we understand why! They are tiny and adorable and powerful:
Aneros: We walked away from this booth wondering why no one had done this before — their remote control has a digital display. This is great when you’re playing with a partner because you won’t accidentally give them more than they were expecting or wanting!
Best of Show
This was a tough call. We saw a LOT of innovative, thoughtfully designed, seriously impressive products. But the booth that made the biggest impression at the STIMULATE Sexual Wellness Show 2026 was Nu Sensuelle. All of their toys are packaged in color-coded boxes (and the boxes are beautiful!) so you can see at a glance whether you’re looking at a “buzzy subtle gyration,” an “intense deep rumble,” or eight other options. Some of the toys also include a Nitro Blast, where you can power up when you need it with one touch and no fumbling with controls. Their Velvet Touch silicone is some of the nicest we’ve ever felt, and that’s saying a lot.
We’re declaring the XLR8 Vibe Bella the Best of Show. She’s a rumbly and thumpy Level 9, she’s made with that lovely velvety silicone, and she’s got the Nitro Blast option. We did a review of her earlier this year which you can read here.
What I Will Buy With My Own Money
Here’s where I take a little space to get personal. I accidentally left my card in a Walgreens drive-through window on my way to the STIMULATE Sexual Wellness Show, so I didn’t buy anything while I was there. But here’s what I’m planning to buy with my very own money:
Dr. Tush’s After Vajay Play: This is made with the same hydrogel that’s used for burn recovery and vascular surgery. It helps micro tears and abrasions heal, and soothes away any irritation. I asked the good doctor what he wanted to share about his products, and he emphasized the importance of aftercare. I agree on a very practical level!
Le Wand Mini Micro Wand: Did I mention that it’s adorable and tiny?
Happy Ending Bad Bitch Drink: I might have bought this just so I could walk around with the can, but they were giving away samples at the show and it’s really good! No caffeine, so not really an energy drink, but a lot of botanicals that promote “excellent vibes.”
Award Ceremony
We were lucky enough to attend the inaugural STIMULATE+Awards ceremony at the historic Woolworth Theater. Industry veterans recognized the following as true standouts:
- First-Time Exploration: b-Vibe Anal Training 5-Piece Complete Kit
- Mature Intimate Care: Bloom Better Cooch Ball
- Body-Safe Wellness Innovation: Le Wand Dive Submersible
- Business Partner: Essence by Ashlen Hadden Insurance
- Brand Leader: Wicked Sensual Care
- Collaboration of the Year: Plus ONE & Cosmopolitan
- Educational Platform: Success Systems
- Emerging Leader: Nu Sensuelle
- Emerging Product: Popstar Performance Boosters
- Head-to-Toe Wellness Product: Bloom Better Cooch Ball
- Inclusive Excellence: eversense (Matty Hennessey)
- Independent Seller: Amy Cook
- Medical Professional: Dr. Andreas Kogelink (ProDx Health)
- Podcast Excellence: “Please Me: A Sexuality Podcast” (Eve Hall)
- Purpose-Driven Innovation: Play Safe Pro (ProDx Health)
- Retail Operator: Sultry Company
- Sex Educator/Therapist: Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn (“Luv Bites”)
- Technology & Innovation: Joylux Rose Gold
- Pleasure Product: Nu Sensuelle XLR8 Vibe Baelii
- Founding Partner: Patrick Lyons (Nu Sensuelle)
- Big “O”vation: Kraig McGee III (Adam & Eve Stores)
- STIMULATE Sexual Wellness Show 2026: Purpose to Pleasure - August 17, 2026
- 7 Best Spooning Sex Positions, Ranked by a Sex Educator - August 11, 2026
- 8 Most Quiet Sex Positions - August 8, 2026
