Today, May 5, 2026, for the second time the “International Fisting Day” is being held, launched by the Fist Club Europe e.V. The Berlin-based association proclaimed the day last year to bring the rarely discussed sexual practice out of the shadows. Fisting involves inserting several fingers up to one or more hands into the anus (or the vagina as well). The sexual practice is especially popular among gay men.
“Feedback from the first year confirmed a tremendous need for education, de-stigmatization, and networking around fisting. We will pursue this path consistently in 2026,” said Balian Richter, spokesperson for the Fist Club.
The organization aims to introduce people to fisting not with a raised finger but with openness, expertise, and respect. It is not merely a technique but an expression of intimacy, trust, and sexual self-determination. The choice of date is not a coincidence: the number 5 symbolizes the five fingers of the hand. It is also a coincidence that May 5 is the birthday of both left‑wing icon Karl Marx and soul-pop diva Adele.
Education and Promotion of Club Foundings
Since last year, the Fist Club Europe e.V. has been busy: The association’s website fist.club now offers comprehensive content in six languages—from beginner guides to safer-fisting tips to health information about HIV, hepatitis, and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
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A new emphasis is the active promotion of club formations. Through fist.club, interested individuals receive guides on association law, model statutes, and grant applications. Regular members are reimbursed for notary and registration costs. The organization sees itself as an international umbrella that makes local initiatives visible and connects them.
Now more than ever, destigmatizing fisting is important, because sexual self-determination is also a political issue—and fisting remains one of the most stigmatized practices. The International Day of Fisting should therefore serve as an annual impulse for a factual discussion about the practice. “Fisting is an expression of intimacy, trust, and freedom. We invite media, health organizations, and the community to use May 5 as a catalyst for informed education,” Richter says. The organization explicitly welcomes people of all sexual orientations who are curious, have questions, or have already gained experience.
