Thick Hitches 2026: Access Virtual Rope Community

Thick Hitches for awesome fat bitches!

We have news: Thick Hitches 2026 is going virtual. July 24–26, online, from wherever you are. And honestly? We’re not just okay with this, we’re genuinely excited about what this means for our community.

Let us tell you why.

We Want More of You There

Here’s the thing about an in-person conference in Berlin: it’s amazing. The energy, the hugs, the tying together in the same room – we love it, and we’ll never stop loving it. But it also means that the only people who get to experience Thick Hitches are people who can afford a trip to Berlin, take time off work, arrange care for their kids or pets, and physically get on a plane.

That’s a lot of barriers. And they hit hardest exactly where our community already faces the most obstacles.

Going virtual means Thick Hitches becomes accessible to fat rope lovers in the US, in the UK, in South America and Asia, in places where there is no local fat-centered rope community at all. It means the person in rural Canada who’s been tying alone in their living room can finally be in a room (a virtual one, but still) where fat is the norm and not the exception.

It means more of us, together.

Bodies, Budgets, and Being Real

Let’s talk about money. Traveling to a conference means flights, accommodation, food, time off work. For many of us, that adds up to hundreds or even thousands of euros on top of a conference ticket. Going virtual slashes that cost dramatically. You show up from your couch, your bedroom, your rope space or wherever you feel most comfortable.

And let’s talk about bodies – because that’s what we do. Chronic illness, disability, pain flare-ups, mobility limitations, fatigue and a world that is hostile towards our bodies – these are realities for many people in our community. An in-person event, no matter how carefully we set it up (and we do – we have ramps, we have accessible bathrooms, we have quiet rooms), still requires you to travel, to be “on” for three days, to navigate a physical space that were not designed for you in mind.

Virtual means you can attend from bed if that’s what your body needs that day. You can turn your camera off. You can take a break without worrying about missing the walk back to the workshop room. You can participate on your terms.

The World is a Lot Right Now

We’re not going to sugarcoat this: the world is intense. Many of us are dealing with political climates that are hostile to our existence – as queer people, as fat people, as people who practice kink. For some, the mere act of traveling across borders as a visibly queer, fat, kinky person carries risk.

We want Thick Hitches to be a space where people can show up without having to be brave just to get there. A virtual space lets us focus on what matters: learning, connecting, celebrating our fat bodies in rope, and building the community we want to see.

What Stays the Same

The heart of Thick Hitches isn’t changing. This is still a space where fat is the norm. Where highly skilled, fat facilitators share their knowledge and hold space. Where you can be a beginner or advanced, a rigger or a bottom or a switch, and find your people.

We’ll still have a full schedule of facilitated workshops, open spaces for hanging out, and that particular Thick Hitches magic that happens when fat rope folks get together and realize they’re not alone.

And here’s a bonus: most classes will have recordings available for 30 days after the conference, so if your schedule or energy doesn’t allow you to be there for everything live, you won’t miss out.