Kinktastisch at Insomnia: Community, Fetish, and Authentic Berlin Nightlife

Back when THE CODE opened in 2021, we were open for only four days before the second wave of Corona hit. Like many others in the club scene, we suddenly had to rethink how to stay connected to the communities around us. During that time, many clubs started experimenting with livestreams, and this is where our first connection with Kinktastisch began.

We approached Frau Leder, who runs Kinktastisch at Insomnia, and asked if we could meet and see how we might work together. Kinktastisch was already a BDSM, fetish, and queer-friendly party, something that at the time was quite rare in that space. We agreed that THE CODE would dress the dancers for the livestream performance, and that collaboration became the beginning of a relationship and appreciation between us.

In many ways, Kinktastisch opened the door for THE CODE in the Fetish scene.

About Kinktastisch

Kinktastisch is a small-scale party of around 300 people that has been running for six years. It is a very active play party, where gender is not the most important factor and consent is clearly the key value. The atmosphere is open and engaging, and people come ready to connect and interact with each other. The dance floor is social and people are not shy to approach each other, talk, and express what they are looking for in a respectful way. The party carries the slogan “Free Your Fetish,” which reflects the environment they aim to create.

Kinktastisch was also among the first parties in Berlin to establish a no solo wanking policy and to create its own awareness team. Over the years the party has built a strong core community, with around 80 to 100 regular guests returning every two months because they feel comfortable and safe in the space.

Another thing that stands out is the involvement of local artists and performers. Today it may seem obvious to see performances in clubs, but six years ago it was not common. Kinktastisch regularly invited performers from the kinky scene, including sex workers, circus performers, and pole dancers.

More recently they have also collaborated with graphic and illustration artists, projecting their work during the party and giving another stage to local creatives.

About Insomnia

For people who don’t know Insomnia, the structure of the club plays an important role in the experience of the night.

Downstairs there is a well-equipped play area, with many different pieces of furniture and spaces designed for interaction and play.

Upstairs is the dance floor. In the last two years, Insomnia invested in a new sound system, aligning with the understanding that Berlin is first of all a party city. This change showed a new wave and a new appreciation for the dance floor and the music.

Insomnia has sometimes had the reputation of being an old-school swinger club, which created some distance from the broader club scene. But from my experience, the facility has always been clean, well maintained, and run by very nice staff.

It is not a huge venue like KitKatClub or other large Berlin clubs, but it has its own atmosphere and works well for the kind of nights that happen there.

THE CODE x Kinktastisch — April 11, 2026

In 2026, Insomnia celebrates 20 years, and this felt like a good moment for us to highlight parties that we appreciate and want to support.

The first collaboration will take place on April 11, 2026, together with Kinktastisch.

For this night, THE CODE will curate the music. In many play parties, music is often pushed to the side, but from our perspective music is an important part of creating the atmosphere of the night.

The musical journey will start with dark disco to build a sexy mood, then move into sexy house, continue into techno, and finally close with more hypnotic techno toward the end of the night.

If you want to experience Kinktastisch and see how this collaboration unfolds, April 11, 2026 will be the moment to do it.