In a world where gay men are facing constant challenges around body image, gender identity, toxic masculinity, body fascism, the proliferation of substance abuse around sex, hook up culture and app dependency – discovering how to make real connections again can be fraught with problems. Which is where the new The Love Festival comes in – helping men to love their own skin – and each other.
Launching near Glastonbury this summer, The Love Festival is championing sober intimacy, conscious connection and consent-led exploration for men who love men, as conversations around wellbeing, identity and community continue to evolve within queer culture.
This five-day residential retreat – taking place from 29 August to 2 September 2026 – will bring together tantra, conscious kink, movement, breathwork and facilitated workshops in a clothing-optional, drug and alcohol-free environment designed to prioritise connection over performance, presence over pressure, and authenticity over toxic masculinity.
Thought to be the largest M2M event of its kind in the UK, it will be held at the EarthSpirit Centre in Compton Dundon, near Glastonbury. The retreat takes place across seven acres of private gardens and countryside within the mythical landscape of Avalon, long associated with healing, spirituality and transformation – the perfect setting for this unique retreat.
Previously known as The Tantra Love Festival, the event has been reimagined under the stewardship of tantra practitioners Richie Moore and Joey Tabone, with a renewed focus on consent, communication, embodiment and emotional safety.
Organisers say the festival responds to a growing appetite within GBTQ+ communities for sober, intentional spaces where intimacy, sexuality and self-expression can be explored without judgement or expectation.
Across the five days, participants will experience a programme of tantra, conscious touch, meditation, movement, healing practices, creative workshops and facilitated group experiences led by UK and international practitioners. Organisers say the retreat welcomes participants across a broad spectrum of gender expression, sexuality and identity, embracing fluidity and individuality rather than rigid binaries.
The festival also incorporates workshops exploring conscious kink, intimacy, body confidence
and communication, within a clearly structured framework centred on consent and mutual
respect.
Richie Moore, co-founder of The Love Festival, said:
“Many queer men are looking for spaces where they can slow down, feel present and experience connection in a more conscious way. There’s a growing shift away from environments built around pressure, image or escape, and towards spaces rooted in authenticity, communication and care.”
“The Love Festival is about creating an environment where people can explore intimacy, playfulness, vulnerability and community. It’s sober, but it’s also joyful, liberating and deeply human.”
Joey Tabone, co-founder of The Love Festival and founder of LoveJoyTantra, added:
“For many GBTQ+ people, there are still very few environments where intimacy and self expression can be explored safely and openly, especially for those who don’t relate to traditional ideas around masculinity, identity or sexuality.”
“We wanted to create something that feels welcoming, grounded and emotionally intelligent, where consent is active, boundaries are respected and people are free to explore who they are without judgement.”
The event is intentionally capped at around 120 participants, with organisers saying the scale helps foster trust, accountability and meaningful interaction.
The Love Festival takes place from 29 August to 2 September 2026 at the EarthSpirit Centre near Glastonbury, Somerset.
For more information, visit TheLoveFestival.uk
