By Don Chareunsy
The 2025 AVN + Adult Entertainment Expo takes over The Virgin Hotels Las Vegas from Jan. 22-25, and the GayVN Awards precede it on Jan. 20. This year marks a return to The Virgin after two years at Resorts World.
Fun facts and anecdotes about AVN + AEE this year and in past years:
- By the numbers, AVN + AEE attracts more than 45,000 attendees, 30,000+ consumers, 15,000+ industry, 5,000+ adult stars/content creators and 1,500+ media outlets.
- AVN stands for Adult Video News (many people might not know this and mistakenly think Adult Video Network), and AEE stands for Adult Entertainment Expo, which is more widely known than AVN.
- This year’s 2025 AVN Awards hosts are Blake Blossom (2022 AVN Best New Starlet and Hottest Newcomer) and OnlineGirl_, aka Alex Knight and 2024 AVN Favorite Cam Girl winner.
- The 2025 GayVN Awards hosts are actor and comedian Alec Mapa, hosting for the ninth time; adult entertainer (and fellow Filipino) Jkab Ethan Dale, a multiple GayVN Award nominee; and life coach, producer, performer and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Bruno Alcantara.
- Even the most popular male porn actors can’t compete with the women at AVN; fans are overwhelmingly here for the women. And GayVN is a minor presence, although its red carpet arrivals are longer than most red carpets.
- The Virgin Hotels Las Vegas was previously The Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas, home to AVN until it moved to Resorts World in 2022.
- AVN has also been hosted at Palms Casino Resort and The Venetian and concurrently with the ginormous Consumer Electronics Show.
- In my first year covering AVN in 2008, I was Robin Leach’s editor, and he did a live standup from AVN at The Hard Rock Hotel wearing a red scarf I had given him for Christmas. It had the initials RL on it for Ralph Lauren; coincidentally, it also stood for Robin Leach!
- Perhaps unsurprisingly, photo galleries of the performers’ shoes, heels and/or stilettoes have been popular with online audiences.
- While free online porn has heavily hurt the industry, the annual expo is still well-attended by popular performers and their many fans.
- If you’re worried about taking photos without nudity, be mindful of the products with nudity hanging behind performers who are on-site for autographs and fan meet-and-greets.
- Gift baskets for media covering AVN over the years haven’t been conservative and included adult films, condoms, lube and adult products.
Pro Tips
- The expo floor can get very crowded. Be courteous and respectful of the performers and fellow attendees, and please, please, please bathe before attending AVN.
- There is usually a fair amount of free swag: condoms, pens, cigarette lighters, keychains, sunglasses, stickers and T-shirts.
- One Steakhouse, Kassi Beach House, Nobu, Chef Xue and Pizza Forte are solid options for dining on-site at The Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes and stay hydrated.
Check out the 2025 AVN + Adult Entertainment Expo schedule at Expo.AVN.com.
If You Go
Jan. 20, GayVN Awards. Jan. 22-25, AVN + Adult Entertainment Expo 2025, The Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. More: Expo.AVN.com
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