LOS ANGELES — The sun once again shone brightly on the historic Hollywood Palladium as throngs of avid fans made their way through the doors, ready to experience Day 2 of the 2026 X3 Expo.
Out on the show floor, the commanding Brazzers booth drew nonstop crowds with a massive footprint packed wall to wall with stars and activity. Fans lined up for signings with top talent, including Elly Clutch, Luna Star, Girthmaster, and Cherie DeVille, while a giant overhead screen looped slick talent promos that grabbed attention even from the Palladium’s upper levels.
Brazzers executive Lea Lexis noted that the booth experience was all about deepening connections with fans — some of whom waited for hours to meet their favorites.
“It’s amazing to see our girls with lines wrapping around the booth and the building,” Lexis said. “The fans have fantasized about them for years, followed their careers — and then they get to meet them in person and realize how sweet and genuine they are.”
That warmth, Lexis observed, only strengthens fan loyalty, turning longtime admiration into something more personal. That feeling was unmistakable as devoted fans lit up when recognized by the performers they came to see.
Not far away, performer Charlotte Sins marveled at the size and enthusiasm of the crowd.
“Everyone has been very respectful,” Sins said. “I’ve gotten a couple of cute little gifts. I got a cool pen from Japan. One guy asked me to sign his chest. It’s also nice to run into people in the industry who I haven’t seen in years and catch up with them, and see some girls who I’ve followed online for years, but never met.”
Sins also revealed that she’s in the midst of preparing for several upcoming projects, including some exciting “group creative collabs.”
Melony Melons said it was “fantastic” meeting new fans at X3, while Rachael Cavalli, who has a new MILFY scene coming out soon, was especially enjoying meeting up with longtime devotees.
“There are a couple of fans I’ve been seeing for 10 years now, which is awesome,” Cavalli said. “I’ve signed a lot of old pictures from when I first started, which threw me for a loop and took me down memory lane!”
Performer Victoria Peaks told XBIZ that even though she has four features coming out this year, along with multiple series, she is still getting used to being recognized by fans.
“One fan told me his wife loves it when he watches me because after, they have the best sex ever,” enthused Peaks, who hails from Kentucky and has the accent to prove it. “That’s what I like to hear! I like when couples watch me together.”
Luna Star, one of this year’s X3 All-Stars, was excited to make her debut at the Expo.
“I didn’t realize it was going to be this good, but it’s been wonderful and amazing,” she said. “One guy told me he has come here three years in a row from India just to see me, and it was so nice to finally meet him.”
Star also teased upcoming scenes with Hollywood Cash, Girthmaster, Cherie DeVille and Angela White, and said she hopes to produce this year. Meanwhile, fellow X3 All-Star Lulu Chu boasted about giving a fan a lap dance on the big bed in the very popular Ricky’s Room booth, and shared her excitement about an upcoming scene for Monster Porn, which she called “a real thrill.”
Over at the X3 Expo screening of “Once Upon a Time in the Valley” a packed, attentive crowd interacted with cast and creatives during a candid post-screening Q&A featuring director Seth Gamble, Ken Feels, Jennifer White, Parker Ambrose and director of photography Siren Obscura.
Gamble described the film as a fictionalized but deeply authentic reflection of life inside the adult industry. He noted that each character was an amalgamation rather than a direct portrayal, while the story was designed to strip away exaggerated narratives and instead spotlight real relationships, emotional instability and personal growth.
“I really wanted to show that we’re all human,” he told the audience. “The good, the bad, the ugly.”
The conversation also highlighted the physical and emotional demands of the production, which unfolded over roughly 10 days across multiple locations. Feels recounted suffering mild hypothermia after filming a pool scene in February, joking that he had to warm up afterward by cuddling with Sinatra Monroe and Jennifer White.
Later, Gamble told XBIZ how grateful he felt to be able to share the film with a live audience.
“I’m pretty confident and proud of the work we did,” he said. “So it’s really special to see people’s reactions in real time.”
Back on the show floor, the Pornhub booth delivered an interactive and fan-focused experience, with a sleek setup anchored by an immersive photo box that kept cameras flashing throughout the weekend. Fans packed the space to meet and snap photos with signing talent, including Hope Heaven, Melissa Stratton, Addison Vodka, Kazumi, and Anna Claire Clouds.
Pornhub exec Alex Kekesi emphasized that events like X3 are especially vital for creator platforms, where many performers operate independently.
“These aren’t opportunities people get all the time,” Kekesi said, noting that bringing talent and fans together helps strengthen the community on a personal level.
Performer Addison Vodka echoed those sentiments.
“Their support, it’s everything,” she said. “My favorite part of X3 is the sense of community that I get to feel from fans and everyone I work with: directors, the teams of the companies, and even my friends. It’s just such a really great feeling to have everyone together.”
Said Selena Ivy, “I’ve always been very much a one-on-one type of person. I love X3 because I really get to connect with people, make memories, and just exchange energies. That’s so sexy to me.”
Addis Fouché spoke about seeing all the other performers present.
“My favorite part of X3 is just how beautiful and professional all my friends are,” she said. “It’s brains, and it’s beauty. I love that this is the opportunity where people get to really showcase how capable sex workers are.”
At the Jerkmate booth, staffer Aurelie was wide-eyed about attending her first X3 Expo.
“I’ve heard about it before, but this is my first time here, and I’m enjoying my time with all the fans and the models,” she said. “Our new tagline this year is ‘Find Your Jerkmate,’ and we’re trying to really focus on the models. We want them to be the center of our marketing strategy, and we feel like 2026 will be our year.
“Plus, we have a claw machine!” she added. “So people are having a great time at the booth. It’s been a lot of fun to see people win prizes, because their reactions are so great.”
Back in the screening room, fans enjoyed a curated glimpse into one of the year’s most ambitious feature projects from Blacked and Vixen Media Group: “The Blueprint.”
In attendance were VMG exec Mike Moz, director Derek Dozer, and stars Serenity Cox, Sarah Illustrates, Lexi Lore, Angie Faith, and Daniel Shar, who gathered on stage for an expansive and lively Q&A.
Moz framed the project as the studio’s flagship feature of the year, noting that the full film runs more than four hours and represents months of planning and weeks of production.
Dozer emphasized the scope of the shoot, pointing to the complexity of large-scale, single-take sequences and the challenge of coordinating dozens of cast and crew members in real time.
“This is a feature film,” Dozer affirmed. “If you don’t hook the audience, you lose them — and every shot has to earn its place.”
The conversation then turned to cast members’ milestone moments on set. Angie Faith discussed preparing for her first anal scene and the importance of trust and a relaxed environment, while Serenity Cox spoke about performing her first gangbang, praising the “positive energy” that defined the production.
Daniel Shar, who appeared in a non-sex role, called the project the most intensive production of his career and praised its family-like dynamic. Throughout the Q&A, Dozer returned to the idea of a “Zen” set, underscoring the trust and mutual respect that allowed performers to deliver emotionally grounded performances within such a demanding shoot.
Next up was the X3 screening of Digital Playground’s feature “Deadly Vows,” which was nominated for 11 XMAs, including Best Picture and Best Drama Movie. Directed by Ricky Greenwood, the film stars Ryan Reid, Elly Clutch, Yhivi, and Jenna Haze, among others. Judging from the audience’s response to the fists, blades, and bullets flying in the climax, the film seemed to live up to its title.
The impressive production garnered compliments for its soundtrack and for Reid’s prowess with various weapons, including a katana sword. Greenwood revealed that
Reid trained for three months before production began, and the final cut required almost five months of editing.
Greenwood reflected, “The eroticism of a scene isn’t just based on how you look; it’s about the passion and energy that you bring. ‘Deadly Vows’ allows you to see the range of each performer, especially the women.
“I like how crazy Elly gets in this movie,” he elaborated. “She scares me, and I like it! She’s so sweet, but we had barely worked together before, so when she turned into a huge bitch on camera, I was surprised and impressed.”
Asked what’s next on his slate, Greenwood revealed that he recently shot a Dorcel movie that will be coming out in September.
“We just finished editing it a week ago, so now we’re doing color correction, translations, and sound,” the director said. “And I just finished a pitch deck for the big Digital Playground feature we’ll shoot this summer. I wrote the script, so if you like ‘Deadly Vows,’ it’ll be in the same vein. That’s my jam.”
Upstairs, Adult Empire and Elegant Angel had taken over the Palladium’s balcony for a huge installation called “Dystopian Wonderland.”
Adult Empire’s Layna Landry explained, “We are imagining a future where porn is banned. Sex is banned. Private pleasure is banned. It’s all under government surveillance and control. The Pleasure Authority has been established. They’re always watching
The exhibit connected with a booth on the main show floor, filled with various pieces of analog video equipment, including a keyboard asking fans to punch in their favorite sexual memory. On the balcony, fans could enter a password and display their memory for all to see, or play a video driving game programmed by Elegant Angel’s Santiago, in which they tried to escape from the pursuing pleasure police. They could also enter an “invasive body scan” booth that took videos of fans, making them look like characters in “The Matrix.”
Saturday’s festivities culminated with the X3 All-Stars returning to the main stage to hand out the 2026 XMAs in this year’s Fan Favorite categories.
Violet Brandani presented the award for Fav Cosplay Star, which went to Little Puck. Puck thanked the crowd briefly before Lulu Chu came to the stage to present the award for Fav BBW Star to Karla Lane.
Next, Aubrey Kate revealed the winner for Fav Fetish Star: Violet Voss, who took the stage to accept the trophy.
“I’m so fucking honored that you consume my content and support me,” Voss told the cheering crowd. “I love you guys so much!”
Hailey Rose came out next to present bestow the title of Fav Girl/Girl Star, which went to Leana Lovings. Then Luna Star wowed the crowd before announcing Brittany Andrews as the winner in the Fav MILF Star category, and Isa Bella as 2026’s Fav Newcomer. Anna Claire Clouds then presented Fav Trans Star to fellow X3 All-Star Aubrey Kate.
Finally, Cherie DeVille emerged from behind the curtain to hand out the final awards of the night: Fav Male Star and Fav Female Star.
After naming Ricky Johnson as the winner for Fav Male Star, DeVille joked, “Ricky’s award is not this trophy, it’s my pussy!”
“We hit it big, baby!” Johnson responded, raising his trophy in victory.
Finally, Violet Myers took the title of Fav Female Star, thanking everyone who voted for her.
“This is such an honor, and this award is as much mine as it is yours,” she said.
“I’m a bad bitch, and I do this for all the nerds!” Myers added, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
The weekend wrapped up with rap megastar The Game taking the stage to deliver an electric live set. Fans and performers alike surged to the front to enjoy the show, which capped off the second and final day of X3 Expo, sending a happy outflux of attendees back out into the Hollywood night to dream of next year.
