It’s complicated. As the pleasure industry enters 2026, many industry observers predict that the coming year will be shaped not by a single game-changing breakthrough or standout celebrity partnership, but rather by the slow, powerful alignment of consumer psychology, economic reality, cultural openness and shifting demographic needs.
The last few years have seen a positive change in our industry, as more brands and innovators are finally prioritizing accessibility. Whether they call it inclusive design, adaptive pleasure or accessible intimacy, the aim remains the same: Pleasure should be accessible to everyone, including people with limited mobility or physical disabilities.
Walking into an adult store and being greeted by someone who not only knows the difference between various kinds of materials and motors, but also understands and empathizes, is where brick-and-mortar retailers really shine. Physical spaces enable them to engage shoppers’ senses, build rapport in real time and close sales.
When I hear struggling adult retailers lament about a lack of customers, I want to sympathize, but I also want to tell them: “People haven’t stopped shopping. They haven’t lost interest in pleasure, play or discovery. If your business is underperforming, the problem may not be your customer base. It may be how you’re connecting with them — or failing to.”
Laughter sells. That’s especially true in our industry. Where vulnerability and curiosity walk through the door together, humor can help turn hesitation into comfort.
In 2025, the pleasure industry is evolving in intentional ways. Rather than racing toward newness for novelty’s sake, brands are reassessing everything from shape and function to what price intended shoppers can afford.
It’s a tale as old as time. In childhood, we are captivated by fantasy stories that allow us to escape into a world of make-believe, where anything is possible. For adults, fantasy can also shape sensual experiences, allowing people to be whoever they want, do whatever they wish and go wherever they desire through role-playing — and an expanding array of imagination-inspired pleasure products.
