NEW RESEARCH REVEALS CRISIS OF CONNECTION AMONG GBTQ+ MEN

Glastonbury, Somerset | 29 August to 2 September 2026

As Men’s Health Week – 15-21 June - shines a spotlight on male wellbeing, new research commissioned by The Love Festival has revealed a growing crisis of connection among gay and bisexual men, with loneliness, body image pressures and dating app fatigue emerging as some of the community’s biggest challenges.

The Love Festival comes to Glastonbury, Somerset, from 29 August to 2 September 2026 as a five-day residential, consent-led retreat for men who love men, led by tantra practitioners Richie Moore and Joey Tabone. Formerly known as The Tantra Love Festival, the event will take place at the EarthSpirit Centre near Glastonbury.

A survey of more than 250 gay and bisexual men conducted ahead of the festival found that:

• 68% said they often feel lonely despite being socially connected online

• 66% said dating apps have made it harder to form meaningful relationships

• 57% reported struggling with body image or appearance-related pressures

• 54% said they find it difficult to form genuine emotional connections with other men

• Nearly half (47%) said they feel disconnected from LGBTQ+ community spaces

The findings come against a wider backdrop of mental health concerns affecting GBTQ+ communities. Stonewall research has previously found that almost half of gay and bisexual men experienced depression in the previous year, while more than half experienced anxiety.

Organisers say the results highlight a growing demand for spaces where men can connect beyond the pressures of social media, dating apps and nightlife culture.

Held at the EarthSpirit Centre in Compton Dundon, just five miles from Glastonbury, The Love Festival unfolds across seven acres of fields and private gardens in the mythical landscape of Avalon. Across five days, participants can take part in a programme of tantra, breathwork, conscious touch, meditation, movement, creative expression and facilitated group work led by UK and international practitioners.

The retreat is intentionally drug and alcohol free, with attendance capped at around 120 participants to help foster safety, accountability and meaningful connection.  The event is almost sold-out, again highlighting the need of an event of this nature.

Richie Moore, co-founder of The Love Festival and conscious leadership practitioner, said:

"These findings confirm what many of us already sense. We live in a hyper-connected world, yet many gay and bisexual men are experiencing profound loneliness and disconnection. Apps can create opportunities, but they can also leave people feeling disposable, judged or isolated.

The Love Festival offers something different. It creates a safe, consent-led environment where people can step away from performance and expectation, reconnect with themselves and build authentic relationships with others. During Men’s Health Week, that conversation feels more important than ever."

Joey Tabone, founder of LoveJoyTantra and long-standing facilitator within the international tantra community, added:

"Many men are searching for deeper connection, but there are very few spaces where vulnerability, intimacy and emotional honesty are actively encouraged. The survey shows that body image concerns, loneliness and difficulties forming meaningful relationships are affecting a huge number of men.

This festival isn't about escaping reality. It's about creating healthier ways of relating to ourselves and each other. We believe wellbeing is strengthened through community, communication, consent and genuine human connection."

Originally established as The Tantra Love Festival, the event has been relaunched under its new name with an expanded programme and renewed focus on personal growth, wellbeing and community.

Organisers say the festival is open to men of all backgrounds, ages and levels of experience, with participation in activities always optional and personal boundaries respected throughout.

Full details, facilitator updates and booking information are available on the official Love Festival website - TheLoveFestival.uk