Events for Sci Fi & Fantasy Writers

There are so many conferences, festivals, and conventions aimed at readers and writers. Do a quick Google search and you're drowning in options. Each one seems to have a different focus and a different price tag to go along with it.

I've done the research for you and flagged costs in each listing by location. I intend to keep this page updated as things change.

US Based Fantasy & Sci Fi Events

MisCon
​Missoula, MT; Annual on Memorial Day weekend; June 20-23, 2025

• Adult Four Day Pass: $70.00
• (other passes also available)

https://www.miscon.org/
 
About MisCon
MisCon is a 4-day celebration of fantasy, science fiction, and horror that takes over the Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown every Memorial Day Weekend.
 
Through discussion panels, hangouts, games, readings, craft demos, and workshops, we bring fans together with authors, artists, game designers, actors, costumers, and other professionals in the world of speculative fiction.

​Anime Expo
​Los Angeles, CA; Annual in July; July 3-6, 2025

• Adult 4-day pass: $157.65
• (other passes also available)

https://www.anime-expo.org/

About Anime Expo
Anime Expo (AX) started in 1991 as “Anime Con” by the members of UC Berkeley’s anime club, Cal Animage Alpha. While AX has grown drastically over the years, the core goal has remained the same: to welcome attendees for a fun and memorable experience. Each year, Anime Expo brings together fans and industry from Japan, the US, and all over the world for the largest celebration of Japanese pop culture in North America. Anime Expo features the best in Japanese entertainment, music, fashion, and video games. Anime Expo is organized by SPJA, a 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission to inspire the world through Japanese animation and culture.

Sakura Con
​Seattle, WA; Annual on Easter weekend; April 18-20, 2025

• Adult 3-day membership: $70-$120
• Prices are lowest at pre-registration and go up incrementally as the event approaches. See registration website for details and dates.
• (Other passes also available)

https://sakuracon.org/

About Sakura Con
Presented by the Asia Northwest Cultural Education Association, Sakura-Con is the oldest and most well attended anime convention in the Pacific Northwest.

Enjoy gaming, cosplay, cultural panels, dances, concerts, art contests, AMV’s, industry guests, over 100,000 square feet of exhibits hall, guests of honor, and more!

Remember that pre-registration helps ANCEA, a state and federal non-profit organization. As a member only event, we all work together to keep our event “by fans, for fans.” There are no additional fees for programming once you are at Sakura-Con, including for autographs, concerts, theaters, gaming, etc. (Pretty cool!)

Lilac City Comicon
Spokane, WA; Annual in June; June 7-8, 2025

• VIP 2-day pass: $35

https://www.lilaccitycon.com/

About Lilac City Comicon
Founder Nathan O'Brien had made it his goal to bring a slice of the comic book & pop culture world to the Inland Northwest. "As a freelance artist it's also been a personal goal of mine to support local businesses & provide an affordable event for all ages."

International SFF Events
World Fantasy Con
Brighton, UK; Annual around Halloween; Oct 30-Nov 2, 2025
Oakland, CA; Oct 22-26, 2026

• Adult in-person 3-day pass: £200
• (other memberships also available)

https://worldfantasy.org/​
 
About World Fantasy Con
The first World Fantasy Convention (WFC) was held in 1975 in Providence, Rhode Island (see retrospective of WFC) and it has continued as an annual gathering and reunion of professionals, collectors, and others interested in the field of light and dark fantasy art and literature. The convention is generally held on one of the two weekends bracketing Halloween, with some light early-bird programming usually beginning Thursday evening and the convention generally concluding Sunday afternoon, usually shortly after the World Fantasy Award Banquet. The awards banquet is a culminating highlight of the convention, offering awards ranging from lifetime achievement, to various aspects of art and literature. Additional highlights include an autograph reception, and often some sort of reception honoring the arts. Individual conventions often use programming and special events to highlight the themes of the convention and local flavor.
 
Partnering with Fantasycon 2025.

Fantasycon
Brighton, UK; Annual in late October

• Adult 4-day Attending (in person) Membership: £200
• (other memberships also available)

https://worldfantasy2025.co.uk/about-the-convention/
 
About FantasyCon (see also WFC above)
Run by the British Fantasy Society. Partnering with WFC for 2025.
 
Worldcon
International (Seattle 2025); Annual in August
https://www.worldcon.org/about-worldcon/
 
About WorldCon
Worldcon is the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS). It was first held in 1939 and, after a hiatus during WWII, has been held continuously since 1946.

Each Worldcon is an independent organization. Except for a small number of things (the administration of the Hugo Awards, the rules for selecting future Worldcon sites, and the process for changing the rules for the Hugo Awards and Site Selection), Worldcons are independent of each other.

For Groups & Organizations with a focus on Sci Fi & Fantasy writing, see Genre Fiction Groups & Organizations.

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Crystal Carney
 
Crystal Carney is an editor and writer with an affinity for fantasy, literary nonfiction, and poetry. She has an education in publishing from the Denver Publishing Institute and expands her knowledge base every day through online forums, revised industry standards, webinars, professional contacts, and books. She has a passion for literary art and helping writers realize their dream of writing for a living.