UK and Ireland Science Fiction and Fantasy Conventions in 2019

Below is a list of science fiction and fantasy conventions running in the UK and Ireland in 2019. I’ve highlighted a number in red because they are what I consider the backbone of the convention calendar.

You will notice that we are lucky this year to have two fantastic world-famous conventions on the Emerald Isle. WorldCon, the world science fiction convention is in Dublin from 15-19 August 2019. Then a few days later, the science fiction EuroCon is in Belfast from 22-25 August 2019. 

Unfortunately it appears that NineWorlds will not be running. Their website https://nineworlds.co.uk/ is not functioning.

Conventions are a great place to meet other SFF fans and to keep up to date with what’s current. For writers, I recommend the conventions highlighted in red to see panel discussions on writing in this genre.

• For The Love Of Sci-Fi, 7-8 Dec 2019, Manchester: TV and film, props, cosplay and guests, http://fortheloveofsci-fi.com/

• Reading Comic-Con, 23-24 Nov 2019, Reading: now in its fourth year, with a focus on gaming, cosplay, scifi and fantasy, https://www.facebook.com/readingcomiccon/

• Novacon 49, 8-10 Nov 2019, Nottingham: the UK’s longest-established regional science fiction convention, held every autumn since 1971; has a definite focus on scifi literature rather than anything else, http://www.novacon.org.uk/n49/

• Surrey Steampunk Convivial, 26-27 October 2019 The Royal Oak & Christchurch, New Malden, Surrey http://bumpandthumper.wixsite.com/steampunkconvivials

• BristolCon, 26 October 2019 http://www.bristolcon.org/

• Destination Star Trek, 25-27 Oct 2019, Birmingham: what it says on the tin, and Sulu will be attending! http://destinationstartrek.com/

• FantasyCon, 18-20 Oct 2019, Glasgow: UK national fantasy convention, run by the British Fantasy Society, http://www.britishfantasysociety.org/category/fantasycon/

• EM-Con Derby, 6 Oct 2019: the East Midlands scifi and fantasy convention: the focus is mainly TV and film, mind you, http://www.em-con.co.uk/

• Nor-Con, 28-29 Sept 2019, Norwich: scifi convention for Star Wars, Batman, Doctor Who, Star Trek and so on, http://www.nor-con.co.uk/

• MCM Scotland Comic Con, 28-29 Sept 2019, Glasgow: http://www.mcmcomiccon.com/scotland/

• CovCon – Coventry Comic Con, 28 Sept 2019: comics, cosplay, TV&film, gaming and merchandise, http://www.coventrycomiccon.uk

• J-Con, 27-28 Sept 2019, Derby: the largest cosplay convention in the East Midlands, running for ever ten years, http://www.j-con.co.uk/

• EM-Con Worcester, 15 Sept 2019: the East Midlands scifi and fantasy convention: the focus is mainly TV and film, mind you, http://www.em-con.co.uk/

• Film and Comic Con Exeter, 14-15 Sept 2019: http://filmandcomicconexeter.com/

• Stars of Time, 25-26 Aug 2019, Weston-super-Mare: the South West’s premier scifi and entertainment show, http://www.starsoftime.co.uk/

• TitanCon, The EuroCon, 22-25 Aug 2019, Belfast: scifi and fantasy literature and TV, with a Game of Thrones focus recently, http://www.titancon.com/

• Dublin 2019, An Irish WorldCon, 15-19 Aug 2019: the 77th world science fiction convention, https://dublin2019.com/

• FantastiCon, 17-18 Aug 2019, Cleethorpes: SF/Gaming/VR/RPG/Authors/Readings/Cosplay/Stage shows/Live Music/Holographic tech… they’ve got it all, http://fantasticon.co.uk/

• Film and Comic Con Glasgow, 17-18 Aug 2019, Glasgow:  http://filmandcomicconglasgow.com/

• OzConUK, 10-11 Aug 2019, Oswestry, Shropshire: cosplay, trader stalls, DC and Marvel, http://www.ozconuk.com/

•  Film and Comic Con Sheffield, 10-11 August 2019 https://scificons.com/events/info/11898/film-and-comic-con-sheffield-2019

• Tolkien 2019, 7-11 Aug 2019, Birmingham: run by The Tolkien Society, for fans, scholars and students, https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2018/

• Surrey Steampunk Convivial, 3-4 August 2019 http://bumpandthumper.wixsite.com/steampunkconvivials

• MCM Manchester Comic Con, 27-28 July 2019: one of the biggest comic cons in the north-west, http://www.mcmcomiccon.com/manchester/

• For The Love Of Fantasy, 26-29 July 2019 The Edinburgh Academy Edinburgh, UK https://www.fortheloveoffantasy.com/

• London Film and Comic Con, 26-28 July 2019: with guests from scifi/fantasy movies and TV series, http://www.londonfilmandcomiccon.com/

• EDGE-LIT 8, 13 July 2019, Derby: scifi, fantasy and horror writing, https://www.facebook.com/events/289788025205018/

• Comic Con World, 29-30 June 2019, Blackpool Winter Gardens: with cosplay, proper commercial backers and TV and film franchises, http://www.comicconworld.co.uk/

• Cymera, 7-9 June 2019, Edinburgh: Scotland’s festival of science fiction, fantasy and horror writing, https://www.cymerafestival.co.uk/

• Heroes & Villains Fan Fest, 25-26 May 2019, London: with guest appearances of stars from the Arrow and Gotham tv series, etc, http://heroesfanfest.com/london/

• MCM London Comic Con, 24-26 May 2019: one of the biggest comic cons, http://www.mcmcomiccon.com/london/

• GIFCon, 23-24 May 2019, University of Glasgow: Glasgow International Fantasy Conversations, an exploration of academic themes in fantasy literature, https://gifcon.org/home/

• Yorkshire Cosplay Con, 18-19 May 2019, Sheffield, www.yccevents.co.uk

• EM-Con Nottingham, 4-5 May 2019: the East Midlands scifi and fantasy convention: the focus is mainly TV and film, mind you, http://www.em-con.co.uk/

• Utopia, 3-5 May 2019, Oxfordshire: big Doctor Who event, https://www.fantomevents.co.uk/utopia2019/https://www.fantomevents.co.uk/utopia2019/

• Wales Comic Con, 27-29 April 2019, Wrexham: a major convention, with cosplay and geek culture celebs (Buffy, etc), http://walescomiccon.com/

• Ytterbium, EasterCon, 19-22 April 2019, London: the UK’s national sci-fi convention, run by the BSFA, https://www.ytterbium.org.uk/

• Stoke CON Trent, 14 April 2019: guests from scifi tv series, including Doctor Who, https://www.facebook.com/StokeCONTrent/

• Sci-Fi Scarborough, 6-7 April 2019: going from strength to strength, www.scifiscarborough.co.uk

• EM-Con Burton, 7 April 2019: the East Midlands scifi and fantasy convention: the focus is mainly TV and film, mind you, http://www.em-con.co.uk/

• Irish Discworld Convention, 29 March-1 April 2019: all things Pratchett!, https://2019.idwcon.org/

• Sci-Fi Weekender 10, 28-31 March 2019, Sheffield: formerly known as the ‘SFX Weekender’, http://www.scifiweekender.com/

• Film and Comic Con Bournemouth, 16-17 March 2019 https://scificons.com/events/info/11897/film-and-comic-con-bournemouth-2019

• Film and Comic Con Cardiff, 9-10 March 2019 https://motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk/whats-on/cardiff-film-comic-con

• Liverpool Comic Con, 9-10 March 2019: https://www.facebook.com/comicconliverpool/

• LarpCon, 1-3 March 2019, Leicester: the UK’s biggest ‘Live Action Role Playing’ convention, http://larpcon.co.uk/

• Valiant 2019, 2 March, Sheffield: Doctor Who convention, https://www.fantomevents.co.uk/valiant-2019/

• Surrey Steampunk Convivial, 23-24 February 2019 http://bumpandthumper.wixsite.com/steampunkconvivials

• Gallifrey One, 15-17 Feb 2019, Los Angeles(!): the world’s biggest and longest running Doctor Who convention, http://www.gallifreyone.com/

• Capital Sci-Fi Con, 15-17 Feb 2019, Edinburgh: cosplay and scifi culture, http://www.capitalscificon.co.uk/

• London Anime & Gaming Convention, 15-17 Feb 2019: lot of Japanese cosplay and so forth, http://winter.londonanimecon.com/

• SF Ball 25, 8-10 Feb 2019, Southampton: proper big scifi event, albeit mainly TV and film, etc. https://scifiball.com/