EDIT UPDATE: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, conventions are cancelled for the foreseeable future. Check with each con to see their policies on everything from refunds to whether they’re taking bookings for future events.
Below is a list of science fiction and fantasy conventions running in the UK and Ireland in 2020, as well as some other related ones (eg horror). Conventions are a great place to meet other SFF fans and writers, and to keep up to date with what’s current in the genre.
I’ve highlighted a number in red because they are what I consider the backbone of the SFF convention calendar. For writers, they are also great places to see panel discussions on writing in this genre. In particular, I recommend Eastercon (10-13 April) because it is huge and covers all aspects of science fiction and fantasy.
For writers, I also recommend EDGE-Lit in Derby on 11-12 July. This is in fact a convention just for SFF writers, and this year it’s taking place over 2 days (rather than 1 day) for the first time.
- Novacon 50, SF convention. Great for writers. 13-15 November, Mercure Nottingham Sherwood Hotel, Nottingham. http://www.novacon.org.uk/n50/
- Whitby Goth Weekend, 30 Oct-1 Nov 2020: it all goes on in Whitby. Why? Cos that’s where Bram Stoker wrote Dracula, where much of the novel is set, and where the dark lord arrived in the UK to boot, http://www.whitbygothweekend.co.uk/
- Octocon 2020 National Irish Science Fiction Convention, 9-11 October 2020, Crowne Plaza Dublin – Blanchardstown, Ireland, https://2020.octocon.com/
- The Surrey Steampunk Convivial – Fall, Epsom, Surrey, UK, 10-11 Oct 2020, http://bumpandthumper.wixsite.com/steampunkconvivials
- Halifax Steampunk Weekend, Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK, 3-4 Oct 2020, https://www.leedssteampunkmarket.co.uk/
- CovCon – Coventry Comic Con, 3 Oct 2020: comics, cosplay, TV&film, gaming and merchandise, http://www.coventrycomiccon.uk
- Nor-Con, 26-27 Sept 2020, Norwich: scifi convention for Star Wars, Batman, Doctor Who, Star Trek and so on, http://www.nor-con.co.uk/
- J-Con, 26 Sept 2020, Derby: the largest cosplay convention in the East Midlands, running for ever ten years, http://www.j-con.co.uk/
- FantasyCon 2020, The convention of the British Fantasy Society. Great for writers. Holloway, London, 25-27 September 2020, https://www.fantasycon.org/
- Tolkien Oxonmoot 2020, 3-6 Sept 2020, Oxford: run by The Tolkien Society, for fans, scholars and students, https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2020/
- FrightFest, 27-31 Aug 2020, London: horror film festival basically, http://www.frightfest.co.uk/filmsevents.
- The Asylum, 28-31 Aug 2020, Lincoln: the world’s largest and longest running STEAMPUNK festival, http://www.asylumsteampunk.co.uk/
- TitanCon, 28-30 Aug 2020, Belfast: scifi and fantasy literature and TV, with a Game of Thrones focus recently, http://www.titancon.com/
- FantastiCon, 15-16 Aug 2020, 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, 15-16 Aug 2020, Glasgow: http://filmandcomicconglasgow.com/
- International Discworld Convention, Birmingham, UK, 7-10 Aug 2020: all things Pratchett!, https://2020.dwcon.org/
- The Surrey Steampunk Convivial – Summer, Epsom, Surrey, UK, 25-26 July 2020, http://bumpandthumper.wixsite.com/steampunkconvivials
- London Film and Comic Con, 24-26 July 2020: with guests from scifi/fantasy movies and TV series, http://www.londonfilmandcomiccon.com/
- St Albans Comic-Con, 19 July 2020, St Albans: stalls, cosplay, stars from TV and film, https://www.facebook.com/constalbans/
- EDGE-LIT 9, 11-12 July 2020, Derby: scifi, fantasy and horror writing. For writers. https://www.derbyquad.co.uk/whats-on/events/edge-lit-9
- Leeds Steampunk Market, Leeds, West Yorkshire, 4-5 July 2020, https://www.leedssteampunkmarket.co.uk/middleton-railway.php
- Utopia 2020, 12-14 June 2020, Bedfordshire: https://www.fantomevents.co.uk/utopia-2020/
- Cymera, 5-7 June 2020, Edinburgh: Scotland’s festival of science fiction, fantasy and horror writing, https://www.cymerafestival.co.uk/
- Satellite 7, 22-24 May 2020, Glasgow: scifi convention with a ‘hard’ scientific focus, https://seven.satellitex.org.uk/
- MCM London Comic Con, London, 29-31 May 2020, https://www.mcmcomiccon.com/london-may-2020
- Dimension Jump XXI, 29-31 May 2020, Nottingham: official Red Dwarf convention, http://www.dimensionjump.info/
- HorrorCon UK, 16-17 May 2020, Sheffield: with guests and vendors https://www.horrorconuk.com/
- Leeds Steampunk Market – Leeds Industrial Museum, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK, 2-3 May 2020, https://www.leedssteampunkmarket.co.uk/
- Portsmouth Comic Con, 2-3 May 2020, https://portsmouthcomiccon.com/
- EM-Con Nottingham, 2-3 May 2020: the East Midlands scifi and fantasy convention: the focus is mainly TV and film, mind you, http://www.em-con.co.uk/
- Whitby Goth Weekend, 24-26 Apr 2020: it all goes on in Whitby. Why? Cos that’s where Bram Stoker wrote Dracula, where much of the novel is set, and where the dark lord arrived in the UK to boot, http://www.whitbygothweekend.co.uk/
- SFW XI, 23-26 Apr 2020, Sheffield: also known as the ‘Sci Fi Weekender’, http://www.scifiweekender.com/
- Concentric, EasterCon, 10-13 April 2020, Birmingham: the UK’s national sci-fi and fantasy convention, run in association with the BSFA. Great for writers. https://www.concentric2020.uk/
- Sci-Fi Scarborough, 4-5 April 2020: going from strength to strength, www.scifiscarborough.co.uk
- Leicester Horror Con, 28 March 2020: stalls, guests, talks and screenings: https://www.facebook.com/LeicesterHorrorCon/
- MCM Birmingham Comic Con, Birmingham, UK, 21-22 Mar 2020, https://www.mcmcomiccon.com/birmingham-march-2020
- Threshold Fantasy Conference, 12-13 March 2020, York University: academic conference about the genre! https://fantasythreshold2020.home.blog/
- Leeds Steampunk Market – Abbey House Museum, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK, 7-8 Mar 2020, https://www.leedssteampunkmarket.co.uk/abbey-house.php
- Liverpool Comic Con, 6-8 March 2020: https://www.facebook.com/comicconliverpool/
- Llamedos Discworld Holiday Camp 2020, 6-8 March 2020, Diplomat HotelLlanelli, https://llamedosholidaycamp.com/
- Valiant 2020, 7 March 2020, Sheffield: Doctor Who convention, https://www.fantomevents.co.uk/valiant-2019/
- FrightFest Glasgow, 5-7 March 2020: horror film festival basically, http://www.frightfest.co.uk/filmsevents.
- Weekend of the Dead, March 2020 (tbc), Manchester: guests from various zombie films, Europe’s biggest Romero convention, cosplay, etc, http://www.weekendofthedead.co.uk/
- LarpCon, 28 Feb-1 Mar 2020, Leicester: the UK’s biggest ‘Live Action Role Playing’ convention, http://larpcon.co.uk/
- Walker Stalker Con, 22-23 Feb 2020, London: a horror con, with stars from The Walking Dead, etc, http://walkerstalkercon.com/london/
- Heroes & Villans Fan Fest, 22-23 Feb 2020, London: with guest appearances of stars from the Arrow and Gotham tv series, etc, http://heroesfanfest.com/london/
- London Anime & Gaming Convention, 14-16 Feb 2020: lot of Japanese cosplay and so forth, http://winter.londonanimecon.com/
- Capital Sci-Fi Con, 14-16 Feb 2020, Edinburgh: cosplay and scifi culture, http://www.capitalscificon.co.uk/
- Whitby Steampunk Weekend, Whitby, North Yorkshire, UK, 8-9 Feb 2020, https://www.wswofficial.com/
- SF Ball 26, 7-9 Feb 2020, Southampton: proper big scifi event, albeit mainly TV and film, etc. https://scifiball.com/
Here are some others. They are the top international SFF conventions and I just thought I’d mention them so you know where/when they are:
- World Fantasy Convention, 29 Oct-1 Nov 2020, Salt Lake City, USA: http://www.worldfantasy.org/
- Futuricon – Eurocon 2020, 2-4 Oct 2020, Rijeka, Croatia: the all-Europe science fiction convention, in its 23rd year, https://futuricon.eu/
- Dragon Con, 3-7 Sept 2020, Atlanta, USA: pretty much the world’s biggest fantasy and scifi convention, http://www.dragoncon.org/
- CoNZealand 2020 – the 78th Worldcon, 29 July-2 Aug 2020, Wellington, New Zealand: the world science fiction convention, https://conzealand.nz/
- Gallifrey One, 14-16 Feb 2020, Los Angeles(!): the world’s biggest and longest running Doctor Who convention, http://www.gallifreyone.com/
