The Brits love a festival it would seem. Hardly a month goes past without another one being spawned. Here’s a better list than you’ll find most places for UK scifi, fantasy and horror conventions and festivals.
- Sci-Fi Weekender 10, 28-31 March 2019, Wales: formerly known as the ‘SFX Weekender’, http://www.scifiweekender.com/
- Walker Stalker Con, 30-31 March 2019, London: a horror con, with stars from The Walking Dead, etc, http://walkerstalkercon.com/london/
- Liverpool Comic Con, 9-10 March 2019: https://www.facebook.com/comicconliverpool/
- Gallifrey One, 15-17 Feb 2019, Los Angeles(!): the world’s biggest and longest running Doctor Who convention, http://www.gallifreyone.com/
- For The Love Of Sci-Fi, 1-2 Dec 2018, Manchester: TV and film, props, cosplay and guests like Dirk Benedict (Starbuck in Battlestar G, Face in the A-team) and Michael Biehn (Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss), http://fortheloveofsci-fi.com/
- Dragonmeet, 1 Dec 2018, London: UK’s biggest fantasy gaming convention, http://www.dragonmeet.co.uk/
- Pandorica 2018, 16-28 Nov 2018, Bristol: Doctor Who convention, https://www.fantomevents.co.uk/pandorica-2018/
- Novacon 48, 9-11 Nov 2018, Nottingham: the UK’s longest-established regional (operating out of Birmingham) science fiction convention, held every autumn since 1971; has a definite focus on scifi literature rather than anything else, http://www.novacon.org.uk/n48/
- World Fantasy Con, 1-4 Nov 2018, Baltimore, USA: http://www.worldfantasy.org/
- Weekend of the Dead, 3-4 Nov 2018, Manchester: guests from various zombie films, cosplay, etc, http://www.weekendofthedead.co.uk/
- Bram Stoker International Film Festival, 26-29 Oct 2018, Whitby: http://www.bramstokerfestival.com/
- Horror Con Birmingham, 27-28 Oct 2018: guests from tv and film, writers, etc, http://www.horrorfan.co.uk/
- BristolCon, 27 Oct 2018, Bristol: a one-day convention organized by the Bristol Fantasy and SF Society, http://www.bristolcon.org/
- Destination Star Trek, 19-21 Oct 2018, Birmingham: what it says on the tin, and Sulu will be attending! http://destinationstartrek.com/
- FantasyCon, 19-21 Oct 2018, Chester: UK national fantasy convention, run by the British Fantasy Society, https://twitter.com/fantasycon2017?lang=en
- Octocon, 19-21 Oct 2018, Dublin: Irish national scifi convention (with a bit of horror and fantasy too), http://2018.octocon.com/
- The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, 12-14 Oct 2018, Kendal: a festival for comicbook art, basically, http://www.comicartfestival.com
- Dimension Jump, 5-7 Oct 2018, Nottingham: official Red Dwarf convention, http://www.dimensionjump.info/
- GRIMMFEST, 4-7 Oct 2018, Manchester: film festival which has been showing horror, cult, fantastical and scifi movies since 2009, http://grimmfest.com/grimmupnorth/
- Nor-Con, 29-30 Sept 2018, Norwich: scifi convention for Star Wars, Batman, Doctor Who, Star Trek and so on, http://www.nor-con.co.uk/
- MCM Scotland Comic Con, 22-23 Sept 2018, Glasgow: http://www.mcmcomiccon.com/scotland/
- Preston Comic Con, 22 Sept 2018: taking place in Preston Guild Hall, http://www.prestoncomiccon.co.uk
- Oxonmoot, 20-23 Sept 2018, Oxford: run by The Tolkien Society, for fans, scholars and students, https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/oxonmoot-2018/
- Film and Comic Con Exeter, 15-16 Sept 2018: http://filmandcomicconexeter.com/
- CovCon – Coventry Comic Con, 15 Sept 2018: comics, cosplay, TV&film, gaming and merchandise, http://www.coventrycomiccon.uk
- Cosplay Culture, 9 Sept 2018, Burton upon Trent: Burton upon Trent’s premier event for cosplay, geekdom and Asian culture, https://www.cosplayculture.net/
- Festival Number 6, 6-9 Sept 2018, Portmeirion: a music, arts and culture festival in the home of The Prisoner, surely one of the coolest and most surreal of festivals, http://www.festivalnumber6.com/
- FantastiCon, 1-2 Sept 2018, Hull: SF/Gaming/VR/RPG/Authors/Readings/Cosplay/Stage shows/Live Music/Holographic tech… they’ve got it all, http://fantasticon.co.uk/
- Dragon Con, 30 Aug-3 Sept, 2018, Atlanta, USA: pretty much the world’s biggest fantasy and scifi convention, http://www.dragoncon.org/
- Stars of Time, 26-27 Aug 2018, Weston-super-Mare: the South West’s premier scifi and entertainment show, http://www.starsoftime.co.uk/
- The Asylum, 24-27 Aug 2018, Lincoln: the world’s largest and longest running STEAMPUNK festival, http://www.asylumsteampunk.co.uk/
- J-Con, 24-25 Aug 2018, Derby: the largest cosplay convention in the East Midlands, running for ever ten years, http://www.j-con.co.uk/
- FrightFest, 23-27 Aug 2018, London: horror film festival basically, http://www.frightfest.co.uk/filmsevents.
- Digi-Con, 25-27 Aug 2018, Alfreton: https://www.digi-fest.co.uk/
- TitanCon, 24-26 Aug 2018, Belfast: scifi and fantasy literature and TV, with a Game of Thrones focus recently, http://www.titancon.com/
- World Scifi Con 76, 16-20 Aug 2018, San Jose, USA: http://www.worldcon.org/
- Film and Comic Con Glasgow, 11-12 Aug 2018, Glasgow: http://filmandcomicconglasgow.com/
- Nine Worlds, 10-12 Aug 2018, London: gaming, film, cosplay, fandom, literature, science and geek culture, http://nineworlds.co.uk/
- Discworld Convention, 3-6 Aug 2018, Warwick: all things from the Pratchett universe, https://2018.dwcon.org/
- London Film and Comic Con, 27-29 July 2018: with guests from scifi/fantasy movies and TV series, http://www.londonfilmandcomiccon.com/
- MCM Manchester Comic Con, 28-29 July 2018: one of the biggest comic cons in the north-west, http://www.mcmcomiccon.com/manchester/
- EuroCon Nemo 2018, 19-22 July 2018, Amiens, France: the annual scifi convention run by the European Science Fiction Society, held in a different European country every year, http://eurocon2018.yolasite.com/
- EDGE-LIT 7, 14 July 2018, Derby: scifi, fantasy and horror writing, http://www.scififantasynetwork.com/edge-lit-7-host-tenth-running-gemmell-awards/
- Galaxy, A Sci-Fi Celebration, 22-24 June, Jersey: actors from sci-fi tv and film, along with merchandise and events, www.prestigeeventsjersey.com
- Utopia, 8-10 June 2018, Oxfordshire: big Doctor Who event, http://www.fantomfilms.co.uk/events/Utopia2017/utopia.htm
- Yorkshire Cosplay Con, 2-3 June 2018, Sheffield: pretty much as it says, http://www.yorkshirecosplayconvention.co.uk/
- Heroes & Villans Fan Fest, 26-27 May 2018, London: with guest appearances of stars from the Arrow and Gotham tv series, etc, http://heroesfanfest.com/london/
- Satellite 6, 25-27 May 2018, Glasgow: scifi convention with a ‘hard’ scientific focus, https://six.satellitex.org.uk/
- MCM London Comic Con, 25-27 May 2018: one of the biggest comic cons, http://www.mcmcomiccon.com/london/
- HorrorCon UK, 19-20 May 2018, Sheffield: with guests and vendors, http://horrorconventions.co.uk/
- Folkestone Film, TV and Comic Con, 12-13 May 2018, Folkestone: Star Trek, Doctor Who, Star Wars, comicbooks, etc, https://www.facebook.com/PlanetFolkestone/
- EM-Con, 5-6 May 2018, Notts: 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, 27-29 April 2018: 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/
- GifCon, 26-27 April 2018, University of Glasgow: Glasgow International Fantasy Conversations, an exploration of academic themes in fantasy literature, https://gifcon.org/home/
- Sci-Fi Scarborough, 21-22 Apr 2018: going from strength to strength, www.scifiscarborough.co.uk
- Wales Comic Con, 21-22 Apr 2018, Wrexham: a major convention, with cosplay and geek culture celebs (Buffy, etc), http://walescomiccon.com/
- Stoke CON Trent, 15 April 2018: guests from scifi tv series, including Doctor Who, http://stokecontrent.co.uk/
- Follycon – EasterCon, 30 March-2 Apr 2018: 69th British National Science Fiction Convention, https://www.follycon.org.uk/
- LarpCon, 2-4 March 2018, Leicester: the UK’s biggest ‘Live Action Role Playing’ convention, http://larpcon.co.uk/
- London Anime & Gaming Convention, 16-18 Feb 2018: lot of Japanese cosplay and so forth, http://winter.londonanimecon.com/
- Capital Sci-Fi Con, 3-4 Feb 2018, Edinburgh: cosplay and scifi culture, http://www.capitalscificon.co.uk/
- SF Ball 24, 2-4 Feb 2018, Southampton: proper big scifi event, albeit mainly TV and film, etc. http://www.sfball.com/
- Whitby SciFi & Comic Con, 18 November 2017, Whitby Pavilion: tables, signers, photo opps and costumers, http://www.whitbyscifiandcomiccon.com/index.php
- GollanczFest, 4-5 Nov 2017, London: range of online and face-to-face events with the Gollancz stable of scifi and fantasy authors: http://www.foyles.co.uk/Gollancz-Festival
- Glasgow Horror Festival 2017, 4-5 Nov 2017, Glasgow: films, games, quiz, etc, https://popcornhorror.yapsody.com/event/index/117871/glasgow-horror-festival-2017
- Monster Comic Con, 7-8 Oct 2017, Doncaster: https://www.monstercomiccon.co.uk/
- Global release of The Book of Dragons, 29 Sept 2017: A J Daltons new book!
- Scifi Wales, 2 Sept 2017, Llandudno: mainly a tv and film focus, http://www.scifiwales.uk/
- London Super Comic Con, 25-27 Aug 2017, London: what it says on the tin, http://www.londonsupercomicconvention.com/
- Triple Six Horror Festival, 27-28 May 2017, Manchester: horror film festival! http://triplesixfest.com/
- Global release of The Book of Angels, 23 Sept 2016, Scarborough: A J Daltons new book!
- Global release of The Book of Orm, 1 April 2015: A J Dalton’s new book!
If you run or know of a convention you’d like included in the above list, just give me a shout.
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Hello! Sorry to be a pain, but BristolCon is organised by the Bristol Fantasy and SF society, not the British one. We don’t like to give ourselves airs down in the West Country!
Thanks, hierath. Now amended. No offence. Keep your ‘airs’ on. Poor joke, sorry, too much caffeine. Adam
Hehehe, cheers for that!
Microcon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcon
Longest running convention in the South West.
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Hi! Could you update your entry for BristolCon? The 2013 event takes place on 26th October at the DoubleTree, Bristol City Centre. Many thanks.
A convention in swansea, well just outside
https://www.facebook.com/events/1428004037443044/
just heard about it
Wow an up to date list 😀 this is what I like to see.
I’m Sam, captain of StarBase Leicester, and every year we get together with a local cinema called Phoenix Square to run ScifiFest. A movie festival perfect for geeks! with a quiz, gaming, book launch, and even a nerf shooting gallery and a 3d printing display with a chance to print stuff!
http://www.phoenix.org.uk/index.php?cms_id=615
this is the event May 10th, wish I’d found you sooner… Keep up the good work
Sam
Hello, Scardiff will be hosting their 2nd horror convention at Cardiff masonic hall in October.http://scardiff.co.uk/.
A slightly eclectic convention in Cambridge is happening in a few days’ time including some fantasy writing and storytelling, might just be worth adding it:
http://www.exilian.co.uk/ExiliCon
One off event on the 25th October…
Greenwich Time Symposium: Objects in Time
A day of enquiry, tinkering and questioning, examining the facts and fiction behind everyday objects.
With panel discussion, talk on writing by sci-fi novelist Robert Adam, and you can get involved in a clockwork workshop with steampunk artist Jemma Hewitt.
25 October
12.00-16.00
£15 / £10 members and concessions
http://bit.ly/NMMobjctstime
Hiya I was wondering if you would add Whitby Sci Fi & Comic Con to your list. It is on the 28th of November 2015 at Whitby pavilion and will be bringing tables, signers, photo opps and a great environment for costumers of all levels to get together. It’s going to be a fun day raising money for a great cause, early detection of cancer.
Thank you.
Hi was wondering if you could add our event to your list for 2016, its INVICTACON and takes place on the 7th August 2016 at the Bridgewood Manor Hotel, Rochester Kent. We will have traders, signers and gaming tables as well as props and displays
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Well I am all but booked for the Fantasy Con by the sea in Scarborough. I am particularly looking forward to seeing Scott Lynch. It’s great that there are so many conventions taking place in the UK, we are really flying the flag, it’s just a shame there aren’t many up here in the North East. Joe Abercrombie is making his way up to Waterstone’s in Newcastle in April (27th) so I suppose that’s something.
PS I’ll be blogging the evening with him as well if anyone is interested 🙂
Cheers
DC
Fantasy Con in Scarborough – a 50/50 chance I’ll be there. The issue is the cost of the whole thing – day tickets, hotel, travel, food, beer… you can easily part with 500 quid. And writers really aren’t the richest of people. In fact, they are paid less in real terms now than they ever have been in history. I did a great panel debate at the Fantasy Con last year (on religions in fantasy), but not sure about this year. Oh well.
Hi, is it possible to add Flash Festival? It’s a new event in Broadstairs that will have author talks, art exhibitions, cosplay, gaming expo and more:)
Sure thing, Katrina!
Hi,
Could you add Monster Comic Con? Doncaster Racecourse, October 7th and 8th 2017 (we have also secured dates for 2018 – October 6th and 7th 2018).
This is a broad ranging convention including all the elements of a comic con you may expect, plus a few extras. Our website is http://www.monstercomiccon.co.uk.
I am not sure what information you may require, but please contact me and I will provide any info you may wish.
Thanks
Hi there. Great list!
Would you maybe add Glasgow Horror Festival? It’s a two day event taking place this November in Glasgow – with indie films, art/merch market, horror theater, industry panels etc.
https://popcornhorror.yapsody.com/event/index/117871/glasgow-horror-festival-2017
Thanks 🙂
Hiya, would you mind adding our new cosplay event to your list, we are raising money for the Children with Cancer UK Charity with a one day event in 2018.
https://www.cosplayculture.net/
Welcome to Burton upon Trent’s premier Cosplay, Geek and Asian Culture event.
Cosplay Culture is a great way to meet new friends into eastern and western culture, including anime, cosplay, Sci-fi, food and music.
82p of every £1 raised at Cosplay Culture goes towards Children with Cancer UK to help the fight.
Hi, could you attach JCon to this, Derby’s anime convention that’s 11 years old this year? Runs 24th & 25th August. http://Www.j-con.co.uk thanks!
Hello my Name is Michael Lopes and we run various events please could you add the following please:
Galaxy – A Sci-Fi Celebration, 22nd,23rd & 24th June 2018 – Jersey, Channel Islands UK: Live Shows (with Boogie Storm), Clasic Sci-Fi Movies on the big Screen, Exhibition Centre & Special Guests form original Star Wars movies (Tim Rose, Paul Blake, Femi Taylor & Richard Oldfield) Supporting a charity at each event – why not come to what people say is the sunniest place in Britain and have a good time at one of our unique events! http://www.prestigeeventsjersey.com & follow us on Facebook @prestigeeventsjersey
Many Thanks
Hi AJ,
Please could you add our event? Thanks!
Covcon – Coventry Comic Con – Saturday 15th September – Back for a second year after a successful first show. TV/Film guests, comic artists, Live stage show and cosplay masquerade, displays, traders and new zones for 2018 – Comic, Gaming, Interactive and Cosplay! Find us at http://www.coventrycomiccon.uk. This year we are supporting the Big Cat Sanctuary charity.