List of fan conventions by date of founding
The list of modern fan conventions for various genres of entertainment extends to the first conventions held in the 1930s.
Some fan historians claim that the 1936 Philadelphia Science Fiction Conference, a.k.a. Philcon, was the first science fiction convention ever held. Others, such as Fred Patten and Rob Hansen, make this claim for the January 1937 event in Leeds, England,[1] organized by the Leeds Science Fiction League, which was specifically organized as a conference, with a program and speakers. Out of this came the first incarnation of the British Science Fiction Association.
While a few conventions were created in various parts of the world within the period between 1935 and 1960, the number of convention establishments increased slightly in the 1960s and then increased dramatically in the 1970s, with many of the largest conventions in the modern era being established during the latter decade. Impetuses for further establishment of local fan conventions include:
- The return of superhero characters and franchises during the Silver Age of Comic Books (1956-1970)
- science fiction adaptations for television serials (e.g., Star Trek) in the 1960s-1970s
- the growth of role-playing (in the 1970s and 1980s) as a genre of tabletop, live-action and eventually video/computer gaming, which not only inspired roleplay of favorite characters in full-body costumes but also inspired existing franchises to adapt their themes for said methods of gaming
- the growth in home taping (starting with VHS in the late 1970s) of television broadcasts, including popular serials.
- the growth of computerized communication, including the Internet and Internet-dependent applications in the 1980s and 1990s.
1930s
[edit]1940s
[edit]1950s
[edit]- Disclave (1950–1997)
- Midwestcon (1950)
- Lunacon (1957)
1960s
[edit]- MileHiCon (1960)
- Nihon SF Taikai (1962)
- DeepSouthCon (1963)
- First Long Beach Science Fantasy Convention (1963)
- Second Long Beach Science Fantasy Convention (1964)
1965
[edit]- Academy Con[2]
- Detroit Triple Fan Fair[3][4]
- Lucca Comics & Games — at that point known as "Salone Internazionale del Comics"
- Marcon
1966
[edit]1967
[edit]1968
[edit]1969
[edit]1970s
[edit]1971
[edit]1972
[edit]- Chicago Comic-Con — at that point called "Nostalgia '72"[6]
- Eurocon
- Salón Internacional del Cómic del Principado de Asturias, Asturias, Spain (1972–2014)
1973
[edit]1974
[edit]1975
[edit]- Atlanta Fantasy Fair (1975–1995)
- Comiket, Tokyo, Japan
- Icon (Iowa)
- NASFIC
- SwanCon
- Unicon (1975–1989)
- World Fantasy Convention
1976
[edit]1977
[edit]- Archon
- CoastCon
- MidSouthCon
- Starfest
- Strip Turnhout Turnhout, Antwerp, Belgium — biennial show
- Wiscon
- OKON
1978
[edit]1979
[edit]- ArmadilloCon
- FantaCon, Albany, New York (1979–1990; 2013)
- NatCon (New Zealand)
- OryCon
- Shore Leave Towson/Hunt Valley, MD (1979-2019; 2022-2023); COVID Virtual (2020-2021) Lancaster, PA (2024)
1980s
[edit]1980
[edit]1981
[edit]1982
[edit]- BayCon
- Dallas Fantasy Fair (1982–1995)
- Heroes Convention
- I-CON (1982)
- Life, the Universe, & Everything
- Microcon
1983
[edit]- Comix Fair (1983–c. 1996) — Houston, TX
- SFeraKon
- SoonerCon
1984
[edit]- Con-Version
- Ohio Valley Filk Fest
- Polcon
- United Kingdom Comic Art Convention (UKCAC)
- Vulkon — at that point known as "Trekon"
1986
[edit]- Finncon
- Magnum Opus Con (1986–2001)
- Polaris
1987
[edit]1988
[edit]1989
[edit]1990s
[edit]1990
[edit]- Octocon
- Arisia
- Gallifrey One
- DemiCon
- CONduit
- MarsCon (Virginia)
- Visions (1990–1998)
- A-Kon
1991
[edit]1992
[edit]- CAN-CON
- CAPTION
- Convencion de Juegos de Mesa y Comics
- FedCon
- Diversicon
- Dimension Jump
- Stripdagen Haarlem
- World Horror Convention
1993
[edit]1994
[edit]1995
[edit]- Armageddon
- Fan Expo Canada — then known as the "Canadian National Comic Book Expo"
- Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)
1996
[edit]- Albacon
- Big Apple Convention — then known as "Halleluja Con"[12]
- Festival fantazie
- Jornadas de Cómic (Aviles, Spain)
1997
[edit]- Conestoga
- ShadowCon
- Wizard World Chicago — takes over Chicago Comicon
1998
[edit]1999
[edit]- Comic Festival — at that point known as "Comic 99"
- CONvergence
- EerieCon
- Festival Internacional de Quadrinhos (FIQ)
- Générations Star Wars et Science Fiction
- MarsCon (Minnesota)
- Star Wars Celebration
- WillyCon
- Pyrkon
2000s
[edit]2000
[edit]- Baltimore Comic-Con
- DeepCon
- Gatecon
- New York International Sci-Fi and Fantasy Creators Convention (2000–2002)
- Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (SPACE)
- Trinoc*coN (2000–2008)
- UnCommonCon (2000–2001)
2001
[edit]- Capclave
- Coco Bulles (2001–2009)
- ConGlomeration
- Vericon
2002
[edit]- Adventure Con
- ConCarolinas
- ConDFW
- Dallas Comic Con
- East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (ECBACC)
- MAGFest
- MoCCA Festival
- Phoenix Comicon
- Supanova Pop Culture Expo, Australia
2003
[edit]- Anime Boston
- Anime Friends
- Emerald City ComiCon
- TCAF
- Toronto Comic Con
- Monster-Mania Con
- ConBust Smith College Science Fiction/Fantasy Society Convention
2004
[edit]- ApolloCon
- Comic Expo (Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo)
- Comics Salon (2004–2007) — Slovakia
- FenCon
- Itzacon
- Linucon (2004–2005)
- London Film and Comic Con
- Stumptown Comics Fest
2005
[edit]2006
[edit]- BabelCon
- Central Canada Comic Con — at this point known as the "Manitoba Comic Con"
- Lille Comics Festival
- Montreal Comic-con
- New York Comic Con
- RavenCon
2007
[edit]2008
[edit]- Comicpalooza
- Comics Fest India
- Hi-Ex
- SpoCon
- Gamescom (formerly Games Convention)
2009
[edit]- Brasil Game Show (BGS, formerly Rio Game Show (RGS))
- The North American Discworld Convention
2010s
[edit]2010
[edit]- Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2)
- SFContario (2010)
- Pensacola Comic Convention (2010)
2011
[edit]- BronyCon
- Comikaze Expo
- Treklanta (formerly TrekTrax Atlanta)
2012
[edit]- Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE)
- Denver Comic Con (DCC)
- East Coast Comicon — then known as the "Asbury Park Comicon"
- London Super Comic Convention
- Rhode Island Comic Con
- Wildcat Comic Con
2013
[edit]2014
[edit]2015
[edit]- Asia Pop Comic Convention
- Cartoon Crossroads Columbus
- Gamercom
- For the Love of Sci-Fi[13]
- Rupaul's Drag Con
2016
[edit]2017
[edit]2018
[edit]- Comic Con Africa[14]
- Comic Con Liverpool[15]
- Comic Con Scotland[16]
- Empire City Con: A Steven Universe Fan Convention[17]
- For the Love of Horror[18]
References
[edit]- ^ Glyer, Mike (1987). "THE FIRST EVER CONVENTION". The Story So Far. Worldcon. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- ^ Thomas, Roy (2006). "Splitting the Atom: More Than You Could Possibly Want to Know About the Creation of the Silver Age Mighty Mite!". The Alter Ego Collection. Vol. 1. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 99.
- ^ Gabilliet, Jean-Paul (2010). Of Comics and Men: A Cultural History of American Comic Books. University of Mississippi Press. p. 265.
- ^ Nolte, Robert (May 9, 1965). "Latest Collecting Fad: Funny Thing Happened to Comics --They're Arty". Chicago Tribune. p. n1.
- ^ Thompson, Maggie (May 1967). "Newfangles #2". Newfangles. No. 2. p. 2. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- ^ a b c Beerbohm, Robert (June 24, 2010). "Update to Comics Dealer Extraordinaire Robert Beerbohm: In His Own Words". Comic-Convention Memories. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- ^ Skinn, Dez. "Early days of UK comics conventions and marts," Archived 2012-02-01 at the Wayback Machine DezSkinn.com. Accessed Mar. 3, 2013.
- ^ Thompson, Maggie (April 1968). "Newfangles #9". Newfangles. No. 9. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- ^ Groth, Gary (October 1, 1982). "Editorial: Con Games". The Comics Journal. No. 76. pp. 4–6.
- ^ Comic-Con Souvenir Book #40 p.61 (2009).
- ^ Pinaha, Bob (January 1971). "Creation '71 No Turkey!". Comic Fandom Monthly. pp. 4–7.
- ^ "Newswatch: NYC Comics Convention Cancelled, Fans Irate". The Comics Journal. No. 185. March 1996. pp. 18–19.
- ^ "For the Love of Sci-Fi". Retrieved June 2, 2020.
- ^ "Comic Con Africa". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- ^ "Comic Con Liverpool". Retrieved June 2, 2020.
- ^ "Comic Con Scotland". Retrieved June 2, 2020.
- ^ "Empire City Con". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- ^ "For the Love of Horror". Retrieved June 2, 2020.
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