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
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
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.