After the holidays, many geeks and weebs waste no time gearing up for the winter convention season, and 2026 brings more mid-sized and major events than ever. Some haven’t appeared in past guides simply because space is limited and timing is everything, but this year’s lineup is bursting with energy. The season may not have officially kicked off yet, but there’s nothing like the warmth of community, cosplay creativity, and spirited celebrations to chase away the winter chill.
Across the Pacific Northwest, you’ll find furries, sci-fi diehards, tabletop adventurers, cryptid hunters, fantasy readers, and even the occasional xenomorph wandering the halls. While no alien invasion is expected, one cleverly named event leans right into the folklore. Presented here is a guide to everything nerdy from January through April, organised by date to help you plan, budget, and maybe even squeeze in the time to finish that costume once Santa’s safely packed away.
OrcaCon
Jan 10–12, 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport
18740 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA
OrcaCon is a tabletop-gaming con that puts community first, with spaces for board games, RPGs, miniatures, and more. The vibe is inclusive, with a strong emphasis on accessibility and diversity. Panels and playtesting opportunities give independent designers and hobbyists room to shine, making it a welcoming space for both casual players and dedicated strategists.
Guests Announced So Far: None formally listed yet for 2026.
Fan Expo Portland
Jan 17–19, 2026
Oregon Convention Center
777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Portland, OR
Fan Expo Portland brings together comics, anime, sci-fi, horror, gaming, and pop culture under one roof. It balances big-name celebrity guests with a strong local creative presence, and the cosplay and vendor hall are always lively. The show carries that unmistakable Portland eccentricity, giving it a friendly, unpredictable energy.
Guests Announced So Far: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, and the voice cast of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films (Kenn Scott, Brian Tochi, Ernie Reyes Jr., Robbie Rist, Judith Hoag, and Francois Chau).
sQuatch Fest + Galactic Fest
Jan 30–31, 2026
Cowlitz County Event Center
1900 7th Ave, Longview, WA
sQuatch Fest is the Pacific Northwest’s premier Sasquatch-focused event, bringing together researchers, enthusiasts, and vendors for talks, screenings, and folklore-fuelled fun. For 2026, it joins forces with Galactic Fest, expanding the scope to UFOs, aliens, and the unexplained. It’s all-ages, with a Kids Cave and the popular Brew Mountain (beer and wine tent) for adult attendees.
Guests Announced So Far: Thom Reed (UFO incident witness), Kathy Moskowitz Strain (Sasquatch researcher/Forest Service archaeologist), and Tobe Johnson & Alicia Phifer (Olympic Strange Days).
Fan Expo Vancouver
Feb 14–16, 2026
Vancouver Convention Centre
1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC
Fan Expo Vancouver is the region’s largest pop-culture showcase, featuring a huge vendor hall, cosplay, panels, and celebrity guests. It covers everything from comics and anime to sci-fi and gaming, making it a one-stop celebration of geek culture. The energy is electric and the crowd is dedicated, so whether you’re there to meet creators, snap photos, or shop for rare finds, you’ll never run out of things to do. It’s a flagship event where fandoms collide, and where big-name stars rub elbows with local talent and superfans.
Guests Announced So Far: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, James Phelps and Oliver Phelps, Ron Perlman, Tom Welling, James Marsters, Kristin Kreuk, and the cast of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films (Kenn Scott, Brian Tochi, Ernie Reyes Jr., Robbie Rist, Judith Hoag, and Francois Chau).
RadCon
Feb 14–16, 2026
Red Lion Hotel Pasco
2525 N 20th Ave, Pasco, WA
RadCon is a long-standing science-fiction and fantasy convention serving Washington’s Tri-Cities region, with a strong literary backbone and a broad spread of fandom programming. It brings together authors, panellists, costumers, gamers, and fan groups for a weekend that feels both community-driven and substantial in scope. With a vendor hall, art show, workshops, and multi-track panels exploring genre fiction, pop culture, and speculative ideas, RadCon comfortably sits in the mid-sized tier of PNW conventions.
Guests Announced So Far: None formally listed yet for 2026.
Tsukino-Con
Feb 20–22, 2026
MacLaurin Building, University of Victoria
3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC
Tsukino-Con celebrates all things anime and manga in a cozy, laid-back campus setting on Vancouver Island. It leans into nostalgia, kawaii culture, and the joy of shared fandom, with panels, screenings, and community events. Whether you’re an anime diehard or a more casual fan, Tsukino-Con gives you a fun, relaxing weekend to geek out with fellow otaku. It’s small enough to feel intimate but big enough to host great programming, perfect for connecting or discovering something new.
Guests Announced So Far: None formally announced for 2026, but the convention confirms panellist and performer submissions are now open.
Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC)
Mar 5–8, 2026
Seattle Convention Center, Seattle, WA
ECCC is the Pacific Northwest’s flagship comic and pop culture convention, drawing creators, celebrities, and fans from around the world. The four-day event features expansive programming, cosplay showcases, and a sprawling show floor packed with exclusive finds.
Guests Announced So Far: The voice cast of Regular Show, the cast of Critical Role, and David Tennant are confirmed for ECCC 2026.
VancouFur
Mar 5–8, 2026
Richmond Conference Centre
7191 Westminster Hwy, Richmond, BC
VancouFur is a welcoming, fur-forward con that brings together fans of anthropomorphic art, storytelling, and costuming. With fursuit parades, meetups, and artist alley, it’s a haven for both experienced furries and curious newcomers. The programming often includes panels on character design, voice acting, and inclusivity, making it as thoughtful as it is fun. If you’re looking to celebrate all things furry, from tail-wagging cuteness to deep community bonds, VancouFur is the kind of joyful, creative space you’ll want to return to year after year.
Guests Announced So Far: Guest of Honour: Anny the Raindragon. Community Spotlight: MageMech.
Terminal City Tabletop Convention
Mar 13–15, 2026
Vancouver Convention Centre East
1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC
TCTC is a tabletop gaming lover’s dream in downtown Vancouver, combining board games, RPGs, vendor tables, and designer showcases. This con is heavily community-driven, focused on providing a space for both casual players and serious hobbyists to connect and play. With open game spaces, scheduled tournaments, and playtesting, it feels like a weekend-long hangout with your gamer tribe. Whether you’re into strategy games, role-playing campaigns, or just want to try something new, TCTC offers a thoughtful, fun, and welcoming tabletop experience.
Guests Announced So Far: The focus is on game designers and local creators via the “Proto-Alley,” rather than celebrity guests.
GameStorm
Mar 19–22, 2026
Holiday Inn Portland – Columbia
909 N Hayden Island Dr
Portland, OR
GameStorm is a fan-run tabletop gaming convention in Portland that brings together RPGs, board games, LARP, and game design in a grassroots, collaborative space. The con offers panels, live playtesting, and a vast open library of games for attendees to explore. It’s very much built by fans for fans, and its non-profit structure reflects that ethos, everyone’s there to share and have fun rather than compete. If you’re passionate about gaming in its many forms and want a community-first, low-pressure con experience, GameStorm is a PNW highlight.
Guests Announced So Far: None formally announced; the focus is on community gaming.
Island FanCon
June 5–7, 2026
City Centre Park
1089 Langford Parkway
Langford, BC
Island FanCon is a pocket-sized pop-culture convention on southern Vancouver Island, bringing together fans of comics, anime, gaming, and more in a friendly, accessible setting. It’s community-oriented and very much fan-run, with panels, cosplay, and local creators showcasing their work. Because it’s smaller, there’s a real sense of connection, you’ll probably run into the same enthusiastic people all weekend and have meaningful conversations. If you’re looking for a more intimate con experience without the usual overwhelm, Island FanCon is a hidden gem in the PNW.
Guests Announced So Far: Local artists, comic creators, and cosplay guests. For the latest updates, please visit their official website.
Norwescon
Apr 2–5, 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport
18740 International Blvd, SeaTac, WA
Norwescon (NWC48) is the Pacific Northwest’s premier and one of the largest regional science-fiction and fantasy conventions in the United States, maintaining a strong literary focus. It offers hundreds of hours of panel programming, special events like the Masquerade and the Philip K. Dick Award Ceremony. The confirmed theme is “Illuminating the Way.”
Guests Announced So Far:
- Writer Guest of Honor: Ursula Vernon (aka T. Kingfisher)
- Artist Guest of Honor: Geneva Bowers
- Science Guest of Honor: Summer Ash
- Spotlight Publisher: Orbit (represented by Bradley Englert)
- Special Guest of Honor: Dutch Bihary
Sakura-Con
Apr 3–5, 2026
Seattle Convention Center,
705 Pike St, Seattle, WA
Sakura-Con is the PNW’s signature anime convention, overflowing with cosplay, Japanese pop culture, panels, and screenings. It’s one of the largest anime events in the region, and its energy reflects a deep love for anime, manga, and everything kawaii. Fans come for the character meetups, fan-art, and community, and stay for the dance parties and late-night chats. Sakura-Con feels like the heart of anime culture in the Pacific Northwest.
Guests Announced So Far: In addition to a variety of American voice over artists, there is Hiroshi Nagahama and BLUE ENCOUNT. Guest announcements are expected to drop soon.
SquatchCon
Apr 10–13, 2026
Vern Burton Community Center
308 E 4th St, Port Angeles, WA
SquatchCon is a four-day convention that fuses comic-arts, cosplay, gaming, and Sasquatch lore in a uniquely PNW way. There are over 50 local artists in the alley, gaming rooms, panels, workshops, and even believer meetups for cryptid enthusiasts. The Sasquatch motif isn’t just a gimmick, it’s integrated into the spirit of the con, serving as a muse that connects nature, myth, and creativity. If you’re drawn to forest magic, cryptids, or just having a laid-back but spirited fan weekend, SquatchCon is a cozy retreat with a wild twist.
Guests Announced So Far: The convention focuses on local and indie creators.
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