Fuzzy’s Travelogue is the newsletter of LAcon V: The 84th World Science Fiction Convention. This is Volume Sixteen and the final issue in the series, August 2026 edition. A downloadable PDF version of the newsletter can be found here.
Issues of Fuzzy’s Travelogue will be distributed on a regular basis, to our members and on our website & social media, throughout the lead-up to our August 2026 convention. The full set of issues can be found here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.
Our on-site convention newsletter, the Fuzzy Pink Papers, will begin with the start of the convention itself; visit that page for more information. Also, you can read all about Fuzzy, LAcon V’s mascot, here.
At long last, we’ve reached the final issue (volume sixteen) of our pre-convention newsletter, Fuzzy’s Travelogue. It’s been a long road, getting from there to here (as the song goes), and we cannot wait to get the party started. We are also transitioning this week to our on-site newsletter (more details below), so this won’t be the last time you hear from us!
As always, you can find much of this information, as well as further updates, on our website lacon.org throughout this year’s Worldcon, and be sure to bookmark the Member Portal and Program Guide sites to guide you.
Welcome to LAcon V
Adventure awaits!, and now it’s here. It’s hard to believe that it’s been four years since we began this journey to what would become LAcon V: the seventh Worldcon in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, and the fifth to bear that name. It was a journey that began with our sponsoring organization, the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI) Inc., and a select group of bid committee members that came together as LA in 2026. You might remember our bid website, featuring the photo of a man atop a cliff looking at the infinite vastness of space above him… that’s how we all felt, staring into the abyss, knowing what we wanted to do, and where that journey might take us.
We spent 2023 and 2024 on the road, traveling to conventions across America and around the world, culminating in being awarded the convention at the 2024 Glasgow Worldcon. We knew the responsibility we were being granted, we had high hopes and big dreams. The convention we’ve managed to put together is something very special, something we are very proud of. But it hasn’t been an easy journey, and none of us could have predicted what would unfold from Glasgow to today. Because of this, many of you will not be joining us here in person; please believe me when I say that I understand, and support your decision… But we did some pivoting and we are excited to welcome you to our expanded Virtual Convention, or as we affectionately call it, our Robust Virtual Program so you can continue to be part of the fun!
That’s what Worldcon is for: bringing everyone together, no matter your social status, political ideology, ethnic background, gender identity, sexual orientation, or deeply-rooted faith. What we share is far bigger than what divides us. We passionately love stories of the future, journeys through space, travels into the past, civilizations documented as they rise and fall. We love swords and sorcery, supernatural frights and cyberpunk odysseys, and all those journeys to times long ago in galaxies far, far away. We play games, we attend science seminars, we read books, we watch films, we binge television series, we research new frontiers… and we do it both on our own, as well as with our families and friends. Most importantly, we strive to set examples for the generations to follow.
It may not be the LAcon V we originally anticipated, but what we’ve created is so much more and very much a product of love. I am so proud of the hundreds of volunteers who have come together to bring you a Worldcon. One we are excited for, a Worldcon that speaks to everyone. I hope you have a wonderful time!
Joyce Lloyd
Chair, LAcon V
LAcon V Locations and Hours of Operation
Although this is not a comprehensive list of everything happening at this year’s convention, this list covers many of our major functions, special events and much more. You can find our complete schedule on the LAcon V Program Guide, which is fully customizable with the various drop-down menus it provides.
Please note: ACC North is the Anaheim Convention Center North building, immediately to the north of the Hilton. Our events this year take place in the ACC North, the Anaheim Convention Center Arena, and the Hilton Hotel. There are no LAcon V functions in the Anaheim Marriott or in the large main building of the Anaheim Convention Center.
Fixed Functions
- Accessibility Services:
- ACC North: Plaza Level; Thursday-Sunday 10:00am to 6:00pm; Monday 10:00am to 1:00pm.
- Hilton: Pacific Ballroom B; Thursday-Sunday 10:00am to 2:00pm.
- Autographing: ACC North, Skybridge (Pedestrian Bridge); Thursday 12:00pm to 7:00pm; Friday 9:00am to 7:00pm; Saturday & Sunday 9:00am to 5:30pm; Monday 9:00am to 2:30pm.
- All autographs participants and times are in our Program Guide: select “Autographing” under the Format drop-down menu
- Children’s Program Room: Hilton, Palisades Room; Thursday 12:00pm to 6:00pm; Friday-Sunday 9:00am to 6:00pm; Monday 9:00am to 4:00pm.
- Con Suite (Hospitality Suite): Hilton, Suite 5505; Thursday-Sunday 10:00am to 10:00pm; Monday 10:00am to 3:00pm (please note that these hours supersede those published in the previous newsletter issue)
- Exhibits Hall, including: Dealers Room, Art Show, Artist Alley, Exhibits, Fan & Bid Tables, WSFS/Hugo Awards Displays, Site Selection, Guest of Honor Booths, Costume Displays: All located in the ACC North, 100 Level; Thursday 2:00pm to 6:00pm; Friday-Sunday 10:00am to 6:00pm; Monday 10:00am to 4:00pm.
- Art Demos: ACC North, Room 263C on the second floor throughout the convention, not on the first floor
- Art Show Reception: Meet the Artists!: ACC North, in the Art Show; Friday 7:00pm
- WSFS Site Selection Booth: For site selection voting, Thursday-Saturday 10:00am to 6:00pm; for conversions, Sunday 10:00am to 6:00pm, Monday 10:00am to 4:00pm.
- Drop-Off Child Care: Check in at LAcon V Information in the Hilton (Pacific Registration Desk) for location; times are Friday-Sunday, 3:00pm to 11:00pm.
- Information Desks:
- ACC North: Plaza Level; Thursday-Sunday, 9:00am to 9:00pm; Monday 9:00am to 1:00pm.
- Hilton: Pacific Registration Desk; Thursday-Sunday, 11:00am to 10:00pm; Monday 11:00am to 1:00pm.
- Masquerade Registration Desk: ACC North, Plaza Level; Wednesday 1:00pm to 5:00pm; Thursday-Friday 11:00am to 5:00pm.
- MakerSpace: ACC North, 264 ABC; Thursday 12:00pm to 6:00pm; Friday-Sunday 9:00am to 6:00pm; Monday 9:00am to 2:30pm.
- Press Office & Convention Newsletter: Hilton, Balboa A; Thursday-Sunday 10:00am to 6:00pm; Monday 10:00am to 2:00pm.
- Registration Desk: Hilton, Pacific Ballroom B; Wednesday (early badge pickup) 10:00am to 8:00pm; Thursday-Sunday 8:30am to 8:00pm; Monday 8:30am to 2:00pm.
- Program Participant Check-In: Wednesday 10:00am to 6:00pm; Thursday and Friday 8:30am to 6:00pm.
- Safer Spaces/Affinity Spaces: Hilton, Mezzanine 8/9/10/11/14 Rooms; all operate Thursday-Sunday 12:00pm to 1:00am; Monday 12:00pm to 1:00pm.
- Teen Lounge: Hilton, Oceanside Room; Thursday 12:00pm to 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday 10:00am to 6:00PM; Sunday 10:00am to 10:00pm; Monday 10:00am to 2:00pm.
- Teen Program: Hilton, San Clemente room all five days, see Program Guide for details
- Volunteers Desks:
- Hilton: Pacific Registration Desk; located here August 24-27 (during pre-con setup): Monday 2:00pm to 6:00pm; Tuesday 10:00am to 6:00pm; Wednesday 9:00am to 8:00pm; and Thursday 8:00am to 8:00pm.
- ACC North: Room 262C; located here August 28-31 during LAcon V: Friday-Sunday 9:00am-6:00pm; Monday 9:00am to 2:00pm
Major Events
- Opening Ceremony: ACC Arena, Thursday 7:30pm.
- Blood Drive for the SoCal Blood Bank: Front of the Hilton Hotel (look for the Bloodmobile), Friday 10:00am to 6:00pm
- Virtual CERN Tour, live from CERN Switzerland with ATLAS physicist Dr. Steven Goldfarb: ACC North, Room 255, Friday 9:00am
- LAcon V Film Festival: ACC North, Room 260AB, Thursday 11:00am to 10:00pm, Friday 11:00am to 10:00pm, Saturday 11:00am to 7:00pm, Sunday 11:00am to 7:00pm, Monday 11:00am to 2:30pm
- Film Festival Winners Block Screening: Monday 1:00pm to 2:30pm
- The 2026 LAcon V Masquerade: ACC Arena, Saturday 8:00pm.
- Masquerade Meetings for Contestants: mandatory pre-event, ACC Arena, Saturday 9:00am; post-event, Hilton, San Simeon A room, Sunday 12:00pm
- South Side Symphony: Anime Juke Jam, with Dr. Marcus Norris, Conducting: ACC Arena, Friday 8:00pm
- The 2026 Hugo Awards Ceremony: ACC Arena, Sunday 8:00pm
- Fan Fund Auction: Hilton, El Capitan Room, Sunday 1:30pm
- WSFS (World Science Fiction Society) Site Selection Business Meeting: ACC North, Room 252AB, Sunday 10:00am
- Closing Ceremony: Hilton, Pacific Ballroom D; Monday 3:00pm.
Special Programs & Events
- Guest of Honor & Special Guest Interviews & Events (all in the ACC North Room 255, unless otherwise specified)
- Stan Sakai: A Comics Legend in Conversation: Friday 10:30am
- Barbara Hambly: A Life in Fantasy, Mystery and History: Friday 12:00pm
- Dr. Anita Sengupta: From Star Trek to Sustainable Aviation: Friday 3:00pm
- Barbara Hambly’s Birthday Tea Party: Hilton Pacific Ballroom C; Friday 3:00pm
- Celebrating Friendship: Geri Sullivan: Friday 4:30pm
- Ditch Diggers: What Even is a Toastmaster? with Ursula Vernon: ACC North, Room 259; Friday 6:00pm
- Colleen Doran: Time in Storytelling: Saturday 12:00pm
- In Conversation with Ronald D. Moore: From Deep Space to Alternate Histories: Saturday 3:00pm
- Terese Mason Pierre Special Guest Interview: Saturday 4:30pm
- Tracey Baptiste Special Guest Interview: Sunday 10:30am
- Tim Kirk: A LIfetime of Imagination: Sunday 12:00pm
- Boldly Going: A Conversation with Tracy Drain: Sunday 3:00pm
- Dances (all in Hilton Pacific Ballroom A, except Shake It Off)
- Dublin 2029 Céilí, featuring Stepwise: Thursday 9:00pm
- The Middle Earth Ball: Friday 3:00pm
- DJ John Scalzi Discotheque: Friday 10:00pm
- Saturday Night Dance: Saturday 9:00pm
- Regency and English Country Dance: Sunday 4:30pm
- Shake It Off – Teen Dance Party: Hilton, San Clemente Room; Sunday 6:00pm
- Plays and Performances (all in Hilton Pacific Ballroom D)
- Policarpa: Apocalypse Sur Amerikkka: Thursday 3:00pm
- Root (Running Out of Time): The Play: Friday 4:00pm
- The Escape: A Confrontation on Four Scenes: Friday 7:30pm
- The Failure of the Century, staged reading: Saturday 1:30pm
- Go Fact Yourself Live – Prady vs Kowal: Saturday 4:00pm
- Remote (or Gallyvant’s Finale), staged reading: Sunday 10:00am
- Klingon Lifestyles – Live!: Sunday 1:30pm
- The Idiot’s Lantern: A SF/F Sketch Comedy Show: Sunday 4:30pm
- Concerts (all in Hilton Pacific Ballroom A)
- Select times on Thursday through Sunday; use our Program Guide, select “Concerts” in the Format drop-down menu
- Game Shows
- ACC North and Hilton, various locations on Thursday, Friday & Saturday; use our Program Guide, select “Game Shows” in the Format drop-down
- Table Talks
- Hilton (Sunset, Monterey and Salinas Rooms) as well as online throughout the convention; use our Program Guide, select “Table Talk” in the Format drop-down menu
- Readings
- ACC North (Rooms 252C, 254, 258, 260C, 261A) and Hilton (San Simeon B, Carmel, El Capitan, Malibu, Palisades Rooms) as well as online throughout the convention; use our Program Guide, select “Reading” in the Format drop-down menu
- Live Podcast Presentations
- ACC North, Room 259, throughout the weekend; use our Program Guide, select “Live Podcast” in the Format drop-down menu
- Gaming & Game Events
- Hilton, Capistrano A & B, San Clemente, Palisades and Laguna Rooms throughout the convention; use our Program Guide, select “Game” in the Format drop-down menu
- Meetups
- Select times on Thursday through Sunday; use our Program Guide, select “Meetup” in the Format drop-down menu
- First Worldcon Attendees Meetup: ACC North, Room 253C, Friday 3:00pm
- Site Tours and Other Fun
- LAcon V Convention Tours: Meet in Hilton Lobby, separate tours Thursday 10:00am and Thursday 4:30pm
- Art Show Docent Tours: ACC North, Art Show; Thursday 4:30pm with Richard Man; Friday 10:30am with Colleen Doran; Friday 3:00pm with Tim Kirk; Saturday 10:30am with Stan Sakai; Saturday 12:00pm with Vincent Di Fate; and Saturday 1:30pm with Jacqui Freas Baric.
- Artist In Residence Tour with Geri Sullivan: ACC North, Art Show, Friday 12:00pm
- Take a Stroll Through the Solar System Tour: Hilton, Palisades Room, Saturday 1:30pm
- Docent Tour of the Bellringer Exhibit with Jacob John White: ACC North, Exhibit Hall; Saturday 3:00pm
- Stroll With the Stars: Leisurely morning walks, meet in Hilton Lobby; Thursday 9:00am and Friday-Monday 8:00am; also, Morning Tai-Chi on Friday and Sunday at 9:00am
- Filk Circles: Hilton, San Simeon A; Thursday-Monday at select times; use our Program Guide, select “Filk Circle” in the Format drop-down menu
- Children’s Tours: We are hosting children’s tours through our Art Show, Dealers Room and Exhibits Hall, plus the Art Show Kids’ Choice Awards; use our Program Guide, select “Tours” in the Format drop-down menu
You can check with the LAcon V Information Desks at the ACC North and the Hilton if you are unable to find what you’re looking for.
LAcon V Program & Exhibits Previews
In the final weeks leading up to this year’s Worldcon, we’ve published a number of feature articles previewing some of the great stuff you’ll see at this year’s convention. Check out the following:
- Programming Preview Part One and Part Two, with a selection of the very best LAcon V has to offer from the perspective of the team that created this year’s program
- Exhibits Preview, with some of the best stuff you’ll see in our Exhibits Hall, Dealers Room and Art Show
- Our Complete List of Program Participants this year, both in person and online, with biographies of each participant
- The LAcon V Film Festival including our 2026 Film Festival Winners
- Specific programming events including the Makerspace, XPrize at LAcon V, Star Trek is 60, and the Friday Blood Drive
Remember: you’ll want to have the LAcon V Member Portal and Program Guide at your fingertips, especially on your mobile phone at the convention… these two sites will help you throughout your convention experience.
Parking, Shuttles and Rideshare
We’ve published a complete guide for Parking, Shuttles & Rideshare on our website. We encourage you to plan ahead, whether you’re staying at the Hilton or Marriott (or other hotels) or coming to the convention on a daily schedule.
A Special Thanks to
Our Voyager Presupporters!
Ahoy Voyagers! We want to thank each of you for supporting our bid for the 2026 Worldcon. In case you missed it… we won!
And now it’s time to fulfill our campaign promises. First of all, we know you are all registered for the convention. In fact, we have a special registration line just for you! Think of it as having elite status with a hotel. When you are ready to pick up your badge, go to the Voyager Line at Convention Registration (see the next section). Not only do you get priority service, you will receive your promised surprises. Those will be available for pick up when you register. Unfortunately, these are only available for those attending in person. Again, thank you for making LAcon V a reality!
Upon Your Arrival:
Convention Registration
When you arrive on site at LAcon V, your first destination should be the Hilton Anaheim. Come to the Pacific Ballroom B room on the Mezzanine level (third floor) with your identification during these posted hours to check in, and receive your convention badge and other materials:
- Wednesday (early badge pickup), 10:00am to 8:00pm
- Thursday through Sunday 8:30am to 8:00pm
- Monday 8:30am to 2:00pm.
Be aware that lines can be long, especially on Thursday as the convention gets going.
Program Participants can check in at Registration (Hilton Pacific Ballroom B) on Wednesday 10:00am to 6:00pm or on Thursday & Friday 8:30am to 6:00pm. After that, Program Participant check in moves to the Program Ops office (Hilton, La Jolla Room) on Saturday & Sunday 9:00am to 6:00pm and Monday 10:00am to 2:00pm. Hugo Finalist check in is also located in the Hilton Pacific Ballroom B room.
If you haven’t yet registered, you can still use the online LAcon V Registration via our website… you can even do so while you’re at the event itself, as our systems update in real time (and it’s much faster than doing so in person.)
Reminder: LAcon V is not using the main building of the Anaheim Convention Center (the massive windowed complex where you might have attended LA’s previous Worldcons, or seen in film and television shows). LAcon V is using the Convention Center North building, constructed after L.A.con IV in 2006, as well as the Arena and the Hilton & Marriott hotels.
Finding Your Way at LAcon V,
In Person and Online
The LAcon V Member Portal is your one-stop destination, whether you’re attending in person or joining us virtually, to manage your LAcon V experience. By the time the convention rolls around, items such as the full schedule of events, maps, streaming events and more will be available. You can also reach the Member Portal through our website (there’s an easily accessible button on the front page.) We’ve prepared a handy set of Member Portal Instructions on our website.
Everyone who’s a member of LAcon V has the ability to use the Member Portal. When you joined, you should have received an email from virtual-support@lacon.org with the subject “LAcon V Virtual Convention Access” or “Nominate for the 2026 Hugo Awards”; these include information on how to activate your account. If you can’t find one of these emails, then contact virtual-support@lacon.org with as much information about your membership as possible and we will be able to look up and find your username for you.
The LAcon V Program Guide, which features the entire convention program in one location, is fully customizable with many different filters and can be personalized when you are logged in (your Member Portal credentials are connected to the Program Guide). Filter by the type of event(s) you want to participate in, by area(s) of interest, by the location the events are taking place, and so much more… or just browse the schedule of the day or the entire lineup, it’s your call!
Discord is a chat platform which will be our primary online social platform. It is available through mobile phone and desktop applications, as well as via a browser. It is accessible to all convention attendees. Online/virtual convention attendees (those not attending in person) will use Discord to participate in virtual program sessions, including being the venue to ask questions of panelists. You must be logged into the LAcon V Member Portal in order to access the Discord server, using your LAcon V credentials.
Once you’re logged into the Portal, you will see a Chat Online tile (in the Program section), which contains a button to join the Discord server, as well as information and links about Discord to help you get started. There is also a handy Discord Instructions page on the Member Portal to help you get started. The instructions page is accessible publicly, so you don’t need to be logged in to view it. If you plan to use Discord, we strongly encourage you to log in and get familiar with the tool before the convention starts.
The LAcon V Frequently Asked Questions List
We’ve prepared a handy list of Frequently Asked Questions on our website… if your question isn’t answered here, try the FAQ page. (And if not, see Discord above!)
WiFi at LAcon V
At the ACC North: There is free public WiFi available through SmartCity. You will need to register with an email address to access it.
At the Hilton: There is NO public/attendee WiFi available in the Hilton convention space. There is free public WiFi in the lobby, and there is guest WiFi available on the sleeping floors which may or may not work in the convention spaces (and may require hotel guest validation.)
Room Parties
Room parties at LAcon V will be located in the Hilton Anaheim hotel, on the fifth floor around the Lanai Deck. Come meet the seated Montreal 2027 Worldcon, the Brisbane 2028, Dublin 2029 and Edmonton 2030 Worldcon bids (and as always, Minneapolis in 2073), World Fantasy Con 2026 this fall in Oakland, and a Thank You party with the people who brought us Seattle Worldcon 2025. There are social gatherings from international organizations and clubs like Gallowglas Army and the Japan Party presented by the HAL-CON Committee; writers celebrating book launches including Cecelia Tan, the Writing Excuses podcast, the MAYA Universe, the Numinous RPG game, and the folks behind Tales From a Space Bar.
There is ALSO our guest of honor Barbara Hambly’s Birthday Tea Party, a birthday celebration for Leslie Turek and a memorial for Guy H. Lillian III; the Fan Funds & the Spirit of Corflu, Queer SFF, Clarion Writers Workshop Gathering, and the We Interrupt This Program! series of parties; the “90 Years of Cons, from First Fandom to Fur Fandom” fest, the Neurotrash Kaffe and Brisbane 28 Hugo Watch-Along; and so much more!
The best way to find all of these (the ones we know about) is to use our Program Guide: select the “Party” option in the Format drop-down menu for all parties on the schedule, or “Lanai Deck” in the Locations drop-down for the room parties on that floor.
Code of Conduct & LAcon V Policies
Please read our Code of Conduct before you arrive at LAcon V. The Code of Conduct sets the community expectations for behavior of all persons and groups, as well as for all LAcon V events and activities. In addition, a full list of LAcon V’s policies can be found here. Attendance at LAcon V acknowledges your cooperation with all of our policies.
Instructions on what to do if you witness or experience a Code of Conduct violation can be found via the Reporting tile on our Member Portal (coming just before the start of the event) or on the Code of Conduct page.
Expedition Guides:
Getting You Where You’re Going
Do you need assistance? Are you lost? Is your stuff lost? Do you need to peace-bond a prop weapon? Did you get to the convention after Registration closed? Look for an Expedition Guide, they’ll help you or get you pointed in the right direction. They can show you the way to our Information Desks in the Hilton and ACC North during their operating hours; the Info Desks are the best place to find what you’re looking for.
Expedition Guides for LAcon V Worldcon provide attendee assistance, night-time lost and found, after hours temporary badge issuance, general convention problem-solving, and are the final authority on peace-bonding and checking prop weapons for safety or Masquerade entry. (You might know them as Con Ops at other conventions.)
Expedition Guides can be easily identified by their purple sash, and will be visible throughout LAcon V convention space. Or, you can text 562-507-1084 for assistance.
Lost Badge Policy
Did you lose your badge after picking it up at Registration? After checking the Lost and Found (visit our handy Information Desks in the ACC North and Hilton Anaheim), please return to the Registration room and go to the Solutions desk. There is a fee for a replacement badge ($39 for a daily badge, $50 for a full weekend badge). Should you later find your badge, present it and the replacement one to Solutions for a refund on the replacement badge fee.
And Finally, the Travelogue comes to an end… but a big welcome to the Fuzzy Pink Papers!
As mentioned above, this is the final issue of Fuzzy’s Travelogue, our pre-convention newsletter. We would like to thank Genny Dazzo, Joyce Lloyd, Katie Warren, Amanda Wakaruk, Karin May and Shaun Lyon for their writing, editing, proofreading and distribution of the Travelogue throughout the past two years, as well as everyone on our team who contributed information for the newsletter. We would also like to send our very special thanks to artist Teddy Harvia, who illustrated our mascot Fuzzy so well for the convention and for the newsletter; thank you Teddy for your generosity. (You can check out back issues of the Travelogue here.)
Fuzzy’s Travelogue has been dedicated to the memories of Marilyn “Fuzzy Pink” Niven, for whom the Travelogue was named, and Sandy Cohen, our newsletter proofreader emeritus. The Los Angeles fan community of whom they were part, as well as many other fans across the globe, mourn their passing during our long journey, and we will not forget them.
And now… as LAcon V begins, the moment has been prepared for! We’re delighted to announce that the Fuzzy Pink Papers will be our on-site newsletter, distributed electronically via the website and on the Newsletter tile of the Member Portal
(We will not have a paper version of the newsletter available on site, but it will be very easy to read on your phone!)
You can email submissions to the newsletter to newsletter@lacon.org or drop off items at our Information Desks at the ACC North and the Hilton. You can drop off items throughout the weekend, but the following are optimum times right before we go to press with each issue: Thursday through Sunday at 9:00am-10:00am, 4:00pm-5:00pm, and 9:00pm-10:00pm; and Monday, 9:00am-10:00am. We look forward to your contributions.
In Just a Few Days… Adventure Awaits!
Fuzzy’s Travelogue: Volume Sixteen (Final Issue)
The Newsletter of LAcon V: The 84th World Science Fiction Convention, August 2026 Edition
Edited by Shaun Lyon, with Joyce Lloyd, Katie Warren and members of the LAcon V Committee
Fuzzy illustrations by Teddy Harvia, used with permission
Copyright © 2026, The Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI) Inc. All rights reserved.
