LAcon V is proud to announce that the 2026 Hugo Base designer will be Scott Lefton, and the 2026 Lodestar Award will be designed by H Emiko Ogasawara.
While the iconic Hugo rocket remains a constant, the base of the award is unique. It is redesigned annually to reflect the personality of the hosting World Science Fiction Convention, usually drawing on cultural, geographical, or historical themes of the convention’s host location (in this year’s case Southern California) as well as touches of the Science Fiction genre it celebrates.
The Lodestar award, first given in 2018, celebrates the beauty and variety in the previous years YA fiction. It is also designed to reflect the personality of the hosting Worldcon as well as reflecting the ‘guiding light’ that the name suggests.
Scott Lefton is a multidisciplinary artist and consulting engineer whose work blends metal, glass, wood, electronics, photography, and digital design. He designed the 2004 Hugo Award bases and created the miniature Hugo rocket displayed aboard the International Space Station. “The Hugo trophy is the SFF community’s equivalent of the Oscar, given annually at the World Science Fiction Convention. The winners are chosen by the fans themselves. I’m honored to have been chosen to craft this year’s Hugo base design, and hope that it will remind people about LAcon V and about what our community values in creativity,” Lefton said.
H Emiko Ogasawara is a California artist and art instructor, and a long-time member of the SFF community. She works in various traditional media, including ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, and paper engineering. Much of her work emphasizes interactive, functional, and kinetic elements that invite people to become participants rather than mere viewers.
“One of my favourite traditions of the Hugo Awards ceremony is that each year’s trophies tell a story about the place and people hosting Worldcon,” LAcon V chair Joyce Lloyd said. “Scott and Emiko are artists whose work combines technical excellence with a sense of wonder. I am incredibly excited about their designs and cannot wait to share what they’re creating with you at LAcon V in August!”
The final base designs will be revealed as part of the convention’s Opening Ceremony in Anaheim on August 27.
