About LAcon V

Dare to Discover, Dare to Explore, Dare to be Uncharted!

LAcon V, the 2026 World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), takes place August 27-31, 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center, Hilton Anaheim and Anaheim Marriott hotels, and is presented by the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI), Inc., a California 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

LAcon V — that’s LAcon number five — is the culmination of the efforts of the Los Angeles in 2026 Bid Committee (2022-2024), sponsored by SCIFI.  The convention bid was seated as the 2026 Worldcon by participating voters at the 2024 World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow, Scotland.

LAcon V will be the seventh time a Worldcon has been hosted in the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, and the fifth branded under the LAcon name (earlier editions have been stylized as L.A. Con & L.A. con).

Sponsors

The Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI) Inc.

The Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI) Inc., which officially sponsors LAcon V, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, established for the promotion and conduct of conferences, conventions or congresses relating to the field of Science Fiction and Fantasy. 

SCIFI is the past sponsor of the 1984, 1996 and 2006 Los Angeles World Science Fiction Conventions (Worldcons); the 1999 North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFIC); the 2019 World Fantasy Convention; the 1989, 1994 and 2002 West Coast Science Fantasy Conferences (Westercons); and the 1994 and 2014 SMOFCons.

SCIFI has organized many popular events in Los Angeles (see their Past Conventions page for details); provides funding to other events; lends their technology to local conventions; contributes to popular science fiction fan funds; and fosters relationships with other charitable and beneficial organizations. Since 1998, SCIFI has presented the annual Rotsler Awards, named after illustrator and legendary fan Bill Rotsler (1926-1997) and given each year to the best and brightest amateur talents in science fiction and fantasy illustration.

The California Anime Foundation (CAF)

LAcon V also received generous support from the California Anime Foundation throughout its bid process.  The California Animé Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, anime, manga, Japanese history and culture, and related art-forms primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate these works and provides a common forum for creators, fans, and others to interact.

The California Anime Foundation is the parent organization of Anime Los Angeles, an annual four-day anime convention held during January at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in Long Beach, California.

Our Homegrown Worldcons

The Los Angeles metropolitan area has hosted six prior Worldcons since their foundation in 1939.  The Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI) Inc. previously sponsored the Worldcons in 1984, 1996 and 2006. LAcon V will be SCIFI’s fourth Worldcon as sponsor, and the seventh Worldcon to take place in our backyard.

• Pacificon I, the 4^th Worldcon, 4-7 July 1946 at the Park View Manor in Los Angeles, with guests of honor A. E. Van Vogt and E. Mayne Hull.  (Walter Daugherty, Chair)
• Solacon, the 16^th Worldcon, 29 August–1 September 1958 at the Alexandria Hotel in Los Angeles, with guest of honor Richard Matheson and toastmaster Anthony Boucher.  (Anne S. Moffatt, Chair)
• L.A. con I, the 30^th Worldcon, 1-4 September 1972 at the International Hotel in Los Angeles, with guest of honor Frederik Poul, fan guests of honor Buck & Juanita Coulson, and toastmaster Robert Bloch.  (Charles Crayne & Bruce Pelz, Chairs)
• L.A. con II, the 42^nd Worldcon, 30 August-3 September 1984 at the Anaheim Hilton and Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, with guest of honor Gordon R. Dickson, fan guest of honor Dick Eney, toastmaster Robert Bloch, and master of ceremonies Jerry Pournelle.  (Craig Miller & Milt Stevens, Chairs)
• L.A. con III, the 54^th Worldcon, 29 August-2 September 1996 at the Anaheim Hilton, Anaheim Marriott, and Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, with guest of honor James White, media guest of honor Roger Corman, fan guests of honor Takumi and Sachiko Shibano, and toastmaster Connie Willis; Elsie Wollheim was also a posthumous special guest of honor. (Mike Glyer, Chair)
• LAcon IV, the 64^th Worldcon, 23-27 August 2006 at the Anaheim Hilton, Anaheim Marriott, and Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, with guest of honor Connie Willis, artist guest of honor James Gurney, fan guest of honor Howard DeVore, and special guest Frankie Thomas. (Christian B. McGuire, Chair)

The Road to LAcon V: LA in 2028

It’s been a long road, getting from there to here… LAcon V is a reality because of the tireless work of the people behind the LA in 2026 Worldcon Bid (which was housed at lain2026.org until this website was launched.)

This is a quick look back at our bid: announced by the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI) in 2022, kicked into high gear in 2023, and eventually leading to Site Selection at the Glasgow Worldcon in August 2024.

The Members of Our Expedition

The Los Angeles in 2026 bid committee was chaired by Joyce Lloyd, who is also the chair of LAcon V.  Joyce is regularly involved in conventions with attendance ranging from 100 to over 30,000, including many Worldcons since 2006, including LAcon IV, Nippon 2007, Denvention 3, Chicon 7, LoneStarCon3, MidAmeriCon II, Worldcon 76 in San Joes, Dublin 2019, Discon III, Chicon 8 and Glasgow Worldcon 2024.  Her other events include being Vice Chair of Anime Los Angeles, Facilities Director for Gallifrey One, Co-Chair of Loscon 35, and Facilities Second for FanimeCon. She is a member of the Board of the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI) Inc., the Institute for Specialized Interests (ISI) Inc., and the Science Fiction Outreach Project (SFOP).

The Los Angeles in 2026 Worldcon bid committee included many seasoned participants at all convention levels, including seven prior Worldcon chairs and vice chairs and many members who chaired local and regional science fiction conventions.  The members of the Bid Committee included Bobbi Armbruster, Sherri Benoun, Bert Boden, Sandy Cohen, Steve Cooper, Linda Deneroff, Taylor Deatherage, Genny Dazzo, Don & Jill Eastlake, Bruce & Lea Farr, Sara Felix, Cathy Green, Elizabeth Klein-Lebbink, Shaun Lyon, Karin May, Craig Miller, Christian McGuire, Helen Montgomery, Elayne Pelz, John Platt, Jerome Scott, Randy Shepherd, and Elizabeth Upchurch.

We also gratefully acknowledge the support for the LA in 2026 bid from these additional members of the Board of Directors of the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI) Inc.: Kim Marks Brown, Shawn & Colleen Crosby, Cathy & Dean Johnson, Alec Orrock, and Noel Wolfman.

Additionally, we received generous support from the California Anime Foundation throughout our bid process.  

Above: stickers for our pre-supporters; Europa image source: NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory-Caltech; Arrakis image courtesy Shawn Crosby; Glasgow design by Sara Felix.

The banner of the LA in 2026 Worldcon Bid website, suggesting an old world/voyage of discovery…

Adventure Awaits! was the theme of the LA in 2026 Worldcon Bid

The LA in 2026 logo, designed by Sara Felix

A Photo Journey Across The World

Some moments along the way that we wanted to share, at our fan tables and more… with our thanks to those who helped us throughout the past two years.

Journeys to Faraway Places

The LA in 2026 Worldcon Bid committee made our presence known at the following events, beginning with the 2023 NASFiC in Canada. We had a physical presence at most of these events; for the others, we sent promotional materials to the convention. Our special thanks to everyone who sat at our tables throughout each weekend, and to the conventions themselves who arranged fan table space for us.

About This Website

Contributors to this website include Joyce Lloyd, Justin Lloyd, Shaun Lyon, Helen Montgomery, Karin May, Craig Miller, John Pomeranz, Olav Rokne, John Platt, Bert Boden, Sara Felix, Taylor Deatherage, Elayne Pelz, Andrew Trembley, Ken Patterson and Chad Jones.

Thanks to RegFox for handling our membership forms and processing, and to Dannci WordPress Themes for the original template for this website (and for their helpful suggestions as we customized it for our own use.)

LAcon V and all content on this website is copyright © 2025 by the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI), Inc.  All rights reserved.