The longest-running and most prestigious annual gathering of the science fiction and fantasy universe is returning to Southern California for the first time in a generation, and this is your opportunity to highlight your company or organization at the most important event on the science fiction and fantasy calendar.
LAcon V, the 84th World Science Fiction Convention will be held in Anaheim, California, August 27 to 31, 2026. First held in 1939, the World Science Fiction Convention (or Worldcon) brings together thousands of fans, authors, artists, actors, scientists, cosplayers, gamers, and other lovers of science fiction and fantasy from around the globe. Most notably, the Worldcon is the home of the Hugo Awards, the highest, most coveted award in the speculative fiction field.
LAcon V will be the seventh time the Worldcon has visited the Los Angeles area in the 85 years since the convention was founded. These Southern California Worldcons have historically drawn far larger crowds than other Worldcons of their eras, and we expect LACon V to continue that trend, with an estimated attendance of 7000 or more in person and many more participating virtually from around the world.
As a group, Worldcon attendees tend to be well-educated with a high percentage of attendees having advanced degrees. They tend to be significantly more affluent than the general population, and a dedicated core attend each year’s Worldcon as it moves from city to city across the world – in just the five years leading up to LACon V, Washington, DC (2021); Chicago, Illinois (2022); Chengdu, China (2023); Glasgow, Scotland (2024); and Seattle, Washington (2025). Not surprisingly, these science fiction fans tend to be early adopters of technology and are active online, many with large and active followings on social media.
Your sponsorship will put your brand in front of this audience as it makes it possible for us to offer convention attendees opportunities and experiences that would not be possible relying solely on purchased memberships and other traditional sources of Worldcon revenue. Some of the opportunities we expect to offer sponsors include:
- Sponsorship (including exclusive sponsorship) of high-profile convention events and activities, such a focused program tracks, featured speakers, special exhibits or displays, the world-class convention art show, the Worldcon Masquerade or other cosplay programming, special performances, and receptions or streaming costs associated with the Hugo Awards Ceremony (although we will not accept sponsorships of Hugo Awards or the Ceremony to announce them).
- Opportunities to feature your company’s innovative products through in-kind contributions of goods or services that can help us put on the convention while demonstrating how you are helping to turn science fiction into reality: advanced computer hardware, state-of-the-art audio/visual systems, the next generation in commercial vehicles, cutting edge connectivity and collaboration hardware and software, powerful project and budget management tools, industry-leading professional services, new models of shipping and logistic services, and more. Whatever you do, let us help you demonstrate why others need what your company does!
- Chances to demonstrate your company or organization’s commitment to inclusiveness by helping us ensure that Worldcon welcomes everyone through sponsorship of things like subsidized memberships or travel and lodging for people from under-represented groups, accessibility measures such as CART (real time speech-to-text), subsidized childcare services, or special program items highlighting the diversity of the field.
- Showing your company or organization’s global reach by helping us bring the convention to people around the globe by sponsoring streaming of selected events or program items or by support for the internet connectivity necessary to let our members and guests share their Worldcon experience with followers everywhere.
Sponsors will be acknowledged on our website and social media, at the convention, and during streaming programs and other engagement with virtual attendees. Your company or organization can be recognized through event signage, acknowledgments in publications, digital promotion (with links), and branded items for distribution to attendees.
Sponsors will be subject to our sponsorship policy. LACon V is aware of our obligation to select sponsors who are aligned to our vision and acceptable to our community. While few if any sponsors will be completely immune to criticism, we are committed to a sponsor review process and criteria that will protect the reputation of our convention, our members, and our participants.
Watch this space for more information on sponsorship opportunities and our sponsorship policy in the weeks to come. If you have questions, would like us to contact you about sponsorship opportunities when more information is available, or would like to suggest companies or organizations that might be interested in becoming sponsors of LAcon V, please email sponsorship@lacon.org.
We look forward to having your company or organization as our valued partner as we bring this annual celebration of the best in science fiction and fantasy back to Southern California!
