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The list of modern fan conventions for various genres of entertainment extends to the first conventions held in the 1930s.

Some fan historians claim that the 1936 Philadelphia Science Fiction Conference, a.k.a. Philcon, was the first science fiction convention ever held. Others, such as Fred Patten and Rob Hansen, make this claim for the January 1937 event in Leeds, England,^[1] organized by the Leeds Science Fiction League, which was specifically organized as a conference, with a program and speakers. Out of this came the first incarnation of the British Science Fiction Association.

While a few conventions were created in various parts of the world within the period between 1935 and 1960, the number of convention establishments increased slightly in the 1960s and then increased dramatically in the 1970s, with many of the largest conventions in the modern era being established during the latter decade. Impetuses for further establishment of local fan conventions include:

The return of superhero characters and franchises during the Silver Age of Comic Books (1956-1970)
science fiction adaptations for television serials (e.g., Star Trek) in the 1960s-1970s
the growth of role-playing (in the 1970s and 1980s) as a genre of tabletop, live-action and eventually video/computer gaming, which not only inspired roleplay of favorite characters in full-body costumes but also inspired existing franchises to adapt their themes for said methods of gaming
the growth in home taping (starting with VHS in the late 1970s) of television broadcasts, including popular serials.
the growth of computerized communication, including the Internet and Internet-dependent applications in the 1980s and 1990s.

1930s

Philcon (1936)
Worldcon (1939)

1940s

Boskone (1941)
Eastercon (1948)
Westercon (1948)

1950s

Disclave (1950–1997)
Midwestcon (1950)
Lunacon (1957)

1960s

MileHiCon (1960)
Nihon SF Taikai (1962)
DeepSouthCon (1963)
First Long Beach Science Fantasy Convention (1963)
Second Long Beach Science Fantasy Convention (1964)

1965

Academy Con^[2]
Detroit Triple Fan Fair^[3]^[4]
Lucca Comics & Games — at that point known as "Salone Internazionale del Comics"
Marcon

1966

Balticon

1967

Houstoncon^[5]^[6]

1968

1969

1970s

Multicon (1970–1982)
Comic-Con — at that point called the "Golden State Comic-Con"^[10]

1971

1972

Chicago Comic-Con — at that point called "Nostalgia '72"^[6]
Eurocon
Salón Internacional del Cómic del Principado de Asturias, Asturias, Spain (1972–2014)

1973

1974

1975

Atlanta Fantasy Fair (1975–1995)
Comiket, Tokyo, Japan
Icon (Iowa)
NASFIC
SwanCon
Unicon (1975–1989)
World Fantasy Convention

1976

1977

Archon
CoastCon
MidSouthCon
Starfest
Strip Turnhout Turnhout, Antwerp, Belgium — biennial show
Wiscon
OKON

1978

1979

ArmadilloCon
FantaCon, Albany, New York (1979–1990; 2013)
NatCon (New Zealand)
OryCon
Shore Leave Towson/Hunt Valley, MD (1979-2019; 2022-2023); COVID Virtual (2020-2021) Lancaster, PA (2024)

1980s

1980

1981

1982

1983

Comix Fair (1983–c. 1996) — Houston, TX
SFeraKon
SoonerCon

1984

Con-Version
Ohio Valley Filk Fest
Polcon
United Kingdom Comic Art Convention (UKCAC)
Vulkon — at that point known as "Trekon"

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990s

1990

1991

1992

1993

FACTS
MegaCon
ConDor

1994

1995

Armageddon
Fan Expo Canada — then known as the "Canadian National Comic Book Expo"
Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)

1996

Albacon
Big Apple Convention — then known as "Halleluja Con"^[12]
Festival fantazie
Jornadas de Cómic (Aviles, Spain)

1997

Conestoga
ShadowCon
Wizard World Chicago — takes over Chicago Comicon

1998

1999

Comic Festival — at that point known as "Comic 99"
CONvergence
EerieCon
Festival Internacional de Quadrinhos (FIQ)
Générations Star Wars et Science Fiction
MarsCon (Minnesota)
Star Wars Celebration
WillyCon
Pyrkon

2000s

2000

Baltimore Comic-Con
DeepCon
Gatecon
New York International Sci-Fi and Fantasy Creators Convention (2000–2002)
Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (SPACE)
Trinoc*coN (2000–2008)
UnCommonCon (2000–2001)

2001

2002

Adventure Con
ConCarolinas
ConDFW
Dallas Comic Con
East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (ECBACC)
MAGFest
MoCCA Festival
Phoenix Comicon
Supanova Pop Culture Expo, Australia

2003

Anime Boston
Anime Friends
Emerald City ComiCon
TCAF
Toronto Comic Con
Monster-Mania Con
ConBust Smith College Science Fiction/Fantasy Society Convention

2004

ApolloCon
Comic Expo (Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo)
Comics Salon (2004–2007) — Slovakia
FenCon
Itzacon
Linucon (2004–2005)
London Film and Comic Con
Stumptown Comics Fest

2005

2006

BabelCon
Central Canada Comic Con — at this point known as the "Manitoba Comic Con"
Lille Comics Festival
Montreal Comic-con
New York Comic Con
RavenCon

2007

2008

Comicpalooza
Comics Fest India
Hi-Ex
SpoCon
Gamescom (formerly Games Convention)

2009

Brasil Game Show (BGS, formerly Rio Game Show (RGS))
The North American Discworld Convention

2010s

2010

Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2)
SFContario (2010)
Pensacola Comic Convention (2010)

2011

BronyCon
Comikaze Expo
Treklanta (formerly TrekTrax Atlanta)

2012

Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE)
Denver Comic Con (DCC)
East Coast Comicon — then known as the "Asbury Park Comicon"
London Super Comic Convention
Rhode Island Comic Con
Wildcat Comic Con

2013

2014

2015

2016

Silicon Valley Comic Con

2017

Warsaw Comic Con

2018

References

^ Glyer, Mike (1987). "THE FIRST EVER CONVENTION". The Story So Far. Worldcon. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
^ Thomas, Roy (2006). "Splitting the Atom: More Than You Could Possibly Want to Know About the Creation of the Silver Age Mighty Mite!". The Alter Ego Collection. Vol. 1. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 99.
^ Gabilliet, Jean-Paul (2010). Of Comics and Men: A Cultural History of American Comic Books. University of Mississippi Press. p. 265.
^ Nolte, Robert (May 9, 1965). "Latest Collecting Fad: Funny Thing Happened to Comics --They're Arty". Chicago Tribune. p. n1.
^ Thompson, Maggie (May 1967). "Newfangles #2". Newfangles. No. 2. p. 2. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c Beerbohm, Robert (June 24, 2010). "Update to Comics Dealer Extraordinaire Robert Beerbohm: In His Own Words". Comic-Convention Memories. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
^ Skinn, Dez. "Early days of UK comics conventions and marts," Archived 2012-02-01 at the Wayback Machine DezSkinn.com. Accessed Mar. 3, 2013.
^ Thompson, Maggie (April 1968). "Newfangles #9". Newfangles. No. 9. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
^ Groth, Gary (October 1, 1982). "Editorial: Con Games". The Comics Journal. No. 76. pp. 4–6.
^ Comic-Con Souvenir Book #40 p.61 (2009).
^ Pinaha, Bob (January 1971). "Creation '71 No Turkey!". Comic Fandom Monthly. pp. 4–7.
^ "Newswatch: NYC Comics Convention Cancelled, Fans Irate". The Comics Journal. No. 185. March 1996. pp. 18–19.
^ "For the Love of Sci-Fi". Retrieved June 2, 2020.
^ "Comic Con Africa". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
^ "Comic Con Liverpool". Retrieved June 2, 2020.
^ "Comic Con Scotland". Retrieved June 2, 2020.
^ "Empire City Con". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
^ "For the Love of Horror". Retrieved June 2, 2020.

[1] Glyer, Mike (1987). "THE FIRST EVER CONVENTION". The Story So Far. Worldcon. Retrieved July 14, 2019.

[2] Thomas, Roy (2006). "Splitting the Atom: More Than You Could Possibly Want to Know About the Creation of the Silver Age Mighty Mite!". The Alter Ego Collection. Vol. 1. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 99.

[3] Gabilliet, Jean-Paul (2010). Of Comics and Men: A Cultural History of American Comic Books. University of Mississippi Press. p. 265.

[4] Nolte, Robert (May 9, 1965). "Latest Collecting Fad: Funny Thing Happened to Comics --They're Arty". Chicago Tribune. p. n1.

[Newfangles2-5] Thompson, Maggie (May 1967). "Newfangles #2". Newfangles. No. 2. p. 2. Retrieved July 14, 2019.

[Beerbohm-6] Beerbohm, Robert (June 24, 2010). "Update to Comics Dealer Extraordinaire Robert Beerbohm: In His Own Words". Comic-Convention Memories. Retrieved July 14, 2019.

[7] Skinn, Dez. "Early days of UK comics conventions and marts," Archived 2012-02-01 at the Wayback Machine DezSkinn.com. Accessed Mar. 3, 2013.

[Newfangles9-8] Thompson, Maggie (April 1968). "Newfangles #9". Newfangles. No. 9. Retrieved July 14, 2019.

[9] Groth, Gary (October 1, 1982). "Editorial: Con Games". The Comics Journal. No. 76. pp. 4–6.

[10] Comic-Con Souvenir Book #40 p.61 (2009).

[11] Pinaha, Bob (January 1971). "Creation '71 No Turkey!". Comic Fandom Monthly. pp. 4–7.

[12] "Newswatch: NYC Comics Convention Cancelled, Fans Irate". The Comics Journal. No. 185. March 1996. pp. 18–19.

[13] "For the Love of Sci-Fi". Retrieved June 2, 2020.

[14] "Comic Con Africa". Retrieved July 14, 2019.

[15] "Comic Con Liverpool". Retrieved June 2, 2020.

[16] "Comic Con Scotland". Retrieved June 2, 2020.

[17] "Empire City Con". Retrieved July 14, 2019.

[18] "For the Love of Horror". Retrieved June 2, 2020.

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List of fan conventions by date of founding