Eurocon (European Science Fiction Convention)

Eurocon (European Science Fiction Convention) is a science fiction convention held at least every two years, most commonly every year, taking place in a new European city each time. It is coordinated by the European Science Fiction Society.

The inaugural Eurocon was held in 1972 in the Italian city of Trieste. During the first convention, the European Science Fiction Society (ESFS) was founded to promote science fiction in Europe and European science fiction worldwide. Since its inception, the ESFS has coordinated Eurocon and administered the European Science Fiction Awards.

Eurocon is held every year, although it has occasionally skipped a year in the past. At every convention, a vote of participants is held to select the organizing committee and host city two years forward. Unlike Worldcon (World Science Fiction Convention), Eurocon is usually a title attached to an already exciting sci-fi convention. For example, the 2019 Eurocon was organized by the team of TitanCon in Belfast.

Countries that have hosted Eurocon in the past include Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia (as part of Yugoslavia and as an independent state), the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovenia (as part of Yugoslavia), Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

Like any science fiction convention, Eurocon has an exciting program of events that includes lectures, panels and workshops on all things science fiction, fantasy and horror, interviews with the guests of honor, book launches and signing sessions, quizzes, musical concerts, art shows, cosplay competitions, and other special events and activities.

Of course, every team of organizers handles the program their own way. For example, at Eurocon 2024 (Erasmuscon), each day was assigned a theme: Climate Day, Illustrator Day, Young Adult Day, and Comic Day.

Over the years, Eurocon has welcomed many notable authors, artists, and actors as guests. They include, but are not limited to, Roger Zelazny, Christopher Priest, Iain Banks, George R. R. Martin, Harry Harrison, Terry Pratchett, Ian Watson, Andrzej Sapkowski, Robert Sheckley, Michael Swanwick, Anne McCaffrey, Marina Sirtis, Ian McDonald, Joe Abercrombie, Seanan McGuire, Aliette de Bodard, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Arkady Martine, Vivian Shaw, Martha Wells, Jasper Fforde, and many others.

During Eurocon, the ESFS presents the European Science Fiction Awards to works of speculative fiction (science fiction or fantasy) created by authors or artists who were born in, or are citizens of, a European country. As of 2024, there are four types of awards:

The Chrysalis Awards, presented to European writers or artists who have emerged in the last three years.
The Achievement Awards in eight categories: Best Work of Art; Best Written Work of Fiction; Best Comic Book or Graphic Novel; Best Dramatic Presentation; Best Fanzine; Best Work for Children; Best Internet Publication; Best Event, Festival or Convention Organized by Fans.
The Hall of Fame Awards in six categories: Best Artist, Best Author, Best Publisher, Best Promoter of Science Fiction, Best Magazine, Best Translator.
The European Grandmaster, presented to outstanding figures in European science fiction that have been internationally prominent for at least two decades.