Whether you love science with your fiction or costumes with your books, at Balticon we do too! Join 1500+ fans of all backgrounds to celebrate Science Fiction and Fantasy with 300+ hours of diverse programming: meet authors, publishers, editors, cosplay experts, Twitch live-streamers, renowned scientists and tech innovators. Sing along with our filkers, see our stunning Art Show and Masquerade, laugh and cry at our Film Festival. We’ve got something for everyone A four day celebration of Science Fiction and Fantasy! Get your geek on Profoundly uncool since 1967 Balticon 60 Program Schedule Whether you love science with your fiction or costumes with your books, we do too! While our central theme is writing, literature, and authors, our dynamic program has something everyone can appreciate. Join over fifteen hundred fans of all backgrounds as we gather to celebrate Science Fiction and Fantasy with more than 300 hours of diverse programming, from award-winning authors and publishers to twitch live-streamers, from cosplay experts to renowned scientists and tech innovators. Sing along with our filkers, soak in our stunning Art Show and Masquerade, laugh and cry at our Film Festival. We’ve got something for everyone. Balticon exists to celebrate the creation and appreciation of science fiction and fantasy in all its expressions, by bringing together fans of all backgrounds in a warm, welcoming environment. Marty Gear Memorial Masquerade Scroll through our gallery to view our judges and contestants. A list of last year's winners can be found here. Guests of Honor Jim Butcher Author Guest of Honor Frank Wu Artist Guest of Honor Andy Weir 2026 Robert A. Heinlein Award Hayley Gelfuso 2026 Compton Crook Winner The Faithful Sidekicks Music Guest of Honor Jennifer Blackstream Special Guest Samantha Mills 2025 Compton Crook Winner "Balticon Anywhere" plans to return in 2026! Buy your Membership Adult (25+) $89 Young Adult (13 - 24) $45 Child (12 and under) ALWAYS FREE Virtual Only $30 Workshops FOUR DAYS OF EVENTS TRINKETS FOR SALE Dealers Room & Artist Alley Balticon’s Dealers Room is like a pop-up mini mall of geeky goodness. You’ll find an assortment of vendors with all sorts of fannish delights, including books, games and gaming accessories, collectibles, clothing, jewelry, and more! Just outside the Dealers Room, you’ll find Artist Alley , where you can meet the artists behind the tables, browse a selection of fine art and handcrafted goods, and even commission custom art! GAMES TO PLAY RPGs, Board Games, and Video Games With three full rooms of gaming, there's sure to be something you'll like! Our RPG room has drop-in round-the-clock tabletop role-playing games, including demos of new systems and scheduled games with old favorites. The Board Games room has scheduled drop-in games as well as our game library where you can pick for yourself. And our Video Game room brings you both modern and retro video gaming! COME IN COSTUME Cosplay Contest The Marty Gear Memorial Masquerade is a cosplay contest with history! Individual and Group contestants take the stage for a short presentation showcasing their costuming skills. We'll also have panels all weekend long on how to craft your own costumes, and a chance to interact with some of our cosplay experts! Partners STAY IN THE KNOW Enter your email here Sign Up Thanks for submitting!

Rocket Mail Daily Editions Updates to Today's Program Rocket Mail distributes by 7:00 a.m. each morning on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. (If you get a “File Not Found” error, that means that edition has not been posted to the website yet.) Friday May 22, 2026 Here is a version of Friday's Edition of Rocket Mail. Saturday May 23, 2026 Here is a version of Saturday's Edition of Rocket Mail. Sunday May 24, 2026 Here is a version of Sunday's Edition of Rocket Mail . Find Local Fandom If you live in this area the Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS) is the place to go for science fiction fun year-round. Even if you live in other places, there are most likely science fiction fan groups near you. Check online and use Meetup. There may be one at a local university. Ask your local library if they know of one. If there is no fan group, start one! Every science fiction club started because a bunch of fans got together and said, let’s organize! Talk to existing groups; they would love to help. Volunteers Still Needed You’ve been to the art show, seen some panels, and are now looking for something new? Volunteer! Volunteering is a great way to see another side of the convention while helping out your fellow fans. There are still lots of jobs that need you! Visit the volunteer desk. And don’t forget to report volunteer hours using Program Changes for Sunday Sun 11PM Safe Solar Observation Sun 1PM Advancing the Story q/o Trauma Sun 4:45 PM Blacklight Costuming for Kids (although the Dance Party is still scheduled?) Sun 8:30 Con Wars: Balticon vs Capclave (the peace agreement has been signed; The two cons will share custody of the WSFA/BSFS overlap. Mon 10am A World w/o Power Bills Secret Science Get-Together! Scientist Get-Together, Homeland Sunday 10 - 11 PM. Scientists rarely get the publicity and glory they deserve (except when they take over the world!). Sop many people here at Balticon are quiet heroes—Scientists, grad students, post-docs through veterans. Come and share what you are researching and doing to make our lives better. Networking is encouraged (Chocolate!) No streaming or recording (but you can take notes!). Meet the Baltimore-Washington Area Worldcon Association Sunday, Room 6018 from 1 PM – 3 PM. The Baltimore-Washington Area Worldcon Association, Inc. (BWAWA) is a charitable organization devoted to the promotion of the science fiction and fantasy genre in all of its forms. Members of BWAWA are often members of other local other fan groups who organize together for big events like the DC Worldcon. Meet with them, and make your own avocado toast. Monday May 25, 2026 Monday's Rocket Mail will be posted on Monday Morning.

Gaming RPG Gaming Balticon 60 will have 3 tables now, 40+ game sessions, and round-the-clock tabletop role-playing games (RPG) where attendees can join one of our scheduled sessions. We also have a rpg library that has over 650 rpg books available. Games will take place between 4 p.m. Friday and Noon Monday. Throw for damage! Read More Board Gaming We will have a wide selection of board games to play and over two dozen scheduled games to join. You can also bring your own games and sit down at a table. Our staff will be familiar with most of the available games. In addition to our scheduled game demos, we can usually teach or demo almost any of our games if you’d like. Read More Video Gaming We're still working on the full details of our video gaming room this year. Unfortunately, there will be no video game tournaments this year. But that doesn't mean that we wont have any video games, we do. Read More

< Back Board Gaming We will have a wide selection of board games to play and over two dozen scheduled games to join. You can also bring your own games and sit down at a table. Our staff will be familiar with most of the available games. In addition to our scheduled game demos, we can usually teach or demo almost any of our games if you’d like. The Game Room hours are: We Also Have Two TCG Tournaments: Balticon 60 will continue it's two Open Draft Tournaments: BattleTech Gothic (Saturday) and Magic: The Gathering TCG (Sunday). Entry for these tournaments is included with your Balticon membership! We have 16 seats for the BattleTech Gothic Tournament and 24 seats for the Magic: the Gathering TCG Tournament. This is an open draft tournament, which means WE provide all the cards and YOU get to take them home with you ! The top three players receive prizes, and ALL participants receive extra card packs. Spaces are limited! Programming change: *Unfortunately, due to circumstances outside of our control, we were unable to secure the requisite Pokémon Cards for a Pokémon TCG Draft this year. We will be replacing this event with a BattleTech Gothic One-on-One Duel Draft Tournament instead. We apologize to our attendees who were looking forward to this event, and hope you will join us for BattleTech instead. Select the card to go to their respective sign-up form! (Reg. will open soon!) Registration: Battle Tech Gothic Draft Registration: MTG Draft Tournament: Board Game schedule All games are held in the Hal Haag Memorial Game Room (Watertable B) unless otherwise noted 8 Tables 25+ Scheduled Demos 150+ Games in Our Library

< Back Video Gaming We're still working on the full details of our video gaming room this year. Unfortunately, there will be no video game tournaments this year. But that doesn't mean that we wont have any video games, we do. Get your game on! Balticon 60 will feature 10 consoles this year, and our game library has approx 350 games , with both modern and retro consoles available. Reach out to gaming@balticon.org if you have games you really want to see! Tables Scheduled Demos 350 + Games in Our Library

< Back RPG Gaming Balticon 60 will have 3 tables now, 40+ game sessions, and round-the-clock tabletop role-playing games (RPG) where attendees can join one of our scheduled sessions. We also have a rpg library that has over 650 rpg books available. Games will take place between 4 p.m. Friday and Noon Monday. Throw for damage! What's your AC? Our GMs has diverse interests and broad experiences running various game systems. You can expect that the offerings this year will run the gamut of genres, settings, and historical epochs! GMs may prepare a single drop-in session, or plan a game over multiple days and times. Our volunteers will manage the RPG room. Responsibilities include keeping track of game sign-up sheets, letting GMs know when their session is almost over, helping to make sure tables are ready for the next game, and having fun. Thanks and “may all your hits be crits!” — The Balticon 60 RPG Team 3 Tables 40+ Scheduled Demos 650+ Games in Our Library

Programming Miniature Painting Workshops By Kron! Come learn to paint miniatures of all kinds with our esteemed Master miniature painter, Lord Kron! Read More Friday Night Filk Circle TBA Read More

Guests of Honor Jim Butcher Author Guest of Honor Jim Butcher is the author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, the Cinder Spires. His resume includes a laundry list of skills which were useful a couple of centuries ago, and he plays guitar quite badly. Read More Hayley Gelfuso 2026 Compton Crook Winner Hayley Gelfuso won the 2026 Compton Crook Award for her novel The Book of Lost Hours Read More Samantha Mills 2025 Compton Crook Winner Samantha Mills won the 2025 Compton Crook Award for her novel The Wings Upon Her Back Read More Frank Wu Artist Guest of Honor Frank is a two-time AnLab Award winner for outstanding science fiction writing, six-time Analog contributor, and a four-time Hugo Award winner. Read More The Faithful Sidekicks Music Guest of Honor The Faithful Sidekicks are the husband and wife Geek Rock duo of Eric and Jen Distad. Read More Andy Weir 2026 Robert A. Heinlein Award Andy Weir, novelist, is the 2026 winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Award. Read More Jennifer Blackstream Special Guest Jennifer Blackstream is a USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy and fantasy romance. Read More

Can't Make It to Baltimore? Enjoy Balticon Anywhere From your hotel room or your living room We understand all the challenges of going to a con. That’s why we’re dedicated to bringing a great con experience to you, wherever you are. Virtual members have access to live broadcast streams and virtual panels. This includes replays of all recorded panels on our YouTube channel. All memberships include access to Balticon Anywhere, even our in-person attendees! Streaming and Virtual With more than 120 hours of streamed content, there’s something for everyone. Enjoy Opening Ceremonies, Guest of Honor events, and our amazing Masquerade from Main Tent . Whether you love hard science, want to learn about building your fantasy village, or are interested in post-apocalyptic fiction, we’ve got you covered with four program rooms, streamed live and recorded to watch later. Our virtual panels open the door to authors, creators, and scientists all over the world who can’t make the trip to Baltimore. We have three virtual rooms : two dedicated to exclusive virtual-only panels and workshops, and a third as our Virtual Consuite where you will find author readings, discussions, and filkers. Balticon Anywhere uses multiple platforms to make the magic happen. All platforms are free to use and most can be used in a web browser. Some platforms require you to create a free account or download an app. (See below for more information on each platform we use. Click the arrows to expand!) Frequently asked questions Registration Accessibility Balticon Anywhere General Questions Am I registered yet? We know how hard it is to keep track of a tiny receipt for an entire year! If you want to check on the status of your registration, you can always visit https://reg.balticon.org/checkReg.php . If you do not want your name to appear on the site at all, please contact registration@balticon.org and ask to be removed from the Am I Registered Yet? feature. Please note that if you opt out, the only way to check the status of your registration will be to email us at registration@balticon.org and have our volunteers check manually. How do I get my badge? All badges will be at Balticon Registration, on the 5th floor of the hotel, in the Maryland Foyer. When you arrive at the hotel, take the elevators or stairs up to the 5th floor, then follow the signs. We are NOT in the same location as Hotel Registration. Which line do I stand in? For pickup of ALL badge types, start at the Check-in line. If you are not pre-registered and are purchasing your badge at the door, you will then head to the Cashier to finish payment. If you are pre-registering for next year and have ALREADY picked up your badge, you can go straight to the Cashier line. What payment methods do you accept? For online registration, we accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. You can also pay by check or money order through our mail-in registration. At the door, we accept cash, check or money orders, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. Are there any discounts available? Yes! We have discounts for: Young Adult category, for our members ages 13-25, Children under 12 are free! All children must be accompanied at all times by an adult. Active Duty Military and their family can receive $30 ($15 for Young Adult) off any membership at the door with valid ID. What about one-day memberships? Our early registration pricing is a really great deal if you might want to stay a second day, and a full-weekend membership is cheaper than two single days combined. However, if you really only have one day available, one-day memberships are available for purchase at the door, as well as upgrades from one-day to full-weekend. What if I'm attending with young children? Children 12 and under are free! We provide registration for Child badges along with your online registration, or they can be added at the door. When you arrive, we will provide a wristband with your phone number for your child to wear as well as their badge, since we understand that small children frequently remove their badges (for older children, it’s up to you whether you want one or not). Maryland state law requires that children under age 8 be accompanied by an adult at all times. We have a Children’s Programming track with activities for our youngest fans, including an option for short-term drop off, and the convention space is very stroller-friendly. Can I pick up my spouse/girlfriend/child's membership as well as my own? Maybe! You can pick up someone else’s membership IF one of the following is true: The two memberships share a last name. The two memberships share an address. The two memberships were purchased on the same transaction. You have ID for both memberships. Please double check badge names with the rest of your party before arriving. Do I have to use my real name? Yes and no. We use ID to match up the registration with the person who purchased the badge, so the “legal name” field on your registration does need to match some form of ID that you carry. The legal name field is only visible to Registration staff and is not used in any other capacity. You can use your preferred name for the rest of the registration, and your badge can say anything you want! (We currently cannot print special characters or emojis, and we request that you keep your Badge Name within the realm of good taste.) Do I have to show ID? No. You are more than welcome to pay cash for a badge at the door. However, if you purchased a badge, we would like to make sure that no one else picks up your badge, and that only you get the badge you paid for. We are very reasonable about what we consider valid ID, and your ID information is never stored anywhere; we just need to know the badge is going to the right person. You may also bring your receipt as proof of purchase, either printed or electronically. What happens to my email address if I give it to you? We will email you a copy of your receipt, if you register online or request an emailed receipt in person. We will email your personalized login link to access Balticon Anywhere and our virtual convention. We may use it to contact you individually if we need to (i.e. we found something with your name on it in our Lost & Found, you purchased a piece of artwork, there’s a question about your registration, etc). Our Publicity team will send out an informative email just before the convention to remind you about parking and where to pick up your badge, and we will subscribe you to our email newsletter (with an easy unsubscribe button at the bottom of every email), but we NEVER share your information without your explicit permission. What happens to my phone number if I give it to you? We may use it to contact you individually if we need to (i.e. we found something with your name on it in our Lost & Found, you purchased a piece of artwork, there’s a question about your registration, etc). We NEVER share your information without your explicit permission. Get your Balticon 60 Membership Does it sound like somewhere you want to be? We're so excited to have you join us! Purchase youe Balticon Anywhere ticket here!

< Back Dealers Room Balticon’s Dealers Room is like a pop-up mini mall of geeky goodness. You’ll find an assortment of vendors with all sorts of fannish delights, including books, games and gaming accessories, collectibles, clothing, jewelry, and more! Balticon’s Dealers Room is a curated selection of vendors catering to fandom. We offer space for everything from games and gaming paraphernalia to jewelry, booksellers, authors, and more. While Artist’s Alley focuses on artists and their creations, our Dealers Room is open to creators and resellers alike. We work hard to offer the members of Balticon a variety of selections so we’re careful to curate our vendor applications (this mostly means we try not to have duplicate vendors). Balticon’s Dealers Room is a curated selection of vendors catering to fandom. We offer space for everything from games and gaming paraphernalia to jewelry, booksellers, authors, and more. While Artist’s Alley focuses on artists and their creations, our Dealers Room is open to creators and resellers alike. We work hard to offer the members of Balticon a variety of selections so we’re careful to curate our vendor applications. This means we try not to have duplicate vendors. Please select the following button to be added to the email list: Balticon Dealers Room Registration We are only accepting vendors related to Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror literature and geek culture to ensure a good fit for our event (Companies not currently being accepted include but are not limited to: travel, home improvement, direct/home sales, etc.). Thank you for your understanding. Half Table (authors only) $100 6’ x 8’ space $190 10’ x 10’ space $330 To register for an Dealers Room table: Fill out the Dealers Room Application Form. After being accepted, you will receive an email with the Dealers Information Packet and a Square invoice. For more information, email dealers@balticon.org .

< Back Jay Smith Literary Author When the Old Gods return and ask where to find him, the survivors clinging to the dying skin of planet Earth will respond with one voice: "Who?" And when those gods weep over their loss, they will be set upon by the horde. Like red ants they will swarm the gods to drink their tears and feast upon their alien bodies and in doing so will inherit the power t surf the deep and vast cosmic channels and remember the name and realize that Jay Smith was not honored or even respected by the gods. He merely owed them money. Other Socials

< Back Beth Morris Tanner Fan Fan Beth is a long-time fan and occasional writer living between DC and Baltimore. She works in higher ed IT and has a random selection of hobbies including genealogy, photography, cooking and brewing. Other Socials