Future Worldcon and bid news

From Smofnews

Next year’s Seattle Worldcon 2025 (August 13-17) announced that its optional special Hugo category will be Best Poetry. An eligible poem is “within the speculative, science fiction, and fantasy genres, published in 2024, that is at least three lines.”

The Seattle Worldcon has also announced a Community Fund, starting with $30,000 in seed money, to assist four groups in attending: first-timers from the Pacific Northwest; LGBTQIA+ fans; BIPOC/AANHPI fans; and fans from anywhere in the Global South. Applications have not yet opened. Those wishing to donate to the fund can do so through the con’s registration portal.

LA in 2026, now LAcon V, won the vote easily to hold the 84th Worldcon on August 27-31, 2026 in Anaheim, California. Fears of a stealth write-in campaign were unrealized. Guests of Honor will be Barbara Hambly, Ronald D. Moore, Colleen Doran, Dr. Anita Sengupta, Tim Kirk, Geri Sullivan, Stan Sakai, and Ursula Vernon.

The bid for Kampala, Uganda in 2028 has changed its proposed location to Kigali, Rwanda.

The Brisbane in 2028 bid is reconsidering its dates for the convenience of those travelling to Australia for the 2028 solar eclipse.