Progress Report 3 - Readme

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Chair’s Update

‘We are concern, we are hope despite the times.’ So wrote Michael Stipe in 1986.

Sometimes it seems that we are too afraid to hope. And here we are now, at a point when value and values can seem to have no value. These are difficult times. What we can hope to do here is somehow reconnect, somehow reinforce the values that we as a community have.

We called this convention Iridescence because we wanted to celebrate our diversity and creativity. It’s only become more important to do so.

As you’ll see from this final progress report and guide to the convention, all the teams, which includes many of you, have been and are working incredibly hard. I want to thank you all for this, for everything you are doing to bring together an amazing event.

I look forward to welcoming you to Birmingham for this Eastercon, and I hope we will be able together to find and share hope for the future.
Peace, out.
Phil

Our guests of honour: RJ Barker, Karen Lord, Emma Newman, and Serena and John Culfeather

Access

If you require a large print copy of this document or the programme grids, please enquire at Registration Desk and one will be printed for you.

We do not police who uses which toilets and we do not expect our attendees to do so either (refer to the Code of Conduct). We expect people to use the toilet that makes them comfortable and respect others’ need for privacy.

All areas of the convention except for one corridor and one female/male toilet have step-free access. Both are clearly marked in signage and on maps of the convention spaces. There are numerous accessible toilet facilities that are step-free.

We remind all members that some disabilities are invisible and there is no requirement for those disabilities to be disclosed. No one’s ability/disability, desire for no photographs, or choice of pronoun should be challenged in the absence of a badge, sticker, lanyard, etc. The convention is making available a variety of stickers, badges and cards for the use of members to help with support and assistance that are needed. There will also be blank cards available, in case the pre-made ones don’t cover your circumstances. It is entirely your choice whether or not you wear one or more of these.

Please avoid bringing nuts into the public spaces of the convention (your own room is fine). Be aware that nut allergy is one of the most serious allergies and if you have been eating nuts, make sure you have washed your hands and face afterwards (in the most extreme cases, even this level of contact can cause a reaction).

Please refrain from applying scented products while in the public spaces of the convention, including toilets. (It is fine to wear scented products, but please apply them in your own hotel room or outside).

If you have pre-booked a mobility scooter or childcare, information will be sent to you directly.

If you are staying at the convention hotel during the event and have any questions or concerns about the accessibility of hotel rooms, we ask that you contact the hotel directly.

You can find more information on our access policy and audit.

Quiet Spaces

There will be at least one dedicated quiet space in the convention hotel. Quiet room will be a suite and will not be shared with Haruhicon. Once the suite location is confirmed we will reflect that on the virtual maps.

Listeners

There will be listeners available for the duration of the convention. Listeners are here for discussions around the Code of Conduct and other things that might be bothering you. If you need to talk to someone, get in touch. There are several ways to contact a listener:

Member portal

The member portal is your one-stop-shop for all the resources you should need during the convention, such as programme guide, maps, readme and more. It also allows you to join our convention Discord to chat with other members about your latest special interest, as well as talk about specific programme items.

Registration Desk

The At-Con Registration Desk is located in front of Oxford, near Hotel Registration and about the first thing you walk past when coming in the main entrance to the Hilton!

Please bring along your membership purchase confirmation email or any form of identification when you come to collect your membership. This is simply to help our staff and volunteers make sure we’re giving your membership to the right person. This is particularly important this year as we are sharing the space with another convention.

We understand that people’s badge names, lived names, and registration names may differ, and that not everyone has ID that matches all aspects of their identity. That’s completely okay. We’re not checking for a specific name or photo, just for something that helps us confirm that you’re the person who should be collecting the membership. You can use any type of ID you’re comfortable showing, such as a bank card, library card, student ID, driver’s licence, bus pass, passport, Citizen Card, PASS card, concessionary travel pass, or anything similar that shows your name (and ideally, but not necessarily, a photo).

If you cannot find your original membership email or if you’re unsure what to bring, don’t have ID that matches your registered details, or would like to talk privately about this, please email members@eastercon026.org. We’re very happy to discuss options and make sure the process feels safe and respectful for you

Opening Hours:

Thursday: 16.00 – 18.00
Friday: 9.00 – 17.00
Saturday: 9.00 – 17.00
Sunday: 9.00 – 17.00

For out-of-hours collection of pre-registered badges, please go to Operations.

Discord

Yes, we have a Discord. We are using the Member Portal to manage the process so once you are logged into the portal, click the Chat card to join the convention Discord. Hopefully you’ve had a direct email about the Member Portal, but if not check your spam folder. If you do run into problems accessing Discord then please email discord@eastercon2026.org

Volunteers

Volunteers at convention will be co-ordinated by EmJay, and there will be a presence throughout at the hub in Oxford to contact in person if needed, or if you want to volunteer but haven’t reached out beforehand.

There will also be a physical sign up sheet in the hub for door dragons - please do come and sign up (or ask for information) if you’re interested! There’s plenty still to do at the convention so let us know if you want to get involved.

We will also be monitoring the convention discord, so if anyone wants to reach out digitally, please do!

Newsletter

There will be a convention newsletter at Iridescence! You will be able to pick up copies on paper from the Registration Desk or it will also be available through the convention portal.

We rely on you sending us short, snappy, interesting stories, scoops and gossip, all to newsletter@eastercon2026.org, or hand them in to ops or the Newsletter Room located in Windsor.

Map

Map of the venue

We also have an interactive map that lets you pan, zoom and search for rooms. We have packed it full with as much extra information as we could.

PictCon 2 - A Science Fiction Convention. 17th October 2026. The Salutation Hotel, Perth. Guest: Editor and Author Neil Williamson. PictCon.Com or Eventbrite: PictCon2

Programme

We are very excited about the programme we have for you for Iridescence, and by the time you read this it will be live and available for you to view and start planning your Eastercon schedule.

Digital programme guide

Our digital programme guide, ConClár, lets you not only browse what’s on, but also build your own personal schedule. And this year, if you log in, you will be able to pick your items on your laptop or desktop computer, and have it automatically sync with your phone. No QR scanning needed!

Entertainment

We have some fabulous entertainment lined up for you over the weekend. Just a few highlights. On Friday, we have ‘Lucky for None’ played live, karaoke, and a poetry open mic. On Saturday, in the afternoon we have the unmissable Cosmic Circus, followed by the fan funds auction, Andrew Wallace performing ‘My Flesh is False’, two dramatic presentations, and a film screening, as well of course as a disco. On Sunday, we have the BSFA Awards, a Fan Funds panel quiz, Outrageous Liars, and we are especially delighted to welcome Juliette Burton to perform ‘The Villain Era’. Juliette is an award-winning comedian, writer, presenter, mental health activist and journalist, and a huge nerd who is really looking forward to visiting Eastercon, and we know you’ll give her a warm welcome! And on Monday morning there is the now-traditional Octothorpe Live! podcast recording.

And of course we have many many great panels lined up, and talks, including the Science Fiction Foundation Hay Lecture on ‘Stranger than Fiction: Creatures of the Deep’ by marine biologist Dr Tasha Phillips, and the BSFA Lecture by Dr Rosemary Alexander-Jones on ‘From Reel to Real - Film Locations Beyond the Screen’.

We are very grateful to the Dublin in 2029 Worldcon bid for sponsoring the Cosmic Circus, the Nuremberg in 2028 Worldcon bid for sponsoring our karaoke session, and the Brisbane in 2028 Worldcon bid for sponsoring ‘How to Crochet a Dragon’.

Virtual programme

Almost all the items in the five main programme rooms will be streamed live, and you will be able to access this through the members’ portal. After the convention items will be available for catch-up for 30 days (but please allow time for us to process these!). We will also have threads in the convention discord for discussing programme items as they are happening.

We are very grateful to LAcon V, the 2026 Worldcon, for sponsoring our virtual programme.

Workshops, book groups, and table talks

There are workshops for writers, people interested in crafts (would you like to crochet a dragon?) and just fun things (have you ever tried erasure poetry?).

We are also running three Guest of Honour book groups – on RJ Barker’s The Bone Ships, Karen Lord’s The Galaxy Game, and Emma Newman’s Planetfall. So make sure you’ve read the book and come along at the convention to discuss one of these!

There will also be table talks for the Guests of Honour, which will take place in the fan social lounge.

You will need to sign up for workshops, book groups and table talks.

You can do this online through the members’ portal from the Friday of the convention, or if you can’t get online easily, go to reg desk and they will be
able to help you.

You will need to make sure we have a way to contact you to tell you if you have a place!

Meetups

We also have some informal meetups which will be in the fan lounge, including one for people new to Eastercons, the fountain pen meetup, and other fan-themed meetups. You don’t have to sign up for these, just come along!

As ever, the unfortunate restrictions of space and time and availability mean we haven’t been able to include all the brilliant programme items that we and you thought of, but thank you so much for everything that you suggested and we hope you will enjoy what’s on – and there’s always next year!

Gaming at Iridescence

Game sign-ups

We are running some games which are listed on ConClár. If you are interested in signing up for these, please visit the members’ portal and fill in the appropriate Google form! Content warnings and age ranges for each game are available on the programme. Pre-generated characters, dice and pencils will be available for all roleplaying games.

Games Room

The Games Room will be located in London and contains board games and tables for play. This is also where the RPGs listed on the schedule will be played! You’re welcome to hang out in the Games Room when people aren’t playing, but if people are looking for a space to play a game, please make way for them and move into other areas of the con. Overflow gaming space is available in the bar or in Ascot and Sunningdale, but note that the latter rooms are only accessible by going up some stairs.

We are looking for volunteers to look after the Games Room during the convention; if you are interested, please visit the Volunteer hub in Oxford or talk to John Coxon in the Games Room.

The opening times are as follows:

Friday 15:00–21:00
Saturday 10:00–21:00
Sunday 10:00–21:00
Monday 10:00–14:00

Art Show

Welcome to the art show! We have 47 artists this year, some of them new to Eastercons. There will be something for everyone: paintings, drawings, photography, pottery, jewellery, textiles, plus small items such as greetings cards and mugs. There will also be a space for young con-goers to display their art, and a Guest of Honour display. There is no auction, so buying artwork is very straightforward.

Opening hours:

Friday preview 15.00-17.00, sales open 17.00-20.00
Saturday 10.00-18.00
Sunday 10-16.00, collection of purchased work 16.00-18.00

Dealers

We have 46 dealers selling everything including books, jewellery, art, books, t-shirts, plushies and even some books, and 15 fan organisations who will be available to chat all things convention and fandom.

Opening hours:

Friday 3rd April - 3pm - 8pm
Saturday 4th April - 10am - 6pm
Sunday 5th April 10am - 6pm
Monday 6th April 10am - 2pm

Whether dealer accepts groats is up to the individual dealer. However, from experience of past events, many of them will. They will also take cash and many will accept card payments.

Members of HaruhiCon will be allowed in the Dealers space and we are also allowed in their Dealer space.

The dealers and fan orgs are all looking forward to seeing you over the weekend!

Food and Drink are not allowed in the Art Show or Dealers room. A volunteer will be at the entrance to check con badges and will hold any food or drink items for you while you browse.

A bid to bring Worldcon back to Dublin, Ireland in Summer 2029 info@dublin2029.ie www.dublin2029.ie

Hotel Information

Parking

You can book parking at the hotel at a cost of ÂŁ14 per night, using the below link and code.

Car park link: Parking || Hilton Birmingham Metropole
Car Parking Code: BQGZX

The car park works on an ANPR system so you will need to ensure that you have paid for your parking to get out of the car park. On entry, the system will just read the registration.

Food and Drink

All catering outlets at the hotel are card only, including the food trucks

Brightsmith Restaurant

  • Open daily 17.00 – late
  • Reservations required
  • Standard menu and prices in operation

Gild Bar

  • Open 24 hours for food and beverages
  • First‐come, first‐served seating; ordering via QR code from the Gild menu
  • It will be serving two menus: a condensed version of their standard menu, and a Jacket Potato, Sandwich & Toastie Menu at the listed prices
  • Also serving pizza, bacon rolls and spicy wedges between 23.00 and 02.00
  • 20% discount on food and beverages from the condensed menu with a con badge

Arbor Restaurant

  • Will be opened if required to act as overflow seating for the Gild bar
  • First‐come, first‐served seating
  • Items will be ordered through Gild, with the same 20% discount on the condensed menu and beverages

Gild to Go

  • A mini bar for alcohol and soft drinks, with a 20% discount with a con badge
  • It will also be serving the Jacket Potato, Sandwich & Toastie Menu at list prices
  • Recommended for both coffee and “grab and go” items to avoid potential delays in the Gild kitchen

Ale Bar

  • This will be serving a selection of cask and keg beers from the Attic Brewery
  • The ale bar will be in the lobby near Gild and will open 11am–2am (Fri–Sun) and 11am–close on Monday, with closing time dependent on how busy it is.

Food Trucks

  • Three options which will vary daily: Street Souvlaki (Greek BBQ street food), Victoria Creperie desserts (Easter-themed menu), Nayia’s Nuggies (with variations/specials daily i.e nuggets, fried chicken, loaded fries)
  • Open: Friday 17:00 – 21:00, Saturday & Sunday 12:00 – 21:00, Monday 12:00 –15:00

Room Service

  • Standard room service will be available via the in‐room QR code at list price
Nuremberg 2028 Worldcon Bid. Central Europe hasn't hosted a Worldcon since 1970. It's time to begin a new era! Proposed Dates: Thursday, 13 July to Monday, 17 July 2028. Find us at our fan table to learn more and help name our NĂŒrnbird! https://nuremberg2028.de

Travel Guide

Iridescence will be held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel, which is located within the NEC (National Exhibition Centre) Campus, approximately 14 miles to the south east of Birmingham City Centre. The NEC is located next to both Birmingham International Airport, and Birmingham International Railway Station.

This travel guide is intended to give an overview of ways of travelling to Iridescence. We have more comprehensive travel information on the Irisdescence Travel Guide webpage, including detailed information regarding planned closures of train services and alternatives. You may also wish to read through the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel’s travel guide.

Whilst we have attempted to cover the widest possible number of routes and methods of travel, this guide cannot cover every possible option for travel to the convention. We hope that the guidance, and links provided, will help you to plan your journey. The information in this guide was correct as at 23rd February 2026.

UK Visa Process

Iridescence is importing its At-Con Registration Head from the US just to give detailed, first-hand experience with the new visa process for our
members! Read Colette’s UK Visa Process - first hand account.

Airports

The nearest airport is Birmingham International Airport, (IATA code BHX) branded as ‘Birmingham Airport’.

The airport is located next door to the NEC Campus. Follow the directions for ‘Air-Rail link’ or ‘NEC & Resorts World’ to use the free shuttle facility to travel from the airport terminal building to the NEC.

Birmingham Airport has numerous flights to cities across Europe, and some flights from further afield, including India and the United Arab Emirates. The airport is particularly well served for flights to the island of Ireland, including to and from Dublin Airport, which has United States border preclearance services for US-bound passengers.

If you intend to fly home from Birmingham, we advise leaving sufficient time to pass through the airport’s security checks - the queues can often be lengthy, and very slow moving.

Other airports

If you are arriving by plane, you may arrive into any of the London airports at Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton or Stansted. Connections from any of these airports to the convention site are available by train, or coach, or you may choose to hire your own vehicle.

If you are travelling from any of these airports, to Birmingham, via central London, please see the ‘Domestic (UK) Train services’ section below for important information about train services over the Easter weekend. Please be aware that the Gatwick Express train service will run an amended timetable on both Friday 3rd April and Monday 6th April, as these are both Bank Holidays in England.

Train services

Members who have attended Eastercon in recent years will be aware that Network Rail, the company responsible for maintaining the British rail infrastructure, often undertake significant projects over the Easter weekend.

We understand that it can feel frustrating that these engineering works often involve the railways lines and train services that serve the Eastercon venue. This year, there will be significant engineering works in the London Euston area, as well as additional works on the West Coast Mainline in the north-west of England, and in Scotland.

Domestic (UK) train services

The nearest railway station to the convention venue is Birmingham International (National Rail Code: BHI). It is located immediately to the west of the NEC Campus, and the two facilities are linked by a covered walkway.

Platforms at Birmingham International are accessible by lifts, escalators and stairs. There are ticket control barriers, including wider gates for passengers using wheelchairs or mobility scooters, or who have large items of luggage.

For assistance in planning any rail journey within Great Britain, please use the National Rail website. You can also check for any planned engineering works by selecting your route and your proposed date of travel. You can also search for planned works impacting specific train operators, if you wish.

Eurostar

Eurostar is an international train service, linking the UK directly to France, Belgium and the Netherlands by a high-speed, cross-border railway service, which utilises the channel tunnel to cross the English Channel. From the stations at Brussels, Lille and Paris, there are connections to other cities, most notably throughout France, but also to Germany and Switzerland.

In the UK, Eurostar trains arrive at London St Pancras station. That station is served by domestic train services, as is London Kings Cross, which is situated immediately adjacent to St Pancras. A short walk away is London Euston. Other London termini can be reached using London Underground (‘tube’) services, buses, or taxis.

Sail-Rail

Members travelling from the island of Ireland, may wish to use rail and ferry services. ‘Sail Rail’ is a scheme which offers combined tickets.

Further details of this service are summarised on the Man in Seat 61 website. Please note the restrictions regarding how tickets are issued, especially within the Republic of Ireland. The linked website discusses travel between the island of Ireland and London - but journeys to Birmingham are available.

Coaches

Long-distance coach services run from cities and towns across Great Britain to Birmingham Airport, where they stop outside the airport terminal building. From there, the ‘Air-Rail link’ shuttle detailed in the airports section above will provide a transfer to the railway station, and the covered walkway to the NEC Campus.

Generally, tickets on coach services must be booked in advance.

National Express operates services to Birmingham Airport from numerous locations, including many of the London airports. They also run services from a very wide number of locations to their coach station in Digbeth in central Birmingham, from where you may transfer to the NEC campus via either a local train service (see above), or local bus service (see below).

Flixbus are also an operator of long-distance coach services, operating from various locations across Great Britain to Birmingham. They also provide services to Europe from London, where transfers to services to Birmingham can be made.

Local Bus Services

Information concerning buses in the West Midlands can be found on the Transport For West Midlands website.

Tickets for bus services are bought at the point of travel. A single journey costs ÂŁ3, and can be paid for using a contactless card or cash. If using cash, please be aware that drivers cannot give change, so you must have the correct coins available.

Using your own vehicle

If you are driving to Eastercon, please note the car parking charges at the convention hotel. Given that the Eastercon venue is located within the NEC Campus, we anticipate that all hotels will charge for their car parking. Please check costs using the website for your hotel if you are not staying at the Metropole.

SatNav/GPS address and postcode: Hilton Birmingham Metropole, Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1PP

The NEC Campus is very easy to reach, being located near to the junctions of the M6 and M42 motorways. At the time of drawing up this guide, we are not aware of any significant roadworks on the motorways which pass near the NEC campus. The M6, M42 and M40 are not scheduled to have any relevant closures that we are currently aware of. This position may change.

However, Eastercon is held on a weekend which includes two English Bank Holidays, and this is traditionally a very busy time on the roads. Up to date travel alerts can be found on the Highways England website here.

Please take the time to plan your journey to Eastercon carefully, and in advance of your departure. All methods of transport can be expected to be very busy.

Satellite 9. Three days of Science Fiction, Science Fact, and Science Fun. Guest of Honour Liz Williams. Clayton Hotel, Glasgow. 22nd - 24th May 2029. https://Nine.SatelliteX.org.uk

The Doc Weir Award and Why you should vote  for it

Named in memory of Dr Arthur Rose ‘Doc’ Weir and first presented in 1963, the Award is presented annually to someone who the members of that year’s Eastercon think has made a noteworthy contribution to UK fandom. I was absolutely stunned – and more deeply honoured than I can ever express – to be chosen as the 2025 winner.

In common with many others, I do most of my volunteering behind the scenes, creating the programme for our own Satellite Conventions and, in 2024, the Glasgow Worldcon Science Track. This involves hundreds of hours’ effort over many months – generating programme ideas, soliciting participants, and permutating programme items – and then it’s all over in just a few days. Receiving the Doc Weir Award is a recognition from fellow fans that your contribution to the community is noticed and appreciated, and that’s why it means so much.

So, please, if you know someone who devotes their time, effort, ideas or support to make things happen in fandom, consider nominating them for the 2026 Doc Weir Award. The Awardee is chosen by means of a write-in ballot, and all members of Iridescence are entitled to vote. You can do it on paper or online via this voting ballot.

Christine Davidson holding the Doc Weir trophy
Christine Davidson (2025 Doc Weir Award Winner)

Fan Funds Revisited

Roll up for ribbons

Following on from our amazingly successful Amazeballs tombola and our quietly effective silent auction at previous conventions, at Iridescence the League of Fan Funds will introduce a potentially propitious lucky dip to give you the chance to add to your fannish ribbon collection. Or alternatively to donate your spare ribbons to a good cause.

Yes, we’re announcing a ribbon amnesty for all those who want to make a gentle start on decluttering but can’t bear to see their stockpiles go to waste: bring along your unused ribbons to the fan funds table in the dealers’ room and hand them over with no questions asked. Those of you who are confident that you can give up the habit any time you like can instead contribute £1 to the fan funds to have a rummage in the lucky dip and get a fresh ribbon to take away (6 dips for a fiver).

There should be more fun to be had at the fan funds table, but you’ll have to come to see us to find out what it is. (This is totally to heighten the anticipation and not in any way due to personal circumstances disrupting some of our plans for this year; like most things in SF fandom, fan funds are run by volunteers.)

You can also make donations of money or choice items for future fundraising at the table – although due to volunteer and space limitations we can’t accept unexpected bulky donations this time. Contact us in advance (leagueff.uk@gmail.com) about any larger donations you might like to make; or come and talk to us at the con and we’ll see what can be arranged for the future.

There’s also going to be a fan tables forum on the con Discord server, where we’ll have an online fan funds table and will try to replicate some of the onsite fun.

Prepare for programme

We’ll have a live auction on Saturday evening, and a panel game on Sunday in which former TAFF and GUFF delegates try to remember where they’ve been, work out where they’re going, and guess what the rest of fandom thinks they’re doing.

There will be a catalogue provided in advance showing most of the items available for auction, so that you shouldn’t miss something you’d want to bid on. That also means if you’ve got something exciting to donate for this year’s auction, we need you to tell us the details as soon as possible before the con (email leagueff.uk@gmail.com, as before).

The auction should be streamed, but online members will need to buddy up with someone on site who can bid for you. (The ribbon amnesty will not be televised.)

Vote early, vote often

Voting is still under way in the latest TAFF (TransAtlantic Fan Fund) race which will be sending a delegate to the Eurocon, Metropol Con, in Berlin at the beginning of July. You can vote online, by post, or in person at Iridescence. That, too, is something you can do at the fan funds table – where you’ll also find a ballot box for the Doc Weir Award, as described above.

The EFF (European Fan Fund) has extended the nomination deadline for this year’s race – also heading for the Eurocon, as usual – until 29 March, and if a voting stage follows, as expected, that will also be happening during Iridescence.

Meanwhile, congratulations to Farah Mendlesohn, who won the recent GUFF (Going Under Fan Fund) race and will be travelling to Australia to attend Swancon 50 in Perth at the end of May.

LAcon V - The 84th World Science Fiction Convention. August 21-27, 2026, Anaheim, California. lacon.org. Guests: Barbara Hambly, Ronald D. Moore, Collen Doran, Dr. Anita Sengupta, Tim Kirk, Gerri Sullivan, Stan Sakai, Ursula Vernon (Toastmaster), Terese Pierre, Tracy Drain, Tracy BaptisteBrisbane 2029: a Worldcon Bid. We invite you to come Down Under. Vote for us in LAcon V's site Selection, Help fund our campaign... Pre-Support now at https://www.brisbane28.org. Check out or website to learn more or Volunteer. July 27-31, 2028 https://www.brisbane28.org

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Volunteer conventions thrive because of the generosity, enthusiasm and support of our community and our fellow convention running companions. Conventions supporting conventions enables the whole community to flourish. We are delighted and grateful to recognise the contributions of the following groups whose backing has helped us bring a rich and vibrant programme to life.

LAcon V

We are very grateful to LAcon V, the 2026 Worldcon, for sponsoring our virtual programme. Their support has enabled us to stream almost all items taking place in the five main programme rooms. Providing a great virtual experience is something that Lacon V deeply believes in. They are planning
a robust virtual programme and membership engagement for those joining online. Fans who cannot travel to the convention will be able to contribute and celebrate the Worldcon wherever they are in the world.

Nuremberg in 2028 Worldcon Bid

Fans love to sing! We know it and so do the Nuremberg in 2028 Worldcon bid who are sponsoring our fan filled Karaoke for All session. They will be there to sing and dance along with us in Pavilion on Friday from 21:00 to 23:00. Everyone is welcome. Come along and sing (or lip synch) your heart out.

Brisbane in 2028 Worldcon Bid

We all know that before you train your dragon you need to catch it. However, since dragons are an incredibly rare and protected species, we’ve
an alternative option - crochet!! We gratefully acknowledge the Brisbane in 2028 Worldcon bid for sponsoring How to Crochet a Dragon. This workshop will run in Sussex on Sunday from 10:30 to 11:30.

Dublin in 2029 Worldcon Bid

Stars and stories. Music and Dance. Art and Science. These are integral to the Dublin 2029 Worldcon Bid therefore it is no surprise that they are helping us bring them to you through sponsoring the Cosmic Circus. This joyful and imaginative performance will be held in Sandringham on Saturday from 16:30 to 17:30. Join Dr Emma and Dr Pepper as they combine circus arts with science fiction and space science in an energetic
and playful show filled with curious science, physical comedy and moments of wonder. The performance is directed by Megan Brewer and is open to all.

Glasgow 2024, A Worldcon for Our Futures

Our heartfelt thanks go to Glasgow 2024 for their support of the bursary fund. Their contribution, together with the generosity of our members, has enabled us to bring more people to the convention and to support our community in meaningful and tangible ways. We are in this together, always.

Iridescence Committee

Phil Dyson - The Chair
Phil Nanson - The Money
Caroline Mersey - The Secretary
Virginia Preston - The Programme
James “JT” Turner - The Tech
James Shields - The Website
JC Clarke - The IT Wrangler
Meg MacDonald - The Comms

Volunteers

Access/Inclusion - SJ Groenewegen; Aide de Info - Zi Graves; Art Show - Tim & Jackie; Duckworth; Communications Team - Ed Fortune; Convention Art - España Sherrif; Dealers - Dave Lascelles; Gaming - John Coxon; GoH liaison - Farah M, Alice Lawson; Green Room - Kari Sperring; IT - Andrew January; Listeners Leads- Alice Lawson, Kate Wood, Listeners Team - Brian Nisbet, Shana Worthen, Doug Spencer, JJ Brutsman, Tammy Coxen, Pat McMurray, John Dodd; Members Discord - Ang Rosin; Membership - Zoe Thompson; Newsletter - Alison Scott; Ops - Dave Mansfield; Programme Ops Leads - Virginia Preston, JC Clarke; Programme Team - Ali Baker Brooks, Heidi, Juliette Randle, Kari Sperring, Kate Towner, Nicholas Jackson, John Coxon, Meg MacDonald; Publications - Eleanor Roberts; Registration - Colette Fozard; Staff Discord - Andrew January;
Volunteers - Roseanna Pendlebury

Thanks to all our volunteers for giving up their time to make the convention possible.