Welcome to Swancon! Whether you are joining us for the very first time or returning after a hiatus, this guide will help you understand what makes our event so unique, how it’s structured, and what you can expect over the weekend.
What is Swancon?
Swancon is a unique, conference-style convention. It beautifully blends elements of academic and knowledge-industry conferences with the vibrant energy of pop-culture conventions.
However, Swancon stands apart from both in one major way: it is 100% volunteer fan-run and entirely shaped by the interests and contributions of our community.
Swancon is An Evolving Event: Each Swancon is run by an independent committee of volunteers that changes from year to year. Because each committee has full discretion over the theme, guests, venue, and program, every single Swancon is a unique reflection of our diverse community.
Panels & Traditions
While every year brings fresh flair, there are several core traditions that make a con a Swancon.
Concurrent Panel Streams
Panels are the backbone of the Swancon program. Throughout the entire event, you can choose from a diverse set of spec-fic and fan related moderated discussions and presentations curated from community proposals. Typical topics include:
- Deep dives into specific genres and tropes.
- The craft of writing, fan fiction, and transformative works.
- Spotlights on authors, film, TV, art, comics, and costuming.
- Expert presentations on science-adjacent topics to enhance your speculative fiction knowledge.
- Fun community activities like fan karaoke and trivia.
- Guest talks and presentations
Family Stream
We pride ourselves on being inclusive to fans of all ages. Our dedicated family stream takes place in a parent/child-friendly area and features engaging activities like arts and crafts, family board games, plush toy making, the famous plush toy wars tournament, and a nerf shooting gallery.
Board Gaming & Video Gaming Streams
Gaming runs continuously at Swancon, and many members attend for this stream alone!
- Tabletop games: A large dedicated area for casual, impromptu board games as well as scheduled tournaments.
- Digital gaming: A standalone video gaming stream featuring casual play and structured tournaments, co-op challenges, and demonstrations from indi game devs.
The Dealers Room
Unlike the massive exhibition halls of mega-cons, the Swancon Dealers Room is a specialised affair (typically around a dozen stallholders). It is a curated space where you can browse and purchase fan-friendly wares like books, games, art, and pop-culture curiosities, or chat with local community groups.
Casual Social Catch-ups
One of the best parts of Swancon is the community itself. With plenty of casual hangout spaces, lounges, and often an accessible bar or cafe at the venue, it’s incredibly easy to meet like-minded people. Don’t be surprised if you spend hours just chatting and completely miss a formal panel or two!
Evening Events & Official Business
Swancon programming runs from the morning straight through to late at night. Here are the major evening milestones to look out for:
The Masquerade Party
A signature social highlight of the convention. Con-goers come together to dance, chat, and party. Costumes are highly encouraged (though not mandatory!), making it the perfect opportunity for fannish cosplay. The night typically features fan-favorite tracks spun by a DJ and costume awards. This year we will also be featuring entertaining cabaret performances showcasing community talent.
The Awards Ceremony
Swancon proudly hosts the WA Science Fiction Foundation Awards (the “Tin Ducks”) to celebrate Western Australian creatives producing work in the speculative fiction field.
Note: In years where Swancon hosts the National Convention (NatCon), this ceremony also includes the prestigious Ditmar Awards, a popularly voted accolade recognizing outstanding work by Australian creatives nationwide. Swancon50 will be host to the 2026 Ditmar Awards.
The Business Meetings (Your Voice Counts!)
It sounds formal, but it’s actually where the magic happens. The annual WASFF AGM (and NatCon business meeting, when applicable) is your chance to directly shape the future of the convention. At this meeting, members elect the WASFF committee, and future committees “bid” by presenting their ideas for the next Swancon. The next venue and committee are chosen by a majority vote of the attendees in the room.
Choose Your Own Adventure
There is no “right” way to experience Swancon. Whether you want to spend your weekend packed into writing panels, locked in a 10-hour board game strategy session, or just catching up with friends over coffee, the diversity of our event means there is plenty on offer for fans of all kinds.
Welcome to the community!
