Schedule Released on Website and Guidebook

The schedule for Worldcon is available! There are over 1,000 sessions of programming, delivered by over 800 panelists and performers across 44 tracks. The schedule is available on our website and on Guidebook, an online app and web platform which provides the most complete linkage information between the schedule items, panelists, their full schedules, and other activities during the convention.

The schedule is mostly complete, but additions are coming every day. Two areas which will extensively grow over the coming weeks are in-person concerts and virtual-only content, programming content which is exclusively online, delivered by remote panelists from around the world (there have already been 175 streaming panels and events added for virtual attendees). Two particular areas of emphasis are speculative poetry and participatory content to honor the Emerald City’s maker culture, including writing classes, hands-on workshops, and crafting content. Start building your schedule in Guidebook today, and share your favorites online.

Some content, like table talks and some classes and workshops, have participation limits and require advance signup. Advance signup is not yet available; however, the means to do so will be announced in the weeks ahead.

Merch, Merch, MERCH!!

Seattle Worldcon has opened its Merch Store for the public to get special items to commemorate Worldcon’s return to Seattle, using our signature iconography and featuring two convention T-shirt designs with artwork by Guest of Honor Donato Giancola. Limited quantities of merchandise will be available for purchase onsite, but why wait? Guarantee your size will be available and skip the lines by ordering today. The Merchandise Page on our website also contains links to our special fabric designs.

Hugo Voting Ends Soon

We’re getting down to the wire! Worldcon members have only until 11:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7) on Wednesday, July 23, to record their votes for this year’s Hugo Awards. Our How to Vote page has the instructions! There is still time to download and mail a printable ballot, or you can do all your voting business electronically—including filling out your ballot in progress and updating it continuously with all your new decisions—through the registration portal.

Seattle Worldcon 2025 Film Festival Announces Winning Films

The Seattle Worldcon 2025 Film Festival celebrates science fiction, fantasy, and horror films from around the globe, and is free to all attending members of the Worldcon. Over 70 films will be shown during the festival, out of 180 entries received from 33 countries. We intentionally embrace and foster new voices in speculative fiction, including those of BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+ film creators. We waived submission fees for BIPOC and women directors, with over 50% of submissions benefiting from this initiative.

Seattle Worldcon Film Festival 2025 logo written in blue and white retro text over a cartoonish blue and white film strip and highlighted with gold four-pointed retro stars.

The Seattle Worldcon 2025 Film Festival’s judges would like to congratulate our picks for the Best Films:

• Best Short Film: Invasion ’53
  Directed by: Danielle Weinberg
  Country of Origin: United States
  Showing: Film Festival Block B – Wednesday August 14, 6 p.m.
• Best Feature Film: Battledream Chronicle
  Directed by: Alan Bidard
  Country of Origin: Martinique
  Showing: Film Festival Block J – Sunday, August 17, 9 a.m.
• Best Fantasy Film: An Old Friend
  Directed by: Nuk Suwanchote
  Country of Origin: United States
  Showing: Film Festival Block F – Friday, August 16, 9 a.m.
• Best Science Fiction Film: Project Alpha: Terminal Embrace
  Directed by: Kunlin Wang
  Country of Origin: China
  Showing: Film Festival Block C – Thursday August 15, noon
• Best Horror Film: Catty Bete
  Directed by: Mariel Haickel
  Country of Origin: Brazil
  Showing: Film Festival Block K – Sunday, August 17, 3 p.m.
• Best Pacific Northwest Film: Superior Subject
  Directed by: J.D. Henning
  Country of Origin: United States
  Showing: Film Festival Block H – Saturday, August 16, noon
• Best Animated Film: Howl if You Love Me
  Directed by: John R. Dilworth
  Country of Origin: United States
  Showing: Film Festival Block J – Sunday, August 17, 9 a.m.

Join the Crew—Volunteer With Fringe!

The calendar is all set and it’s not long until the fun begins! If you want to join the volunteer crew for the Worldcon and have an hour here or there, consider volunteering to help with Worldcon’s Fringe, where attendees meet up outside of the con to enjoy the city and one another’s company. As a Fringe guide, your main job will be to hold the Very Official Fringe Sign to help attendees meet up. It’s the perfect role for someone who is:

• Okay with standing or walking (potentially up and down hills—it’s Seattle, after all!)
• Familiar with Seattle… or just willing to jump in
• Available sometime between August 10 and August 19
• Excited to connect with other speculative fiction fans

If that sounds like a good way to pitch in, please fill out our volunteer interest form before July 31, and make sure to say you’re interested in helping with Fringe!

And if you’d rather just enjoy some great Seattle-area activities, please check out the Fringe webpage and RSVP to any and all events you’re interested in. You can also add them straight to your Google calendar. We can’t wait to see you there!

Build Ahead a Kinetic Sculpture to Race at Con on Sunday!

The Worldcon schedule has 50 hands-on workshop sessions, participatory and fun events geared towards building new skills and giving members the opportunity to make a thing at con, whether a felted tentacle, a professional sounding podcast, or a complete short film through our 12-part Let’s Make A Movie Workshop. One of these workshops, Kinetic Sculpture Races, will teach you to build a kinetic sculpture—that is, a car powered by a mousetrap!—to be followed by a drag racing between the creations. Tools and materials are provided, but instructor Agathon McGeachy invites you to not wait, but start building now, and bring your “sculpture” with you to the races at high noon on Sunday. Full instructions on how to build your entry (1 MB PDF) can be found on our Kinetic Sculpture page.

Business Meeting Update

A reminder: two sessions of this year’s virtual WSFS Business Meeting have already transpired, with the remaining sessions taking place online on July 19 and 25. Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in the self-government of your World Science Fiction Society. A summary of previous meetings and all the additional information you need are available on the Business Meeting Agenda and Information page.

Reserve Drop-off Childcare Services at Con

As we announced last month, Seattle Worldcon has contracted with KiddieCorp to provide drop-off childcare services at con for children aged six weeks though 12 years of age. Advance registration is encouraged to ensure availability. Services will cost $10/hour, per child.

KiddieCorp is a professional organization which specializes in childcare for conventions and conferences, and offers a variety of activities based on the children’s ages and interests. They have a long-term relationship with U.S. Worldcons and provided childcare services at Chicon 8. The theme this year is Space Explorer Camp! For more information, and to find the reservation link, visit the Kids & Teens page of our website.

Last Call to Join Our Volunteer Staff!

Applications to join our volunteer staff close on July 31; after that only walk-up volunteer opportunities will be available. Walk-up volunteering at con is very rewarding and important to making the convention function! If you are interested in a staff position, however, there are several openings described on our Volunteer Page, from art show cashier to autograph assistant to press office staff. Mention your specific interest to expedite assignment.

https://seattlein2025.org/2025/07/18/newsletter-july-2025-the-schedule-is-live/