The International Discworld Convention, also known as DWCon, is a biennial science fiction convention held in the United Kingdom on even-numbered years. DWCon was first held in 1996 by members of the Usenet newsgroup alt.fan.pratchett.
The DWCon is a fan-run convention focussing on the Discworld novels and other works by Terry Pratchett. The programme has several events that appear each time such as the Gala Dinner, Maskerade (spelled in this manner due to Pratchett's novel of the same name), Charity Auction, Guest of Honour Interview, and "Terry's Bedtime Stories". The conventions regularly feature large attendee-run groups that have been known variously as Guilds and Sects. There are also smaller events such as interviews, games and competitions, guest klatches, and other activities.
History The convention has been held in the UK since 1996. The conventions have been held at various different hotels. A planned convention in 2000 (Titled 'MilleniCon Hand and Shrimp') had to be cancelled for financial reasons, but the conventions have been run every two years since.
While Sir Terry once made a point of attending every UK-based Discworld Convention (and many of the non-UK conventions) as guest of honour, the Convention announced on 1 July 2014 that he would be unable to attend in person for health reasons, but that he would appear in an on-camera Q&A session from his home instead.
# Year Dates City Title Guest of Honour Other Guests Size 1st 1996 28–30 June Manchester, UK The Discworld Convention Sir Terry Pratchett Josh Kirby, Stephen Briggs 2nd 1998 18-21 Sept Liverpool, UK The Second Discworld Convention Sir Terry Pratchett 3rd 2002 16–19 August Hinckley, UK Discworld Convention Sir Terry Pratchett 4th 2004 20–23 August Hinckley, UK Discworld Convention Sir Terry Pratchett Bernard Pearson 5th 2006 18–21 August Hinckley, UK Sir Terry Pratchett Bernard Pearson 6th 2008 August Birmingham, UK Sir Terry Pratchett 7th 2010 August Birmingham, UK Sir Terry Pratchett 8th 2012 24–27 August Birmingham, UK The Eighnnnnnnn Discworld Convention Sir Terry Pratchett Colin Smythe, Ian Stewart, Jack Cohen, Rob Wilkins, Lionel Fanthorpe, Stephen Baxter, Bernard Pearson, Jaqueline Simpson, Stephen Briggs, Ian Mitchell 950 9th 2014 8–11 August Manchester, UK The Ankh-Morpork Grand Exhibition The Black Hat "to represent Terry in absentia" (Sir Terry Pratchett attending by video link) Rob Wilkins ("representing The Hat for the whole Convention"), Bernard Pearson, Colin Smythe, Stephen Briggs, Ian Mitchell, Reb Voyce, Jacqueline Simpson, Jack Cohen, Ian Stewart, Daniel Knight, Ben Aaronovitch 10th 2016 26–29 August Warwick, UK The Band with Rocks In Rob Wilkins, Bernard Pearson, Colin Smythe, Daniel Knight, Ian Mitchell, Ian Stewart, Jack Cohen, Jacqueline Simpson, Ray Friesen, Reb Voyce, Stephen Briggs, David Brashaw, Diane Duane, Peter Morwood, Mark Oshiro 11th 2018 3–6 August Kenilworth, Warwick, UK Guards! Guards! Rob Wilkins, Bernard Pearson, Colin Smythe, Ian Mitchell, Reb Voyce, Stephen Briggs 12th 2022 19–22 August Birmingham, UK Lancre Colin Smythe, Stephen Briggs, Ian Mitchell, Pat Harkin, Reb Voyce, Phil Masters, Ben Aaronovitch, Jodi Taylor, Marc Burrows2022 Discworld Convention Guest List 13th 2024 2-6 August Birmingham, UK The Chalk Brick-Morpork, Stephen Briggs, Marc Burrows, Diane Duane, Jan Harkin, Pat Harkin, Phil Masters, C.K. McDonnell, Joe McLaren, Peter Morwood, Colin Smythe, Ian Stewart, Jodi Taylor, The Truth Shall Make Ye Fret, Reel Rebels 2024 Discworld Convention Guest List
References
External links The International Discworld Convention official website The North American Discworld Convention German Discworld Convention Australian Discworld Convention Irish Discworld Convention