The badge price is the number everyone sees first, and it is usually the smallest part of the bill. Hotel, food, travel, and the dealers den add up to several times the cost of registration.
Attending a major furry convention (like MFF, Anthrocon, or Eurofurence) is a serious financial commitment. This guide breaks down the costs you need to prepare for in 2026. Badge prices come from the conventions' own registration pages. Hotel, food, and travel figures are illustrative estimates for a US convention in 2026, so check your own con's hotel page and fares before you commit.
These are standard badge prices at the conventions we track, taken from each con's registration page:
Hotels cap how many people can stay in a room, and fire codes apply, so check your room's occupancy limit before planning a big room share. Illustrative nightly ranges for a large US con:
Taxes and fees: Hotel taxes and fees vary by city and are added on top of the nightly rate. Look at the full booking total, not the headline rate.
Food inside a convention center is often priced like airport food.
Not every convention costs the same. Where the event is held dramatically affects your total spend.
Large conventions like Midwest FurFest, Anthrocon, and Furry Weekend Atlanta draw thousands of attendees and are held in big-city convention centers and hotels. Hotels near the venue command premium rates, restaurants charge city prices, and parking can add up quickly. As a rough estimate, a four-day weekend at a mega-con in Chicago or Pittsburgh might run $800-1,500 for a mid-range experience.
Smaller regional conventions are often a different financial picture. Events like Gateway FurMeet in St. Louis, Lone Star Fur Con in Austin, or Furvana in Ocean Shores tend to use more affordable venues. Registration is cheaper ($60-75 against $80-100 at the large US cons), hotel rooms often cost less, and local food is usually more reasonably priced. A comparable mid-range weekend at a smaller con might run $400-800.
Conventions held in resort-style or suburban locations (like campground cons or hotel-only events outside city centers) can offer significant savings on food since you are not captive to convention center pricing. However, rural venues sometimes require a rental car, which offsets some of the savings. Factor in the full transportation picture before assuming a cheaper venue means a cheaper trip.
European conventions can be surprisingly affordable for European attendees, since trains and budget airlines keep travel costs manageable. Badge prices are set in local currency: Eurofurence charged €180 for 2026 and ConFuzzled lists £145 for 2027. North American attendees should expect transatlantic flights to be the largest single cost and should factor in currency exchange rates.
Eating out in groups of 4-6 people opens up options that solo dining does not. You can split appetizers, order family-style at restaurants, or do a group grocery run and cook in a suite with a kitchenette. A coordinated group grocery trip on arrival day (bread, deli meat, fruit, snacks, drinks) can cover breakfasts and snacks for the weekend for around $15-20 per person.
Many conventions charge less for pre-registration than at the door, and some raise prices in steps as the event gets closer. Set a calendar reminder for when registration opens, and check whether your con has a deadline for sponsor tiers. Popular tiers can sell out.
The math on room sharing is straightforward but worth spelling out. In our example, a $240/night hotel room for four nights costs $960 total. Split two ways, that is $480 each. Split four ways, it drops to $240 each, making room sharing the single largest savings available to any convention attendee. Stay within the hotel's occupancy limit for the room. Find roommates through the convention's official room share channels on Telegram or Discord. Establish ground rules in advance: quiet hours, bathroom schedules, checkout responsibilities, and how the room deposit will be split.
For flights, watch fares on Google Flights with an alert for your specific route and book when the price looks good, rather than waiting until the last few weeks. For driving, calculate the full cost including gas, tolls, and parking. Carpooling with 2-3 people often makes driving cheaper than flying for trips under 500 miles.
This is where self-control goes to die. Every artist and vendor sets their own prices, so treat these as rough ranges.
These are the costs that surprise newbies:
These are worked examples using the badge prices above and our illustrative hotel figures.
Carry some cash. Most vendors take cards, but readers can drop out when the hall is packed and the WiFi is overloaded. Bring enough cash to cover your food and "must-have" items. It also helps you stick to a hard limit.
Browse our complete calendar with dates, locations, and details for every upcoming furry convention.
View Full CalendarAt the large US conventions we track, a standard badge runs $80-100 (Midwest FurFest and Biggest Little Fur Con listed $100 for 2026). Smaller US cons are cheaper, around $60-75. Sponsor tiers run roughly $140-225 and super sponsor tiers $350-450. Buying at the door can cost more. If this is your first convention, our first-timer survival guide covers what to expect beyond the price tag.
Hotel costs are usually the largest expense, especially for major conventions in expensive cities. In our worked example, a $240/night room for four nights comes to $960, which is $240 each split four ways, $480 each split two ways, or the full $960 on your own, before taxes and fees.
Bring both. Card readers can drop out when the dealers den WiFi is overloaded, and some smaller vendors prefer cash. Bring $200-400 in small bills ($1s, $5s, and $20s) for dealers, tips, and emergencies.
Yes! Room sharing is the best way to reduce costs. A $960 hotel stay split 4 ways is only $240 per person. Stay within the hotel's occupancy limit for the room. Many conventions have room share threads in their Telegram or Discord groups. For a full rundown of what's happening this season, see our Summer & Fall 2026 convention guide.
This varies wildly based on your spending habits. Budget $100-500 for basic merch, or $500-2000+ if you're into art, commissions, or fursuit parts.
Bring a cooler with sandwich supplies, breakfast items, and snacks. Eat one proper restaurant meal per day and cover the rest with groceries. Group grocery runs on arrival day split the cost. Food courts inside convention centers usually cost more than restaurants a few blocks away, so walk out when you can.
Many conventions offer free or discounted badges for volunteers who commit to a set number of hours, which varies by con. That can save you the price of a standard badge, but it does reduce your free time. If you are on a tight budget and do not mind working a few shifts, volunteering is one of the most reliable ways to offset costs. Check your con's volunteer page for the hour requirement and any perks.
A hard limit works best for most people. Withdraw your dealers den budget in cash before the convention and leave your card in the hotel room. When the cash is gone, you are done shopping. This eliminates the "I'll just put it on my card" spiral that catches many first-timers off guard. If you prefer using a card, at least set a daily spending alert through your banking app.
Badge prices in this post come from each convention's own registration page, as recorded on our convention pages. Hotel, food, travel, and dealers den figures are our own illustrative estimates for a US convention in 2026, not quotes from any convention or hotel.
How to find trustworthy roommates for furry conventions, split hotel costs fairly, set ground rules, and handle problems before they ruin your weekend.
Plan your dealers den budget, time your shopping runs, and support artists at furry cons. Covers cash strategy, artist alley, and common spending mistakes.
A printable packing checklist for first-time furry con attendees. Organized by category: essentials, clothing, hygiene, con gear, and what NOT to bring.
