This guide covers 16 furry conventions in the United States and Canada, from Painted Desert Fur Con on the first weekend of January to Midwest FurFest in December. You could party in Atlanta, parade through downtown Pittsburgh, or spend a mid-week October trip in a Reno casino resort.
Last updated September 10, 2026. Twelve of the sixteen conventions below have already run this year, and their sections give the attendance each one reported. Four are still to come: Furry Migration, Biggest Little Fur Con, Furpocalypse and Midwest FurFest.
Key Takeaways
- Anthrocon (July 2-5, Pittsburgh) drew 20,618 attendees in 2026, up from 18,357 in 2025 and the largest figure of any convention in this guide. FWA (17,301 in 2026) and MFF (16,925 in 2025) are the other two of North America's "big three."
- Furry Weekend Atlanta 2026 drew 17,301 attendees under the "Nowhere Inn Between" theme and raised $150,000 for Lost-n-Found Youth.
- Late August was busy: Megaplex (12,542), Denfur (6,239) and StratosFur (2,065) all ran within ten days of each other.
- A 4-day major convention costs $780-$1,495 depending on budget level: registration ($80-95), hotel split ($250-500), flights ($300-450), and food ($100-250).
- Hotel blocks for MFF and Anthrocon sell out in minutes: Join convention Telegram or Discord channels to get notified the moment booking opens.
Top Picks at a Glance:
Winter (January - February)
The year opened with four conventions in six weeks.
Further Confusion (FC) (Concluded)
The West Coast's Big January Con
- Dates: January 15-19, 2026
- Location: San Jose, CA
- Size: 6,621 (2026)
- Charity: $45,279 raised for The Street Dog Coalition
- Theme: The Beach Episode
- VibeCheck: Relaxed for its size. FC is one of the oldest cons and keeps a strong community feel, with a well-regarded art show in the middle of Silicon Valley. See our FC 2026 recap for the full breakdown.
- Website: furtherconfusion.org
Anthro New England (ANE) (Concluded)
Boston's Winter Con
- Dates: January 15-18, 2026
- Location: Boston, MA
- Size: 7,284 (2026), up from 5,761 in 2025
- Theme: It's a Western!
- Charity: $50,000 raised for Wings Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and Queer Scouts
- VibeCheck: One of the fastest-growing East Coast cons on its own numbers, and it shares its January weekend with Further Confusion, so pick a coast.
- Website: anthronewengland.com
Painted Desert Fur Con (PDFC) (Concluded)
- Dates: January 2-4, 2026
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Size: 2,064 (2026), up from 1,412 in 2025
- Theme: The Search for Cryptids
- Why Go: Escape the snow. A medium-sized con that starts the convention year in the desert.
Motor City Furry Con (Concluded)
- Dates: February 13-15, 2026
- Location: Detroit, MI (Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center)
- Size: 2,525 (2026)
- Theme: Press Paws to Start!
- Charity: $35,000 raised for Wolf Creek Habitat
- Why Go: A downtown Detroit con with a passionate local community.
Spring (March - May)
Spring brought four of the larger conventions on the continent.
VancouFur (Concluded)
Canada's West Coast Con
- Dates: March 5-8, 2026
- Location: Richmond, BC, Canada
- Theme: "WONDERLAND"
- Size: TBA for 2026 (2,298 in 2025)
- Charity: $20,000 raised for QMUNITY
- VibeCheck: Friendly and polite, with the mountains of the Lower Mainland on the horizon.
- Website: vancoufur.org
Furnal Equinox (Concluded)
- Dates: March 20-22, 2026
- Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
- Size: 3,637 (2026)
- Theme: Starbound Sabbatical
- Charity: $30,538 raised for Procyon Wildlife
- VibeCheck: The largest Canadian convention we have attendance figures for, with a professional feel. The cool Toronto spring suits fursuiters.
- Website: furnalequinox.com
Texas Furry Fiesta (TFF) (Concluded)
The South's Big Spring Con
- Dates: March 26-29, 2026
- Location: Dallas, TX
- Size: 9,135 (2026)
- Theme: Star Peet
- Charity: $42,183.70 raised for C.A.R.E. (Center for Animal Research and Education)
- VibeCheck: TFF runs out of the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. Loud, proud and friendly.
- Website: furryfiesta.org
Furry Weekend Atlanta (FWA) (Concluded)
The Party Con
- Dates: May 7-10, 2026
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Size: 17,301 (2026)
- Theme: Nowhere Inn Between
- Charity: $150,000 raised for Lost-n-Found Youth
- VibeCheck: FWA takes over the Marriott Marquis and its 50-storey atrium. The programming leans hard on dances and large meets, so if that is what you want from a con, this is the one.
- Website: furryweekend.com
For the full recap, see our FWA 2026 recap.
Summer (June - August)
Anthrocon in July and a cluster of late-August cons made this the busiest stretch of the year.
Anthrocon (AC) (Concluded)
Pittsburgh's Summer Con
- Dates: July 2-5, 2026
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA (David L. Lawrence Convention Center)
- Size: 20,618 (2026), up from 18,357 in 2025
- Theme: Critters, Cryptids & Curses
- Charity: $86,000+ raised for J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary
- VibeCheck: The city of Pittsburgh welcomes furries, with flags on the streets and businesses greeting attendees. The Fursuit Parade is a spectacle that closes city blocks.
- Website: anthrocon.org
Megaplex (Concluded)
- Dates: August 21-23, 2026
- Location: Orlando, FL (Hyatt Regency Orlando)
- Size: 12,542 (2026), up from 10,038 in 2025
- Theme: Furries, Uh, Find A Way
- Charity: $100,000 raised for the Florida Wildlife Federation
- VibeCheck: Often combined with a trip to Disney World or Universal Studios.
StratosFur (Concluded)
Houston's Growing Con
- Dates: August 27-30, 2026
- Location: Houston, TX (Houston Marriott Westchase)
- Size: 2,065 (2026), up from 1,697 in 2025
- Theme: "An Unconventional Dungeon"
- Charity: $12,271.29 raised for Give Us Paws
- VibeCheck: A second Texas option for anyone who missed TFF in March.
- Website: stratosfur.org
Denfur (Concluded)
- Dates: August 28-30, 2026
- Location: Denver, CO (Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel)
- Size: 6,239 (2026), up from 4,428 in 2025
- Theme: Carnival Nocturne!
- Charity: $38,384 raised for Almost Home Adoptions
- Why Go: A downtown Mile High City location with plenty of breweries and food nearby.
Fall (September - November)
These three are still ahead, so their dates and themes are the ones to plan around.
Furry Migration
- Dates: September 11-13, 2026
- Location: Minneapolis, MN (Hyatt Regency Minneapolis)
- Theme: Be Kind, Rewind
- Size: 2,431 (2025)
- Why Go: A cozy, well-run regional convention.
Biggest Little Fur Con (BLFC)
The Resort Con
- Dates: October 12-15, 2026 (Mon-Thu)
- Location: Reno, NV (Grand Sierra Resort)
- Theme: "BLFC @ Sea!"
- Size: 3,755 (2025)
- VibeCheck: It takes place in a large casino resort, so restaurants, bowling, go-karts and the con are all under one roof. Note: The 2026 dates are mid-week, so double-check your travel plans.
- Website: goblfc.org
Furpocalypse
- Dates: October 29 to November 1, 2026
- Location: Stamford, CT
- Theme: Rock N' Roll Nightmare
- Size: 3,150 (2025)
- Why Go: A Halloween-weekend con, which makes it a natural fit for spooky fursuits.
Late Winter (December)
Midwest FurFest (MFF)
The Year's Last Big Con
- Dates: December 3-6, 2026
- Location: Rosemont, IL (Chicago)
- Theme: Bark to the Future
- Size: 16,925 (2025)
- VibeCheck: MFF fills the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Between the Dealers Den and the packed dances, it is a big way to end the convention year.
- Website: furfest.org
Looking Ahead to 2027
Several of these conventions have already announced their 2027 dates. Painted Desert Fur Con lists January 1-3 (not yet confirmed on its own site), Further Confusion runs January 14-18 ("FC Land: The Wildest Ride in The Fandom"), and Anthro New England runs January 14-17 ("Sleepytime!"). Furnal Equinox moves earlier, to February 13-15, while Motor City Furry Con moves later, to March 19-21 ("Here There Be Dragons!"). VancouFur follows on March 4-7 ("Nightfall"), Texas Furry Fiesta on March 19-21 ("A Nightmare on Olive Street"), FWA on May 6-9 ("Grand Prix"), Anthrocon on July 1-4 ("LEVEL 30: BEGIN") and Furry Migration on September 10-12. Our 2027 furry convention calendar collects these and the rest as they are announced.
What Actually Happens at a Furry Con?
If this is your first time looking into conventions, you might be wondering what thousands of furries actually do for a weekend.
- The Dealers Den: A large marketplace where artists sell prints, badges, tails, fursuit parts, and clothing. It's the economic heart of the con.
- Panels: Educational or fun sessions run by attendees. Topics range from "How to Build a Fursuit Head" to "History of Animation."
- The Fursuit Parade: A designated time where hundreds (or thousands) of suiters parade through the venue for photos.
- Dances & Raves: Furry cons put real money into production, and the nightly DJs are a major highlight.
- Room Parties: Socializing moves to hotel rooms in the evenings. Note: Always follow the hotel's quiet hour rules!
Budgeting Snapshot (2026 Estimates)
Conventions are expensive. A full 4-day trip to a major con like Anthrocon or MFF will likely cost more than you expect.
Read More: For a detailed breakdown of hidden costs and savings tips, check out our full Convention Budgeting Guide.
Survival Guide: The 6-2-1 Rule
We cannot stress this enough. If you want to survive the weekend without "Con Crud" (getting sick), you must follow the 6-2-1 Rule:
- 6 Hours of Sleep: Minimum. Every night.
- 2 Meals a Day: Actual meals, not just snacks. Pocky is not a meal.
- 1 Shower a Day: Hygiene is mandatory.
Read More: First time considering going? Read our First Convention Survival Guide for essential safety and etiquette tips.
Final Tips for the Rest of 2026
- Border Check: Heading to Canada for VancouFur or Furnal Equinox in 2027? Check the Government of Canada's entry requirements for your nationality well before you book, since passport and travel authorization rules differ by country.
- Hotel Blocks: Hotels for MFF and Anthrocon sell out in literally minutes. Join the convention's Telegram or Discord channel to get the notification the second they open.
- Post-Con Depression: It's real. Plan an easy recovery day for the Tuesday after you get back.
See you on the con floor!
Explore All Furry Conventions
Browse our complete calendar with dates, locations, and details for every upcoming furry convention.
View Full CalendarSources
Convention dates, attendance, charity totals, themes, and venues in this post come from each convention's own site and announcements. Our per-convention pages record the per-year figures.
