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Anthrocon (AC) 2027 is scheduled for Jul 1-4, 2027 at David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The announced theme is LEVEL 30: BEGIN.
David L. Lawrence Convention Center[1]
1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, USA
Exterior
Gallery
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From attendees
A convention of this scale relies on Pittsburgh's transit infrastructure:
Curated stays near David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, United States.
Hotel rooms for Anthrocon are in high demand, and the convention fills much of the downtown hotel grid:
In May 2026, Loews Hotels & Co. signed a Letter of Intent to build a 500-room hotel physically attached to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The $418 million project - backed by a $30 million Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commitment and Pittsburgh's broader downtown investment package - is expected to add 1,200 union construction jobs and 400 permanent positions once operating.
No groundbreaking or opening year has been confirmed yet, but the long-discussed convention-center hotel is the most concrete commitment in 20 years of talks. Once open, it would relieve the Anthrocon hotel crunch and replace shuttle rides for hundreds of attendees with a direct walk into the convention center. Sources: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pennsylvania DCED announcement, CBS Pittsburgh, WPXI (May 14, 2026).
A year-by-year record of this convention
Open an edition to see the details that belong to that year.
Clearly dated captures keep an edition's website identity separate from later redesigns.
Source-linked results and moments recorded for 2026.
Stat
Record attendance
Anthrocon reported 20,618 attendees for its 20th Pittsburgh anniversary edition.
SourceCharity
J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary
Attendees raised over $86,000 for J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary, the official 2026 charity.
SourceMilestone
Parade and Block Party cancelled
Anthrocon cancelled the July 4 Fursuit Parade and Block Party because of extreme heat and severe-weather safety concerns.
SourceStat
Art Show scale
The official Art Show update recorded more than 1,100 bidders, almost 2,900 works, and about 200 participating artists.
SourceCompetition
Art Show award winners
Popular Choice went to Soic for “Brazen Voyage”; Staff Choice went to Paco Panda for “Sword Dance”; Director PeterCat’s Choice went to Kjumbo for “Kjumbo”.
SourceClearly dated captures keep an edition's website identity separate from later redesigns.
Convention access for the weekend, plus the souvenir conbook and other publications; on-site price was $100.
Attending benefits plus a ribbon, a free Anthrocon T-shirt, expedited pickup, and earlier Dealers Room entry; pre-registration only.
Sponsor benefits plus the Artists and Dealers reception, earlier event entry, a unique gift, brunch, and advance access to select hotel rooms; pre-registration only.
Supersponsor benefits plus VIP pickup, first hotel-booking opportunity, front-of-line privileges, an exclusive gift, cocktail reception, and river-cruise access when available; capped at 35.
Convention-space and activities access for the purchased day, with the souvenir conbook and other publications; on-site only.
Optional on-site membership for children ages 12 and under.
This is the closed 2026 registration ladder, preserved for historical reference after the edition ended. Sponsor, Supersponsor, and Ultrasponsor memberships were pre-registration only, with caps of 2,200, 700, and 35. The official page listed $80 pre-registration and $100 on-site for Attending, $50 day memberships, and a $5 PUP membership.
At a glance
Compare dates, themes, attendance, charity, and guests across the record.
See how this convention grew over time.
2027
Jul 1-4
Theme
LEVEL 30: BEGIN
2026
Jul 2-5
Theme
Critters, Cryptids & Curses
2025
Jul 3-6
Theme
Deep Sea Adventures
2024
Jul 4-7
Theme
AnthroCoaster!
2023
Jul 6-9
Theme
Anthropolis: Our Furry City
2022
Jun 30 - Jul 3
Theme
Aesop's Fables
Want more context? Compare this convention against other furry events or browse the attendance rankings.
Anthrocon 2026 marked the convention's 20th anniversary in Pittsburgh and set a new all-time attendance record of 20,618, up from 18,357 in 2025, with Mayor Corey O'Connor declaring July 1 "Anthrocon Day" for the milestone. The year's charity was J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary, a Western-Pennsylvania farm-animal rescue, and Anthrocon reported that attendees raised over $86,000. The defining moment, however, was a weather call: with an extreme-heat and severe-weather forecast for the Fourth of July, Anthrocon cancelled its signature Fursuit Parade and Block Party (scheduled for 2pm on July 4) and moved to indoor programming, citing the safety of fursuiters, attendees, and Pittsburgh residents. The later Art Show update recorded more than 1,100 bidders, almost 2,900 works and about 200 artists; its linked results document names the award winners.
Anthrocon 2025 set a new attendance record with 18,357 attendees in Pittsburgh. The convention raised over $87,000 for Nose 2 Tail Cat Rescue.
The 2024 edition drew 17,639 attendees under the "AnthroCoaster!" theme. Anthrocon crossed six figures of charity giving for the first time in its history, donating over $100,000 to Gray Paws Sanctuary (Midwest FurFest had already crossed the $100,000 single-year mark in 2022 with $106,683 for the Anti-Cruelty Society).
From the blog
GuidesBest Furry Conventions for Beginners: Where to Go FirstNot sure which furry convention to attend first? We rank the most beginner-friendly cons by size, cost, and community vibe to help you pick your first.10 min read
GuidesHow to Find Furry Conventions Near You (2026 Guide)Wondering if there is a furry convention near you? How to search 195 cons across 42 countries by region, month and travel radius, plus cheaper local options.9 min read
NewsWhat Pittsburgh's New Loews Convention Hotel Means for Anthrocon AttendeesLoews signed a Letter of Intent for a 500-room hotel attached to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Here is what it means for Anthrocon attendees.6 min read
GuidesConvention Budgeting Guide: The Real Cost of a Furry Con (2026 Edition)A realistic 2026 budget guide for furry conventions. Three spending tiers from $400 to $3,150+, covering hotels, food, dealers den, and hidden costs.10 min readBrowse our complete calendar with dates, locations, and details for every upcoming furry convention.
View Full CalendarAttending Anthrocon? Check out our guides:
Also in North America:
The 6-2-1 rule, post-con depression, and everything else first-timers need to know.
Real costs for badges, hotels, food, and dealers den across three budget tiers.
All major 2026 events in the USA and Canada with dates and travel tips.
See upcoming conventions by date, region, and attendance.
Check verified attendance rankings and growth trends.
Put dates, prices, and features side by side.
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Jump into the alphabetical index if you want another event by name.
3 quirks & policies that don't fit the highlights grid.
Bucket Brigade and the J and J Farms 2026 charity
Anthrocon's 2026 charity is J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary, a Western-Pennsylvania 501(c)(3) caring for ~175 rescued animals, from 2,000-pound Belgian draft horses to a Pekin duck named Hank who navigates con season in a size 2T/3T diaper. Funds are raised three ways at the convention: the Sunday afternoon Charity Auction (G to PG donations only), the Friday-Saturday Raffle drawn during Sunday's Dealers Room hours, and the Bucket Brigade, costumed performers walking the con with designated charity buckets.
Cashless con, cashless city
Anthrocon and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center are both fully cashless for 2026. Registration, the Art Show, and the Con Store accept card payments only, and the convention center itself stopped taking cash. Plan to bring a Visa or Mastercard; the city's restaurants still take cash, but on-site you will not be able to spend a dollar bill at any official Anthrocon counter.
Orchid Events block, March 10 booking, and the AC scam warning
The only legitimate way to get an Anthrocon room rate is through Orchid Events, the convention's official block partner. Anyone offering to "sell" you a room at Anthrocon's rate outside the Orchid link is, per Anthrocon's own hotel page, almost certainly running a scam, and the page calls this out by name.
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