Anthrocon (AC) 2026 is scheduled for Jul 2-5, 2026 at David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The announced theme is Critters, Cryptids & Curses. The charity partner is J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary.
Curated stays near David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, United States.
A convention of this scale relies on Pittsburgh's transit infrastructure:
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 significantly 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).
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, continuing its tradition as one of the fandom's most significant charitable events.
The 2024 edition drew 17,639 attendees under the "AnthroCoaster!" theme. Anthrocon made history by becoming the first furry convention to raise over $100,000 in a single year, with $100,103 going to Gray Paws Sanctuary.
Historical data and growth track record
See how this convention grew over time.
| Year | Dates | Theme | Attendance | Charity Raised | Guest(s) of Honor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2027 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | None Announced |
2026 | Jul 2-5 | Critters, Cryptids & Curses | TBA | (J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary) | None Announced |
2025 | Jul 3-6 | Deep Sea Adventures | 18,357 | $87,267(Nose 2 Tail Cat Rescue) | No designated Guests of Honor |
2024 | Jul 4-7 | AnthroCoaster! | 17,639 | $100,103(Gray Paws Sanctuary) | None Announced |
2023 | Jul 6-9 | Anthropolis: Our Furry City | 13,644 | $52,000(Rabbit Wranglers) | None Announced |
2022 | Jun 30 - Jul 3 | Aesop's Fables | 9,702 | $41,553(Wildlife Works Inc.) | None Announced |
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