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Bewhiskered is a gaming-focused furry convention organized by the North Carolina Anthro Society, held at the Durham Convention Center in Durham, North Carolina. The 2026 "Whisker World Arcade" edition drew 2,138 attendees and raised $15,528 for SAFE Haven for Cats, with programming centered on retro gaming lounges, tabletop tournaments, and VR experiences.
Bewhiskered returns to the Durham Convention Center for its next edition under the "The Fur-bidden Laboratory" theme. Exact dates, Guests of Honor, and the 2027 charity partner have not been announced yet. Bewhiskered has run in early spring in recent years; check 2027.bewhiskeredcon.org and the official Bluesky for the registration calendar.
Bewhiskered has tracked steady year-over-year growth. The 2025 "Prehistoria" edition drew 1,768 attendees and raised $14,200.91 for SAFE Haven for Cats; the 2026 "Whisker World Arcade" edition cleared 2,138 attendees and $15,528 for the same charity. The convention is a welcoming option for East Coast furs looking for an interactive, gaming-focused event.
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From attendees
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is the nearest major airport, located about 20 to 30 minutes from the Durham Convention Center by car or rideshare. Uber and Lyft are readily available at RDU, with average costs of $25 to $45 depending on demand. GoDurham city buses offer free rides within Durham, providing a budget-friendly option for getting around once you arrive.
Durham sits along I-40 and I-85, making it accessible by car from across the Eastern Seaboard. Amtrak's Piedmont and Carolinian services stop at the Durham station, connecting to Raleigh, Charlotte, and points north along the Northeast Corridor.
The convention is held at the Durham Convention Center in downtown Durham. For lodging, the Durham Marriott City Center is connected directly to the convention center and is the most convenient option. The Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park has also served as a venue hotel in past years. Additional hotels in the downtown area are within walking distance of the convention center, near the Carolina Theatre and Durham Performing Arts Center. Check the Bewhiskered website for official room block information and booking codes.
A year-by-year record of this convention
Open an edition to see the details that belong to that year.
At a glance
Compare dates, themes, attendance, charity, and guests across the record.
See how this convention grew over time.
2027
Dates TBA
Theme
The Fur-bidden Laboratory
2026
Apr 2-5
Theme
Whisker World Arcade
2025
Mar 7-9
Theme
Prehistoria
2024
Dates TBA
Want more context? Compare this convention against other furry events or browse the attendance rankings.
Bewhiskered 2026 returned to the Durham Convention Center with its arcade theme and reached 2,138 attendees. The official recap listed 381 fursuiters, 1,137 Night Market attendees, and $15,528 raised for SAFE Haven for Cats.
Bewhiskered 2025 drew 1,768 attendees and raised $14,200.91 for SAFE Haven for Cats. Guests of honor Riley Black and TwilightSaint led programming under the "Prehistoria" theme, held March 7-9.
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Also in the Southeast:
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.
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3 quirks & policies that don't fit the highlights grid.
The Night Market: BWS's adult-vendor-exclusive sibling slot
Bewhiskered runs a Saturday-night-only Night Market (8pm-midnight, setup 5:30-7:30pm, takedown midnight-2am), a tight 4-hour adult-friendly vendor window distinct from the daytime Dealer''s Den. This is the only sanctioned space where After Dark / Adult Novelty merchandise can be sold across either NCAS convention, sibling con Carolina Fur Fest "does not accept adult dealers, it is exclusive to BWS."
NCAS sibling-con structure with transferable volunteer credit
Bewhiskered is one of two conventions run by NCAS (North Carolina Anthropomorphic Society, Inc.). The other is Carolina Fur Fest (CFF), the SFW counterpart under the same 501(c) parent. Bewhiskered is the adult-friendly one; CFF skips After Dark vendors entirely.
The FUR panel-rating system with NC cannabinoid carve-outs
NCAS publishes a bespoke four-tier panel content rating system called FUR: F (Family Friendly), U (Underage Caution, ~PG-13), R (Restricted, 18+ with ID check at door), R+ (21-only).
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