Salt Lake City, Utah —June 1, 2020—The 2020 World Fantasy Convention (WFC) committee announced today that they are cancelling the in-person convention in Salt Lake City, scheduled to be held later this year. Following similar decisions many large events have made since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, WFC will host an online convention 29 October–01 November. “Our primary goal has been, and will continue to be, the health and safety of our members,” said Chairperson Ginny Smith. “To that end, we’ve been investigating virtual options for several months. The decision to move to a completely online format was made for us last week when our hotel cancelled all in-person meetings for the rest of 2020. Though we’re saddened that we won’t have the opportunity to gather in person with our friends and professionals in WFC, it was the right decision.”

The virtual convention will transition many of the in-person experiences enthusiasts of fantasy and horror have come to expect at the annual gathering. The WFC 2020 committee plans to make the most of modern technology to introduce new and innovative elements to the convention, including the opportunity to interact in small online group settings with some of the authors, editors, agents, and artists who participate in the program.

The membership fee to attend this year’s 4-day World Fantasy Convention is $125, and includes all programing, events, and the annual World Fantasy Award ceremony. WFC members who have purchased attending memberships at a higher price will be reimbursed the difference between the amount they paid and the new, lower fee. A plan to reimburse those who choose to cancel their membership can be found on the organization’s website at www.wfc2020.org.

“We are disappointed we must cancel the traditional, in-person event,” said Smith. “We wanted to throw a party—a huge, fabulous, fun party!—with 900 friends who share our love for the literature and artwork of fantasy and horror. But this presents us with an unprecedented challenge to innovate the World Fantasy Convention experience while still providing the networking opportunities unique to this con. When we settled on our theme three years ago, we had no idea how true it would become: ‘Fairyland was nothing like this!’ We hope you’ll join us.”

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