Covid-19
The 2020–23 COVID-19 pandemic has had the most profound effect on fandom of any mainstream event since World War II.
Contents
Known Deaths[edit]
COVID-19 killed over a dozen fans, beginning with Brian Varley on March 31, 2020:
| Name | From | Date of death |
|---|---|---|
| Karen Babcock | Bellevue, Washington | October 21, 2020 |
| John Bangsund | Melbourne, NSW, Australia | August 22, 2020 |
| Tom Barber | Ann Arbor, Michigan | April 4, 2020 |
| Ben Bova | Naples, Florida | November 29, 2020 |
| Sergey Bulyga | Belarus | October 24, 2021 |
| Glenn Chambers | Toledo, Ohio | July 19, 2020 |
| Jiří Engliš | Czechia | March 9, 2021 |
| Greg Eide | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | May 20, 2021 |
| Al Fitzpatrick | New Jersey | April 6, 2020 |
| Jaroslav Mostecký | Czechia | December 13, 2020 |
| Jomil Mulvey | San Diego, California | July 11, 2020 |
| Darroll Pardoe | Birmingham, UK | January 28, 2021 |
| John Sardegna | New York, NY | April 2020 |
| Sylvain St-Pierre | Montreal, QC, Canada | March 25, 2021 |
| Brian Varley | Pedmore, Stourbridge, U.K. | March 31, 2020 |
| Richard C. West | Madison, WI | November 29, 2020 |
| Doug Wilkin | Foley, Minnesota | January 28, 2022 |
Others Affected[edit]
Fans who were badly stricken with the Covid-19 include Amy L. Woolard of Chicago, hospitalized for many months, and Susan Chambers, Glenn’s wife. Author David Weber was hospitalized in January 2021, and John Varley in September.
Author Neil Gaiman with his wife and son were stranded in New Zealand in March 2020 when lockdowns started. (He then attracted much criticism by travelling to his Scottish house in May, as the couple broadcast their breakup over social media.)
Covid-related shutdowns forced conventions across the globe from mid-March 2020 onwards to cancel, postpone or later switch to online events. Corflu Heatwave, held March 13–15, in College Station, Texas, may have been the last “live” con of 2020. In response to all the cancellations, on March 12, 2020, some fans started a "virtual" con group on Facebook called Concellation 2020 (later Concellation 2021).
The Columbus 2020 NASFiC’s initial cancellation announcement, saying they weren’t planning to issue refunds but to print a souvenir book instead, provoked a lot of fannish ire. The Nice in 2023 Worldcon bid folded, and Memphis in 2023 withdrew, both blaming the pandemic.
CoNZealand decided with less than four months notice to hold a virtual Worldcon, the first of its kind, with famously minimal in-person Business Meeting. The 2021 Discon III postponed from August to December. The Ditmar Awards for 2020 and 2021 were presented in online ceremonies due to Australian Natcon cancellations.
Many clubs ceased meetings or switched online, among them the London Circle and LASFS. LASFS, which had sold its clubhouse and was meeting in a rented church hall while seeking a new space, had not yet resumed live meetings as of November 2022.
2020 TAFF Race winner Mike Lowrey postponed his trip until April 2022, and then caught Covid at the end of it, forcing him to delay the flight back as he self-isolated in London. The 2021 TAFF Race was cancelled (that is, not announced at all or "postponed") in October 2020. 2020 GUFF Race winner Alison Scott and 2020 DUFF Race winner Erin Underwood participated in the virtual CoNZealand, but postponed their trips indefinitely. The 2020 NAFF race was cancelled.
In-person conventions started up again in mid-2021 as vaccination spread and restrictions relaxed, but spikes of Covid cases, in particular the Omicron variant, again caused concoms to cancel, delay or move online.
Post-Vax Fandom[edit]
After vaccines became available, some conventions began resuming in late 2021, including the postponed Worldcon, Discon III, where over 30 attendees caught Covid. About 10 percent of the fans at Reclamation, the 2022 Eastercon, contracted the disease, among them TAFF delegate Lowrey, who spent a week in isolation before he could return home. At least 60 fans caught Covid during the 2022 Worldcon, Chicon 8.
Many resumed conventions were much smaller than in previous years, due to fans’ reluctance to travel and deal with crowds. A number of cons were not held again, and online programming has become a permanent feature for many. Con suites and room parties have been reworked, and mask and proof-of-vaccination mandates instituted. Still, there have been many “breakthrough” cases of Covid among congoers, and photos of fans’ positive at-home tests are rife on social media.
Conventions Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic:[edit]
See Covid-19 Standards.
| Convention | Scheduled Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ||
| Costume-Con 38 | March 13–16, 2020 | Cancelled |
| ICFA 41 | March 18–21, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Deepcon 21 | March 19–22, 2020 | Postponed to |
| OutlantaCon 2020 | March 19–22, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Cleveland ConCoction 2020 | March 20–22, 2020 | Held online |
| Consonance 2020 | March 20–22, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Fantastika 2020 (Swecon 23) | March 20–22, 2020 | |
| GrangeCon12 | March 20–22, 2020 | Cancelled |
| MidSouthCon 38 | March 20–22, 2020 | Postponed to |
| Genericon XXXIII | March 21–22, 2020 | Cancelled |
| WillyCon XXII | March 27–29, 2020 | Postponed to 2021 |
| 44th Annual Jack Williamson Lectureship | April 2–3, 2020 | Postponed to April 22–23, 2021, then held online |
| HELIOsphere 2020 | April 3–5, 2020 | Replaced by online HELIOsphere - Beyond the Corona |
| Norwescon 43 | April 9–12, 2020 | Postponed to April 1–4, 2021, then held online |
| Conglomeration 2020 | April 10–12, 2020 | Cancelled |
| LepreCon 46 | April 10–12, 2020 | Postponed to 2021 |
| Minicon 55 | April 10–12, 2020 | Postponed to April 2–4, 2021 |
| Concentric (Eastercon 71) | April 10–13, 2020 | Cancelled |
| HAL-CON 2020 | April 11–12, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Olamot 15 | April 12-13, 2020 | Postponed to March 29–April 1, 2021, then held online |
| StokerCon UK | April 16–19, 2020 | Postponed to 2021 |
| ConStellation 11 | April 17–19, 2020 | Held online October 17, 2020 |
| JordanCon XII | April 17–19, 2020 | Replaced by JordanCONline/Postponed to 2021 |
| Windy City Pulp & Paper Convention 20 | April 17–19, 2020 | Postponed to |
| FilKONtario 30 | April 24–26, 2020 | Replaced by online FilKONtari-NO |
| Penguicon 2020 | April 24–26, 2020 | Held online |
| RavenCon 15 | April 24–26, 2020 | Postponed to |
| Swancon 2020 (Australian Natcon) | April 25–27, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Ad Astra 2020 | May 1–3, 2020 | Cancelled |
| DemiCon 31 | May 1–3, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Rainbow Con 4 | May 1–3, 2020 | Postponed to spring 2021 |
| Marcon 55 | May 8–10, 2020 | Postponed to March 7–9, 2021 |
| SFeraKon | May 8–10, 2020 | Held online as "SFeraKORon" |
| Keycon 2020 | May 15–19, 2020 | Held online |
| Åcon 11 | May 21–24, 2020 | Postponed to May 13–16, 2021 |
| Balticon 54 Virtual | May 22–24, 2020 | Held online |
| ConQuesT 51 | May 22–24, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Satellite 7 | May 22–24, 2020 | Postponed to |
| Baycon 2020 | May 22–25, 2020 | Postponed to |
| KublaCon 2020 | May 22–25, 2020 | Cancelled |
| MisCon 34 | May 22–25, 2020 | Postponed to |
| WisCon 44 | May 22–25, 2020 | Held online |
| ConCarolinas 2020 | May 29–31, 2020 | Held online |
| 2020 SFWA Nebula Conference | May 29–31, 2020 | Held online |
| Continuum 16 | June 5–8, 2020 | Postponed to 2021 |
| Picnicon 2020 | June 7, 2020 | Cancelled |
| LibertyCon 33 | June 12–14, 2020 | Postponed to June 25–27, 2021 |
| LaffCon 5 | June 13, 2020 | Postponed to June 12, 2021 |
| ConComCon 27 | June 19–21, 2020 | Postponed to June 11–15, 2021 |
| Fourth Street Fantasy 2020 | June 19–21, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Dum-Dum 2020 | June 24–28, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Midwestcon 71 | June 25–28, 2020 | Postponed |
| SoonerCon 29 | June 26–28, 2020 | Postponed to 2021 |
| Anthrocon 2020 | July 2–5, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Westercon 73 | July 2–5, 2020 | Postponed to July 1–4, 2021, then held online |
| InConJunction XL | July 3–5, 2020 | Postponed to July 2–4, 2021 |
| NEFilk 2020 | July 3–5, 2020 | Replaced by online NEWhere 2020 |
| SFRA 2020 | July 8–11, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Readercon 31 | July 9–12, 2020 | Postponed to July 9–11, 2021, then held online |
| Shore Leave 42 | July 10–12, 2020 | Replaced by online Shore Leave 41.5/Postponed to 2021 |
| Pyrkon 2020 | July 10–12, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Necon XL | July 16–19, 2020 | Postponed to July 15–18, 2021, then replaced by online Camp V-Con |
| ConGregate 2020 (DeepSouthCon 58) |
July 17–19, 2020 | ConGregate 2020 cancelled; DSC 58 |
| Confluence 2020 | July 24–26, 2020 | Replaced by online C'monfluence |
| Bubonicon 52 | July 29–August 2, 2020 | Replaced by online Buboni-Virtual Con/Postponed to August 20–22, 2021 |
| CoNZealand (Worldcon 78) | July 29–August 2, 2020 | Held online |
| Mythcon 51 | July 31–August 3, 2020 | Postponed to July 30–August 2, 2021 |
| PulpFest 2020 | August 6–9, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Armadillocon 42 | August 7–9, 2020 | Held online August 28–30, 2020 |
| Diversicon 28 | August 7–9, 2020 | Postponed to July 30–August 1, 2021 |
| Discworld Convention 2020 | August 7–10, 2020 | Cancelled |
| When Words Collide 2020 | August 14–16, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Reunicon 2020 | August 20–22, 2020 | |
| F-Con (Japanese Natcon) | August 22–23, 2020 | Postponed to August 27–28, 2022 |
| CONvergence 2020 | August 20–23, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Columbus 2020 NASFiC | August 20–23, 2020 | Held online |
| TitanCon 2020 | August 28–30, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Redemption 2020 | August 28–31, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Oxonmoot 2020 | September 3–6, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Dragon Con 2020 | September 3–7, 2020 | Held online |
| CoKoCon 2020 | September 4–7, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Fantasticon 2020 | September 5–6, 2020 | Held online |
| Albacon 2020 | September 11–13, 2020 | Cancelled |
| FenCon XVII | September 18–20, 2020 | Postponed to 2021 |
| FantasyCon 2020 | September 25–27, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Arcana 50 | October 2–4, 2020 | Postponed to October 2021 |
| Archon 44 | October 2–4, 2020 | Postponed to October 1–3, 2021 |
| Conflux 16 (Australian Natcon) |
October 2–4, 2020 | Postponed to |
| Futuricon (Eurocon 42) | October 2–4, 2020 | Held online |
| Octocon 2020 | October 9–11, 2020 | Held online |
| Valleycon 46 | October 15–18, 2020 | Cancelled |
| CAN*CON 2020 | October 16–18, 2020 | Cancelled |
| Capclave 2020 | October 16–18, 2020 | Held online |
| MileHiCon 52 | October 23–25, 2020 | Held online |
| OVFF 36 | October 23–25, 2020 | Replaced by online nOVFF |
| Scintillation 3 | October 23–25, 2020 | Postponed to October 8–10, 2021 |
| World Fantasy Convention 2020 | October 29 – November 1, 2020 | Held online |
| Bristol-Con 2020 | October 31, 2020 | Postponed to 2021 |
| ArmadaCon 2020 | November 6–8, 2020 | Held online on November 7 |
| IceCon 2020 | November 6–8, 2020 | Cancelled |
| OryCon 42 | November 12–14, 2020 | Replaced by online OR-eCon/Postponed to 2021 |
| CONtraflow X | November 13–15, 2020 | Postponed to |
| Novacon 50 | November 13–15, 2020 | Postponed to November 12–14, 2021. Several attendees contracted Covid during the con. |
| Windycon 47 in 2020 | November 13–15, 2020 | Replaced by online Breezycon/Postponed to 2021 |
| Philcon 2020 | November 20–22, 2020 | Held online |
| Chambanacon 50 | November 27–29, 2020 | Postponed to November 26–28, 2021 |
| Loscon 47 | November 27–29, 2020 | Postponed to 2021 |
| Smofcon 38 | December 4–6, 2020 | Replaced by online Smofcon 37 1/4/Postponed to 2021 |
| 2021 | ||
| GAFilk 2021 | January 8–10, 2021 | Cancelled |
| Rising ConFusion (MI) | January 15–17, 2021 | Postponed to January 21–23, 2022 |
| MarsCon 2021 (VA) | January 15–17, 2021 | Cancelled |
| Chattacon 46 | January 22–24, 2021 | Held online |
| COSine 2021 | January 29–21, 2021 | Cancelled |
| Capricon 41 | February 4–7, 2021 | Held online |
| Long Play (British Filk Convention 33) | February 5–7, 2021 | Cancelled |
| Life, the Universe, & Everything 39 | February 11–13, 2021 | Held online |
| Boskone 58 | February 12–14, 2021 | Held online |
| RadCon 8A | February 12–14, 2021 | Held online |
| Mysticon 2021 | February 2021 | Cancelled |
| Coastcon 44 | March 3–5, 2021 | Postponed to March 4–6, 2022 |
| MarsCon 2021 (MN) | March 12–14, 2021 | Held online |
| Eurocon 2021 | March 18–21, 2021 | Postponed to July 15–18, 2021 in Nov 2020, held succesfully |
| OutlantaCon 2021 | March 18-21, 2021 | Postponed to March 2022 |
| ICFA 42 | March 18–21, 2021 | Held online |
| LepreCon 47 | March 19–21, 2021 | Held online |
| FilKONtario 31 | March 19–21, 2021 | Replaced by online FilKONtari-NO 2 |
| Corflu 38 | March 26–28, 2021 | Postponed to November 3–5, 2021, except online FAAn Awards |
| Eastercon 72 (ConFusion) | April 2–5, 2021 | Held online |
| Fantastika 2021 (Swecon 23) | April 9–11, 2021 | Postponed to November 19–21, 2021 |
| HELIOsphere 2021 | April 9–11, 2021 | Replaced by online Beyond the Corona |
| KONgres 2021 | April 10–11, 2021 | Held online |
| Costume-Con 39 | April 23–25, 2021 | Postponed to April 21–24, 2023 |
| Penguicon 2021 | April 23–25, 2021 | Held online |
| Keycon 38 | May 21–23, 2021 | Held online |
| Balticon 55 | May 28-31, 2021 | Held online |
| MisCon 35 | May 28–31, 2021 | Cancelled |
| Westercon 74 | July 1–4, 2021 | Postponed to July 1–4, 2022 |
| Nullus Anxietas 7a | July 2–4, 2021 | Postponed to April 8–10, 2022, then cancelled |
| Readercon 31 | July 9–11, 2021 | Held online |
| DisCon III (Worldcon) | August 25–29, 2021 | Postponed to December 15–19 in April after Dec. '20 membership poll preferring it to virtual earlier. Virtual memberships and some program offered; about 31 attendees caught Covid, "cluster event" at WSFS Business Meeting |
| Capclave 2021 | October 1–3, 2021 | About 1/3rd smaller than usual |
| World Fantasy Convention 2021 | November 4–7, 2021 | Held as a “hybrid” online/live con. One attendee contracted Covid |
| Windycon 47 in 2021 | November 12–14, 2021 | Scheduled to be online but then in person |
| 2022 | ||
| Arisia 2022 | January 14–16, 2022 | Cancelled. An “online gathering” held. |
| MarsCon 2022 (VA) | January 14–16, 2022 | Postponed to March 18–20, 2022 |
| MystiCon 2022 | February 25–27, 2022 | Cancelled |
| Corflu 39 | March 18–20, 2022 | Postponed to October 21–23, 2022 |
| Chicon 8 (Worldcon) | September 1–5, 2022 | Held as scheduled but with lower than expected attendance and at least 60 cases of Covid. Virtual memberships and some program offered |
| 2023 | ||
| Costume-Con 41 | April 21–24, 2023 | Replaced by Costume-Con 39 |
| Fanhistory | 2020— |
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