StokerCon 2026:  Celebrating Ten Years

THE HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION (HWA) is a nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it. HWA was formed in the late 1980’s with the help of many of the field’s greats, including Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, and Joe Lansdale. Today——with over 1800 members in countries such as Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, Honduras, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad, United Kingdom and the United States——it is the oldest and most respected professional organization for the much-loved writers who have brought you the most enjoyable sleepless nights of your life.One of HWA’s missions is to encourage public interest in and foster an appreciation of good Horror and Dark Fantasy literature. To that end, we offer the public areas of this web site, we sponsor or take part in occasional public readings and lectures, we publish a blog and produce other materials for booksellers and librarians, we facilitate readings and signings by horror writers, and we maintain an official presence at the major fan-based horror and fantasy conventions.HWA is also dedicated to recognizing and promoting diversity in the horror genre, and practices a strictanti-harassment policyat all of its events.As part of our core mission, we sponsor the annualBram Stoker Awards® for superior achievement in horror literature. Named in honor of the author of the seminal horror novel Dracula, the Bram Stoker Awards® are presented for superior writing in eleven categories including traditional fiction of various lengths, poetry, screenwriting, graphic novels, young adult, and non-fiction. In addition, HWA presents an annualLifetime Achievement Awardto a living person who has made significant contributions to the writing of Horror and Dark Fantasy over the course of a lifetime.For more information, please visit www.horror.org.

Horror Writers Association

StokerCon 2026 welcomes you back  to Pittsburgh, PA! All the panels, workshops, presentations, and Final Frame you've come to love.

The Westin Pittsburgh

INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATIONThe Horror Writers Association recommends booking lodging at the convention hotel at the time of registration to avoid unforeseen events or limitation of available lodging at the time of the convention.Use this <a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1754579574822&amp;key=GRP&amp;app=resvlink" title="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1754579574822&amp;key=GRP&amp;app=resvlink" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">link</a> to book your reservation with the official StokerCon Hotel. The official StokerCon Refund Policy is listed at the bottom of this event description.IMPORTANT note: Please disregard the note from Eventbrite. The official StokerCon Refund Policy is listed at the bottom of this event description. GUESTS OF HONORLinda AddisonAnn VanderMeerJohn ShirleyBilly Martin For more information check out the StokerCon <a href="https://www.stokercon.com" title="https://www.stokercon.com" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">website</a> In-PersonStamford Weekend Special: June 16th through June 20th—$175Early Bird: June 20th through September 30, 2023—$200October Special:October 1st through October 31st—$250​General Admission: November 1st through duration of the event —$300​Single Day Passes: Friday or Saturday only—$200​VirtualVirtual Only—$75Virtual Only with Souvenir Anthology—$100Virtual Only with Souvenir Anthology (International Shipping)—$125.00​Virtual Add-On to In-Person Registration (Hybrid Ticket)—$40 Librarian's DayLibrarian’s Day OnlyLaunch through May 29th —$70Libraries registering 6 or more staff are eligible for a group rate of $60 per Librarians' Day ticket. For information about how to access the group rate, please contact libraries (at) horror (dot) org.Librarians wishing to use purchase orders please contact purchase (at) horror (dot) org. Banquet Tickets ( Ticket Sales to Begin in early 2026)Regular Banquet Ticket—$100Nominee Banquet Ticket—$85 DEALERS ROOM REGISTRATIONInformation for ad specs are available at StokerCon.com and in ticket details for each respective dealer room ticket.Ad specs are also listed in each dealer room ticket description.The following rates apply until February 28, 2026.​One Table with One Convention Pass—$400Two Tables with One Convention Pass—$500Two Tables with Two Convention Passes and program book advertising (Quarter Page ad) —$800Three Tables with Two Convention Passes and program book advertising (Half Page Ad)—$950Three Tables with Three Convention Passes and program book advertising (Full Page Ad)—$1500​After March 1, 2026, the cost of Dealers Room tables will follow this schedule.​One Table with One Convention Pass—$550Two Tables with One Convention Pass—$650 Two Tables with Two Convention Passes and program book advertising—$1000Three Tables with Two Convention Passes and program book advertising—$1100Three Tables with Three Convention Passes and program book advertising—$1750 REFUND POLICYStokerCon™ registrations* may be canceled more than ninety days ahead of the convention start date for a full refund of your purchase price. Registrations may be canceled more than sixty days ahead of the convention start date for a refund of 95% of the purchase price due to fees incurred in processing refunds via Eventbrite. Within sixty days, and up to and including through the convention, no refunds will be issued but you may either sell or transfer your registration to someone else or transfer it to StokerCon 2025. Dealer room packages and associated fees when purchased with registration are considered registration fees. Special events or non-registration events such as banquets or other events are subject to the discrection of the StokerCon Chairs, HWA Board, and Senior Staff. If you encounter an extenuating circumstance (death in the family, hospitalization, etc.), you may contact the StokerCon™ Chair(s) and petition for a refund. These will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Proof of the extenuating circumstance may be required. The Horror Writers Association (HWA) will assist in the sale or transfer of registrations only to the extent that it will recognize said sale or transfer as it pertains to name badges, any associated swag, access to the convention event spaces, banquet attendance (if included), or any other special access granted by the registration sold or transferred. The HWA will not function as an intermediary in any exchange of monies on the sale of a registration and will not be responsible for any loss incurred therein. You may post publicly on the HWA and StokerCon™ Facebook pages if you wish to offer your registration for sale or transfer. Please allow up to three weeks for any refund request to be processed. Disclaimer:Horror Writers Association (HWA) intends to take photographs and video of the event. By purchasing tickets and attending the event, you give HWA the irrevocable and unrestricted right and permission to photograph and/or videotape you at the event. By attending the event, you authorize HWA to use, publish, reproduce, and display photos, video, digital, or audiovisual images of me and to use my name, likeness, and voice (collectively referred to herein as the “Images”), through any form of media. I understand the Images may be used internally and externally in various publications, social media, public releases, recruitment or advertising materials, or for any other lawful purposeHWA shall not be in default or breach because of any failure to perform in accordance with its terms and conditions if such failure arises from causes beyond its control, including without limitation acts of God, acts of government, pandemics, fires, floods, strikes, embargos, act of public enemy, terrorist, war, riot or other cause or event, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, that are beyond the control of HWA.

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StokerCon 2026: Celebrating Ten Years

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StokerCon 2026: Celebrating Ten Years

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