Writing Contest Winners Announced!
With short story submissions from all over the world, the competition in the Seattle Worldcon 2025 Short Story Writing Contest was fierce. The theme was “Building Yesterday’s Future—For Everyone.” This theme was selected to invoke nostalgia for the hopeful science-fictional era of the early 1960s, when Seattle held its first Worldcon, followed up by the Century 21 Exposition, showing the world a vision of its technological future, complete with freshly built Monorail and Space Needle.
We are pleased to announce the winners of the Seattle Worldcon 2025 Short Story Writing Contest!
Winners:
Youth category: “The Dream Terminal” by Michelle J. Diaz
Adult category: “Follow for More: Captain Garvey Fights the Space Junk!” by Sarah Darbee
Prizes include a membership to Seattle Worldcon 2025 for the winners (and for the guardian of the Youth winner), publication on the Seattle Worldcon 2025 website, and publication in a forthcoming anthology by Grim Oak Press.
Congratulations to the winners! Seattle Worldcon 2025 thanks all of the authors who submitted stories to the contest.
Visit the Worldcon Cantina!
Step into a lively space where fans come together to relax, create, and connect. Whether you want to continue an epic panel discussion, unleash your artistic side by adding to our community scroll, or dive into your favorite craft, the Cantina is the perfect place to do it all.
Need a quick costume fix or want to learn a new technique? We’ve got you covered at our costume repair station and crafter’s lounge area, which will host open crafting circles and periodic meetups throughout the con. Looking for a new game to play or a free book to take home? This is where you’ll find our Freebies Lounge. Looking for nourishment or refreshment? We have food and beverage outlets. It’s all here. Come hang out, share your passions, grab a bite to eat, and meet fellow fans who love the same things you do.
The Worldcon Cantina isn’t just a space—it’s where memories are made and friendships begin.
Business Meeting Proposals Are Due June 4
With the approach of summer, the deadline for submission of new business also draws near. This year it comes in a few short weeks at the end of day (Pacific time) on June 4, 2025.
Proposals, which must include a short title, the text of the proposed change with
markup, the names of at least two sponsors who are WSFS members, and any rationale you wish to provide, can be sent to bm-submit@seattlein2025.org.
Please look for a detailed email soon from the WSFS Division about the business meeting and other topics. Meanwhile, you can read more about the Business Meeting and submitting proposals on our website.
New Community Fund Grants Available—Eligibility Expanded
The Seattle Worldcon Community Fund has been given additional funding, which allows us to add a fifth application focus group! We are now able to offer grants to people who are both disabled and low income. For example, someone who receives SSI- however, you do not need to be on SSI to qualify. Please visit our web page at Seattle Worldcon 2025 Community Fund for information and to apply.
We are also still accepting applications for all other focus groups, and if you have already applied, you are still in consideration for a grant.
The deadline for our third round of grant awards is May 18th, with disbursements expected on or around May 30th. With the additional funding, continued donations, and our grant recipients occasionally changing their plans, we anticipate a limited amount of funds to be available almost up to the date of the convention. Our goal is to award as much of the available money as possible.
We are still gratefully accepting donations. If you wish to help bring fellow fans to Seattle Worldcon, donate here.
Take Our Childcare Interest Survey
At Worldcon we support everyone having a good experience, which is why it is important to make accommodations for parents and our youngest fans. We are supporting families with preteen children in two ways: with children’s programming available daily in the convention center in the space we call Welcome to Asteroid Kids!, and with drop-off childcare options reservable in advance of the convention provided by Kiddiecorp. We need your help, however, to optimize our childcare options. Take our survey to learn more and provide feedback that will help us provide the right level of services.
Announcing Worldcon Masquerade Directors!
Seattle Worldcon 2025 would like to introduce you to the directors of the Seattle Worldcon Masquerade: Sue Finkle and Richard Stephens. They will be providing rules and web sign up forms shortly. If you have questions about the Masquerade, please email masquerade@seattlein2025.org!
Business Meeting Consultative Vote Is Open Now Through May 31
As previously announced, Seattle Worldcon is holding a consultative vote of WSFS members on two of the proposed Constitutional amendments passed on from the Glasgow 2024 Business Meeting to the Seattle Worldcon: the proposed revisions of the Hugo Award categories for best professional artist and best fan artist, and the proposed amendment to abolish the Retro Hugo Awards.
The purpose of the consultative vote is to test whether this type of vote is feasible, in case the practice is someday adopted as a formal part of the WSFS decision-making process. These proposals were chosen because they have clearly generated wide interest among the Worldcon community.
The consultative vote runs from May 1 to May 31 and is accessed through the member registration portal in the same manner as the Hugo Award voting—so you can do both at the same time! More information is available on the Consultative Vote Webpage.
The Freebies Lounge is Accepting Donations
The Seattle Worldcon Freebies Lounge is currently accepting donations! So far, we’ve received a fantastic collection of genre books to give away to attending members.
Attendees can look forward to a wide selection of new releases, galleys, ARCs, and back stock from both traditional publishers and self-published authors. Some well-known authors are also donating personal copies, and if you’re lucky, you might find a signed edition. Additionally, many of our members are pruning their libraries and donating pre-loved books.
The Freebies Lounge is a great place to discover new authors. Quality indie SFF titles can be hard to find because they are not usually stocked in brick-and-mortar stores and don’t receive the same level of publicity that traditional publishers enjoy. We’ll have a great selection of award-winning fantasy and science-fiction indie authors for you to explore.
If you are interested in donating books, please the Freebies Lounge page for more information.
Single-Day Passes Now on Sale!
With 90 days to go until the start of Seattle Worldcon 2025, we have put single-day passes on sale. A single day pass allows daily admission to the Worldcon and its events, but does not include WSFS rights (voting in the Hugo Awards, site selection, and the Business Meeting). With variable rates for adults, young adults, and teens, it is an affordable way to get a taste of Worldcon and meet your favorite authors. Single day passes may be purchased through the registration portal, and price information may be found on our Memberships page.
There are many open volunteer positions! Come and share your talents!
Volunteer positions are currently available and many more will be opening up as the convention approaches. Be sure to peruse the Volunteer page on the website, and check back frequently if something you want to do is not yet available.
Here are a few of the currently open positions:
- Staff Lounge Monitor
- Volunteer Desk Staff
- Assistant Dockmaster
- Move In/Move Out Staff
- Rovers/Safety Staff
- Art Show Staff
- Cantina Staff
- Dealers’ Area Assistant
- Exhibit Hall Staff
- And so many more!
If you are unsure what position to apply for, you can fill out the Volunteer Interest Form and add your name to the database by selecting one or several areas of interest.
Check Your Settings in the Registration Portal
Are you ready for the registration line? To make sure, login to our registration portal to make sure you’ve accepted the code of conduct and that your registered or legal name matches your ID, so we can give you your badge.
And did you know that your 2025 WSFS membership gives you nomination rights for the 2026 Hugo Awards? To activate, edit your profile to make sure you’ve checked the box to allow us to pass your info on to future Worldcons. We never use this for marketing—only WSFS rights!
Reminder: Virtual Business Meeting Dates and Times
As previously announced, the main sessions of the WSFS Business Meeting will be held virtually before the convention this year, at the following dates and times (Pacific Daylight Time):
- Friday, July 4, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Sunday, July 13, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Saturday, July 19, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Friday, July 25, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
More information about the business meeting may be found on the website.