All Worldcons follow the rules of the World Science Fiction Society, also known as WSFS (“whiz-fizz”). All Worldcons have specific duties and responsibilities that occur at each convention as determined by the WSFS Constitution. One of the more well known elements is the Hugo Awards, a fan-voted award for science fiction and fantasy.
Hugo Awards
The Hugo Awards are awarded each year by WSFS at that year’s Worldcon.
Nominations for the Hugo Awards will open in early 2025. In order for a WSFS member to nominate works, a person must purchase a WSFS membership before January 31, 2025 or be a member of the Glasgow Worldcon in 2024. After nominations have closed, the final ballot will be announced, and all members of Seattle Worldcon 2025 will be able to vote for the winners in each category.
2025 Special Hugo Award
Each Worldcon may create a special Hugo Award category which is not binding on future Worldcons. The nomination and voting process for a special Hugo Award is the same as for the permanent categories.
Seattle Worldcon 2025 will be awarding a special Hugo Award for best poem in 2025. Poems must be published in the year 2024, be within the speculative, science fiction, or fantasy genres, and have a minimum of three lines.
Hugo Subcommittee
The Seattle Worldcon 2025 Committee has completely and irrevocably delegated its authority to administer the 2025 Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards to a Hugo Subcommittee consisting of Hugo Administrator Nicholas Whyte, Deputy Hugo Administrator Esther MacCallum-Stewart, WSFS Division Head Cassidy, and WSFS Deputy Division Head Kathryn Duval. Per section 3.13 of the WSFS Constitution, the members of the Hugo Subcommittee will therefore be ineligible for the 2025 Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards, and remain ineligible regardless of continuing membership in the subcommittee. The Hugo administrator may add to or modify the Hugo Subcommittee at his discretion without having to return to the Seattle Worldcon 2025 Committee for approval.
Site Selection
Seattle Worldcon 2025 will also administer the vote to determine the location of the 2027 Worldcon. All members of Seattle Worldcon 2025 will be able to vote in Site Selection after payment of the extra voting fee. Voting in Site Selection automatically gives the voter a WSFS (supporting) membership for the 2027 Worldcon. For details on how to submit a bid, please see How to Submit a Site Selection Bid.
WSFS Business Meeting
The Business Meeting is where the WSFS members are able to debate and vote on the WSFS Constitution and other business. This includes suggesting changes relating to Hugo Award categories, how Site Selection is conducted, and how the Business Meeting is run.
Hugo Nomination and Voting
The Hugo Awards are awarded each year by WSFS at that year’s Worldcon.
Nominations for the Hugo Awards will open in early 2025. In order for a WSFS member to nominate works, a person must purchase a WSFS membership before January 31, 2025 or be a member of the Glasgow Worldcon in 2024. After nominations have closed, the final ballot will be announced, and all members of Seattle Worldcon 2025 will be able to vote for the winners in each category.
Nomination Stage
Sometime in early 2025, Seattle Worldcon 2025 will open nominations for the current categories in the WSFS Constitution. Each category has specific criteria that must be met in order to be considered eligible. Check back for more information on how to nominate as the nominations get closer to opening.
