bayconnews | July 3rd —6th, 2026

BayCon joins forces with The Royal Manticoran Navy HMS Medusa this weekend at @CarrierConBA , pop culture & anime con on board the USS Hornet in Alameda! 🚢🌊 Come by our table and get some goodies along with a discounted badge to BayCon 42/Westercon 78! See you at the museum!

Please help welcome them onboard by getting your badge today!

Locus publishes news of the science fiction, fantasy ,horror, and young-adult publishing field, with extensive reviews and listings of new books, short fiction, and magazines. We’re working on some special branded spaces which we’ll go into detail in the near future.

BayCon 42 / Westercon 78 is pleased to welcome @locusmag as an “Ultimate Answer” sponsor of our convention weekend! From locusmag.com: Locus is a non-profit review and trade journal, covering the science fiction and fantasy field since 1968.

‼️REMINDER‼️ Want to speak or moderate a panel at BayCon? Programming is still accepting submissions until APRIL 2ND, 2026. Go to baycon.org/get-involved/p… for information on how to submit!

Also stop by baycon.org to book your hotel room and be close to the action all weekend! 🏨🎉

Happy St. Paddy’s Day🍀🇮🇪! Earth may not have been lucky but fortunately for intrepid space travelers like yourself, there is still something to celebrate! Use code LUCKY42 for $10 off a full weekend badge to BayCon 42/Westercon 78.

✨Jenay Marontate aka Kitchen Witch, “Tea and Magic” talk, March 21 at the Goddess Festival, Sacramento, CA. ✨Sumiko Saulson “Dance of the Necromance” Poetry Book Launch (on Facebook: facebook.com/events/4215888…

See our Guests of Honor before BayCon for events this March and April! 🗓️ ✨ @Annaleen , “Privacy’s Defender” book launch w/Cindy Cohn March 12 (eff.org/post/3mfrocuak…).

@BayConNews 🌟This contest encourages writers to explore stories that seek meaning through wonder, humor, resistance, and imagination--especially those crafted by BIPOC creators whose voices have long shaped and often reshaped the genre! 📎 Read more about the theme: baycon.org/theme

@BayConNews is accepting submissions for their writing contest until March 31st, 2026! This year's theme is Douglas Adams' "the answer" Submit for a chance to win a Day Badge for #BayCon42 / #Westercon78 and $100 USD! 📎 baycon.org/writing-contes…

Wishing all our Women and Non-Binary Guests of Honor, past and present, a Happy International Women’s Day! • • • • #internationalwomensday #womeninsciencefiction #womeninfantasy #womeninspeculativefiction #womeninspiringwomen

The winners will be announced during Opening Ceremonies at the convention and will receive $100 and a free day badge to accept their prizes. Link for Info + Apply: baycon.org/writing-contes…

BayCon 42 / Westercon 78 is excited to announce the Society for the Promotion of Speculative Fiction’s short story writing contest! 📝✍️ Stories must draw inspiration from this year’s theme.Story submissions will be accepted from MARCH 1ST - MARCH 31ST, 2026.

You can find her wares in the BayCon Marketplace and in our Divination Room or you can shop any time at KitchenWitchGourmet.com.

from the Academy Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR), a gold award in Divination, and a silver in Witchcraft. Today Jenay resides in Lodi, CA with her family, this is where her beloved tea company Kitchen Witch Gourmet manufacturing warehouse is located.

BayCon is pleased to welcome Jenay Marontate aka “Kitchen Witch” as our latest Guest of Honor! Jenay Marontate was born and raised in the mountains of the pacific northwest. Being from such a lush green environment herbal medicine and

( Discount is good Feb. 13-15, 2026. Not applicable towards VIP packages)

Also check out our VIP packages, which include intimate events with our GUESTS OF HONOR, perks like special merch, and priority access to our most popular events. Come join us July 3-6 in Santa Clara and fall in love with speculative fiction all over again!

The Encyclopedia Galactica may deem love too complex, and the guide says “Avoid [romance], if at all possible,” but that doesn’t mean you can’t give the gift of BayCon this 💕Valentine’s Day 💕! Use code HEARTOFGOLD for $10 OFF a full weekend badge at BAYCON.ORG.