THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

The biggest furry convention in the world is back in Pittsburgh NEWS Pittsburgh Add Topic Inside Anthrocon: How furries and fandom boost downtown Pittsburgh Gabby Sartori USA TODAY July 2, 2026, 4:03 p.m. ET Hear this story Anthrocon returns to downtown Pittsburgh this week, bringing thousands of fans of anthropomorphic, or human-like, animal characters to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for four days of programming. The event, themed “Critters, Cryptids & Curses” for 2026, is widely billed as the world’s largest furry convention, drawing attendees from across the country and around the globe. Furries are people who enjoy imagining and creating animal characters with human traits through art, writing, performance and elaborate “fursuits” that turn the convention center and streets into a moving, colorful parade. For many, the draw is creativity and community: Anthrocon offers panels, workshops, dance competitions, river cruises, art shows, and its signature fursuit parade and block party that spill out into downtown and the Cultural District. The convention is also a major economic driver. Recent years have seen Anthrocon generate in the range of about $21 million to $22 m…

Anthrocon Furries Help Their Four-Legged Friends With a Donation to a ... Anthrocon Furries Help Their Four-Legged Friends With a Donation to a Local Animal Sanctuary Anthrocon raises more than $100,000 for Gray Paws Sanctuary in White Oak. July 8, 2024 Jilian Musser , PHOTO BY AIDAN MCCLAIN S enior dogs of Pittsburgh can obtain more support thanks to their furry friends who attended Anthrocon this past weekend . Each year, the annual convention — now in its 18th year in Pittsburgh — raises money for local charities. The furries this year donated more than $100,000 to Gray Paws Sanctuary , which is located in White Oak and focuses on fostering and housing senior dogs. Gray Paws Sanctuary is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The Anthrocon donation marks a new record for the convention, almost doubling last year’s donation to the Rabbit Wranglers of $52,000. Since the convention began in 1997, the furries have raised more than $547,000 for charities . @pittsburghmagazine #Anthrocon2024 is happening in #Pittsburgh this weekend! #Anthrocon #Furries #PGH #412 ♬ Pink Panther Intro – Henry Mancini Gray Paws Sanctuary founders Darla Poole-Brescia and Joe Brescia started the orga…

Anthrocon marks 20 years of bringing furries to Pittsburgh <p>Anthrocon 2026 is almost here, and the signs will soon be unmistakable.</p>

Anthrocon marks 20 years of bringing furries to Pittsburgh - TribLIVE Local A furry poses for a portrait on the roof of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh during Anthrocon in 2024. (Kristina Serafini | TribLive) Anthrocon 2026 is almost here, and the signs will soon be unmistakable. The four-day convention, held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, will return to the region from Thursday through Sunday. Upwards of 18,500 furries — fans and creators of anthropomorphic animal characters — are expected to take over Downtown. This year, the convention also marks a major milestone as it celebrates its 20th year of being hosted in Pittsburgh. “You go up and down Liberty Avenue and Penn Avenue, and you see the windows where people have drawn things,” said John “K.P.” (Kuddlepup) Cole, Anthrocon’s public outreach director. “Merchants with signs saying, ‘We heart Anthrocon, we love the furries. Please come in. Furry special, Anthrocon special.’ ” Cole, a “paw”peteer and fursuiter, started out attending Anthrocon in 1999, when the convention was hosted in Albany, N.Y. Originally a room party (an unofficial, fan-run gathering in a single hotel room), An…

Anthrocon 2026 Celebrates Milestone 20th Anniversary in Pittsburgh Share Anthrocon 2026 Celebrates Milestone 20th Anniversary in Pittsburgh Anthrocon returns to Pittsburgh, celebrating two decades of “fur”-ever friendship with a parade, block party and more. PITTSBURGH, PA (June 26, 2026) - Anthrocon, one of the world’s largest furry conventions, is headed back to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC) this July for a landmark 20th year. VisitPITTSBURGH is thrilled to welcome this event back for what is projected to be its largest year yet, with more than 18,000 attendees expected and a strong slate of community events to celebrate two decades in Pittsburgh. Anthrocon 2026, which is themed “Critters, Cryptids & Curses,” will take place from July 2-5 and has over 16,100 pre-registered attendees, with on-site registration also available. This year’s convention is anticipated to generate more than $18.6 million in direct visitor spend. A Relationship Decades in the Making Anthrocon first relocated to Pittsburgh in 2006, when the event outgrew its former venue. What began as a leap of faith blossomed into a 20-year legacy. Anthrocon found its perfect match in Pittsburgh—a welc…

Anthrocon returning to Pittsburgh for its 20th anniversary PITTSBURGH — Anthrocon, one of the world’s largest furry conventions, is returning to Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center from July 2 to July 5 for its 20th anniversary. The event is projected to attract more than 18,000 attendees and generate over $18.6 million in direct visitor spending. This year’s convention, themed “Critters, Cryptids & Curses,” already has more than 16,100 pre-registered attendees, with on-site registration also available. Anthrocon first relocated to Pittsburgh in 2006 after outgrowing its former venue, establishing a two-decade legacy in the city. Anthrocon’s relationship with Pittsburgh has seen attendees contribute $163.9 million in direct visitor spending to Allegheny County since 2006. The organization has also raised over $600,000 for local southwestern Pennsylvania nonprofits and charities. Jerad Bachar, president and CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH, highlighted the mutual benefits of the partnership. “Over the past two decades, Anthrocon and Pittsburgh have grown together, creating a partnership that has become a defining part of our summer calendar,” Bachar said. “Pittsburgh’s welcoming…

Furry Flood: Downtown Pittsburgh Braces For Anthrocon’s 20th Source: Douglas Muth from Ardmore, PA, USA , CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Downtown Pittsburgh is about to get a lot furrier. Anthrocon, billed as the world’s largest convention for fans of anthropomorphic art and costuming, returns next Thursday through Sunday for its 20th anniversary run. The four-day event will once again center on the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, spilling onto nearby streets with public events, a massive fursuit parade, and river cruises that should be hard to miss across the Cultural District. Hotels and businesses are gearing up for a holiday-weekend surge. Dates, theme and what’s on the schedule According to Anthrocon , this year’s theme is "Critters, Cryptids & Curses," setting the tone for four days of panels, nightly dances, an art show, a dealers’ den, and the signature fursuit parade. The convention’s event store lists ticketed add-ons, including river cruises and other special weekend activities. Organizers have kept registration open into late June, although some higher-tier memberships and blocks at partner hotels have been selling quickly. Attendance and local impact WPXI r…

Anthrocon marks 20 years of bringing furries to Pittsburgh Anthrocon 2026 is almost here, and the signs will soon be unmistakable. The four-day convention, held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, will return to the region from Thursday through Sunday. Upwards of 18,500 furries — fans and creators of anthropomorphic animal characters — are expected to take over Downtown. This year, the convention also marks a major milestone as it celebrates its 20th year of being hosted in Pittsburgh. “You go up and down Liberty Avenue and Penn Avenue, and you see the windows where people have drawn things,” said John “K.P.” (Kuddlepup) Cole, Anthrocon’s public outreach director. “Merchants with signs saying, ‘We heart Anthrocon, we love the furries. Please come in. Furry special, Anthrocon special.’ ” Cole, a “paw”peteer and fursuiter, started out attending Anthrocon in 1999, when the convention was hosted in Albany, N.Y. Originally a room party (an unofficial, fan-run gathering in a single hotel room), Anthrocon was officially founded in 1997 as Albany Anthrocon. It took place in Valley Forge, Pa., then in Philadelphia at the Adams Mark Hotel before the hotel was unexpectedly sold in…

Anthrocon Begins: Furries are back in Pittsburgh Anthrocon Begins: Furries return to Pittsburgh for annual convention More than 19,000 people are expected to attend. Anthrocon Begins: Furries return to Pittsburgh for annual convention More than 19,000 people are expected to attend. STRETCH THAT STARTED LAST FRIDAY. ALSO HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH, THE RETURN OF THE FURRIES TODAY BEGINS THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL ANTHROCON AT DAVID LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER, BRINGING NEARLY 20,000 PEOPLE INTO TOWN COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER LILY COLEMAN IS DOWNTOWN WITH HOW LOCAL LEADERS ARE READY FOR THE INFLUX OF GUESTS. FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, ANTHROCON HAS CALLED THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH HOME. ORGANIZERS TELL ME THE REASON FOR THAT IS SIMPLE. THEY FEEL LIKE THE PEOPLE OF PITTSBURGH HAVE EMBRACED THEM WITH OPEN ARMS. IT WOULDN’T BE SUMMER IN THE CITY WITHOUT THE ANNUAL VISIT FROM OUR FURRY FRIENDS. NOWHERE ELSE HAS THE CITY GOTTEN AS INTO IT AS THE FOLKS OF PITTSBURGH GET INTO ANTHROCON, WE HAVE DE FACTO BECOME A CITY INSTITUTION. WE ARE HUMBLED BY IT. WE ARE HONORED BY IT, AND WE ARE DOGGONE HAPPY TO HAVE IT. DOCTOR SAMUEL CONWAY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE C…

Anthrocon returning to Pittsburgh for 20th anniversary celebration One of the world's premier furry conventions is returning to Pittsburgh for its 20th anniversary celebration. Anthrocon 2026, dubbed "Critters, Cryptids and Curses," will take place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center from July 2 through July 5. Organizers are expecting another large turnout and an economic impact exceeding $18 million. More than 16,000 people have pre-registered for the convention, and organizers expect on-site registration to bring attendance to over 18,000. Anthrocon first moved to Pittsburgh in 2006 after outgrowing its previous venue. Since then, attendees have contributed nearly $164 million in direct visitor spending to Allegheny County, according to a news release provided by Visit Pittsburgh. The convention has also raised more than $600,000 for southwestern Pennsylvania charities and nonprofits over the past two decades. "Over the past two decades, Anthrocon and Pittsburgh have grown together, creating a partnership that has become a defining part of our summer calendar," Visit Pittsburgh president and CEO Jerad Bachar said in a statement. "Pittsburgh's welcoming spirit, creative e…