Introduction

Octocon, the National Irish Science Fiction Convention, is a weekend celebration of our favourite stories from books, comics, TV, films and games; from science fiction, fantasy, horror and beyond; attracting artists, writers, film-makers and fans from across the human sphere of influence.

The first Octocon was held in 1990 with Terry Pratchett as our first Guest of Honour. Over the years, some of our guests of honour have included Anne McCaffrey, JG Jones, Tanith Lee, Mike Carey, George R.R. Martin, Gail Simone, Rhianna Pratchett, Pat Cadigan, Colleen Doran and many more.

Octocon 2020 and 2021 were both held online due to Covid-19, but in October 2022 we ran our first hybrid convention at Croke Park and Online.

Watch Again

You can watch highlights from Octocon’s online programme in previous years on our Twitch channels, OctoconIRL & OctoconIRL2, and on YouTube.

Log into our Octocon Member Portal to view our Streaming Programme Archive for the years you had memberships (available from 2022 onwards).

Octocon History and Archives

2025: no Guests of Honour
Saturday 11th October 2025, Maldron Hotel, Tallaght, Dublin and Online
Sunday 12th October 2025, Online
Octocon 2025 Overview
All Octocon 2025 News Posts

2024: Guest of Honour Ruth Frances Long (aka Jessica Thorne)
5-6 October 2024, The Gibson Hotel, Dublin and Online
Octocon 2024 Archive

2023: Guest of Honour Sarah Rees Brennan
7-8 October 2023, The Gibson Hotel, Dublin and Online
Octocon 2023 Archive

2022: Guest of Honour Michael Carroll
Fan Guests of Honour: Helen Ryder and Philippa Ryder
15-16 October 2022, Croke Park, Dublin and Online
Octocon 2022 Archive

2021: no Guests of Honour
1-3 October 2021, held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Octocon 2021 Archive

2020: Guest of Honour Michael Carroll
Fan Guests of Honour: Helen Ryder and Philippa Ryder
9-11 October 2020, held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Octocon 2020 Archive

2019: Special Guests Diane Duane, Peter Morwood, Peadar Ó Guilín, Ruth Frances Long
13 October 2019, Crowne Plaza Hotel Blanchardstown, Dublin
One day only because Dublin hosted Worldcon in August (Dublin 2019, an Irish Worldcon)
Octocon 2019 Archive

2018: Guests of Honour Pat Cadigan and Colleen Doran
19-21 October 2018, Crowne Plaza Hotel Blanchardstown, Dublin
Octocon 2018 Archive

2017: Guests of Honour Dan Abnett and Nik Vincent-Abnett
6-8 October 2017, Camden Court Hotel, Dublin
Octocon 2017 Archive

2016: Guests of Honour Diane Duane, Peter Morwood and Rhianna Pratchett
14-16 October 2016, Camden Court Hotel, Dublin
Octocon 2016 Archive

2015: Guests of Honour Emma Newman and Maura McHugh
9-11 October 2015, Camden Court Hotel, Dublin

2014:  No convention because Dublin hosted Eurocon in August (Shamrokon)

2013: Guests of Honour Richard K. Morgan and Gail Simone
12-13 October 2013, Camden Court Hotel, Dublin

2012: Guest of Honour Liz Williams
13-14 October 2012, Camden Court Hotel, Dublin

2011: Guest of Honour John Higgins
15-16 October 2011, Camden Court Hotel, Dublin

2010: Guest of Honour George R. R. Martin
16-17 October 2010, Camden Court Hotel, Dublin

2009: Guest of Honour Mike Carey
Fan Guest of Honour Dave Lally
10-11 October 2009, Camden Court Hotel, Dublin

2008: Guest of Honour Ken MacLeod
18-19 October 2008, Royal Dublin Hotel, Dublin

2007: Guest of Honour Alastair Reynolds
13-14 October 2007, Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

2006: Guest of Honour J. G. Jones
14-15 October 2006, Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

2005: Guest of Honour Charles Stross
15-16 October 2005, Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

2004: Guest of Honour Tanith Lee
16-17 October 2004, Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

2003: No convention

2002: Guest of Honour China Miéville
19-20 October 2002, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

2001: Guest of Honour Anne McCaffrey
13-14 October 2001, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

2000: Guest of Honour Michael Marshall Smith
21-22 October 2000, Royal Dublin Hotel, Dublin

1999: Guest of Honour Robert Rankin
9-10 October 1999, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

1998: Guest of Honour James White
10 October 1998, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

1997 – Eurocon: Guest of Honour Harry Harrison
25-27 October 1997, Dublin Castle Dublin

1996: Guest of Honour Brian Stableford
11-13 October 1996, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

1995: Guest of Honour Kim Newman
14-15 October 1995, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

1994: Guest of Honour Robert Holdstock
1-2 October 1994, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

1993: Guest of Honour Storm Constantine
30-31 October 1993, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

1992: Guest of Honour Orson Scott Card
16-18 October 1992, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

1991: Guest of Honour Geoff Ryman
4-6 October 1991, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

1990: Guest of Honour Terry Pratchett
13–14 October 1990, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin