2026 Core Programming — panels, academic speakers, author readings, Armitage Symposium presentations, etc
*UPDATED 12 August 2026*
Note: Additional external programming can be found here and will include various special live podcasts, parties, book launches, and theatrical events from Wednesday to Sunday (including a different Dark Adventure Radio Theater event on Friday and Saturday evenings!).
Check here for updates on the core convention programming and all the related events happening in Providence the week of the convention. For details on all the extended programming such as plays, concerts, and film screenings, please visit the extended programming page linked above.
Much programming occurs outside of these core events, including Thursday – Sunday gaming, film screenings, parties, tours, and other events – much of this is open to the general public!
PANELS and TALKS!
This section includes the schedule of talks, panels, author readings, and the like, some still to be determined. This schedule is still subject to minor revisions, such as participating panelists.
Download a full 2026 schedule, right here (updated 10 August 2026):
Friday, August 14, 2026
Friday, August 14, 2026 8:00 AM
Tainted and Impure: Environmental Contamination in the Weird. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
A discussion on the feeling of “ick” and our response to real and imagined environmental contamination. How are ideas of the purity and the polluted entwined, and what do they mean from a moral, literary, and scientific perspective? What is the psychology behind how we think of contamination, and how is it understood and used in weird art and literature? Our panelists will explore this topic citing examples from classic and contemporary sources. Panelists: Rick Claypool (Moderator), Chesya Burke, Eric Schaller, K. H. Vaughan, Mathilda Zeller.
Daphne du Maurier: A Strange Creature. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
du Maurier (English, 1907 – 1989) wrote broadly, including romantic, historical, adventure and biography, often with an underlying hint of darkness or the supernatural. Short stories such as Don’t Look Now, The Apple Tree, The Blue Lenses, and The Birds are clearly in the realm of horror and weird fiction. Panelists discuss her work, controversies, and legacy. Panelists: Adam Golaski (Moderator), Victoria Dalpe, Robert Levy, Anya Martin.
Pre-Lovecraft Sources of Cosmic Horror. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
Practitioners, and even masters, of cosmic horror existed before Lovecraft. Indeed, they were powerful influences on his work. Poe, Blackwood, Bierce, Machen, Chambers, and Dunsany are inevitably cited, but which writers did Lovecraft cite as influences? To what extent did HPL capture and solidify previous work, and at what point did his cosmic horror take on a life of its own? Panelists: Matthew Carpenter (Moderator),Leslie S. Klinger, Will Murray, Peter Rawlik.
A People’s History of The Cthulhu Mythos: Leftist Appraisal and Reinterpretation. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
As Leftist pop-culture critic Nia Frome notes “… the basic components of Lovecraft’s vision really resonate with the denizens of late capitalism. Why is that?” Are colonialism, capitalism, and racism inherent in the foundation of the Mythos? What is the textual role of class in Lovecraft’s work? How have recent works attempted to reimagine or critique the underlying ideologies and how successful have they been? Panelists: Edward Guimont (Moderator), Alexander Dickow, Khora Martel, Tonya Monteforte, Eric Williams.
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Matthew M Bartlett; Nathan Carson; Cody Goodfellow; Darrell Schweitzer
Friday, August 14, 2026 9:30 AM
Armitage Symposium session 1 – Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
“We are all roamers of vast spaces and travellers in many ages” Weird Fiction Itineraries: Literary Geography and Archival Landscapes Chair: Eric Steinhart
1. Daniel J. Holmes “From Quebec to Kadath: Echoes of Canada in Lovecraft’s Late Fiction”
2. Heather Miller “Vigilant and Insomniac Rationality” in Conrad and Lovecraft”
3. Katherine Kerestman “Galahad in the Rubble: Frank Belknap Long’s Letters to Donald Wandrei, 1927 – 1975”
Environmental Activism and Weird Fiction. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Climate change, invasive species, habitat destruction and more impact our planet in shocking ways–and they’re also not foreign concepts in the world of the Weird, which uses these disasters to fuel its surreal landscapes, monstrous lifeforms, and uncanny phenomena. Works like Tiffany Morris’ Green Fuse Burning, Jeff VanderMeer’s Hummingbird Salamander, and Trang Thanh Tran’s They Bloom At Night are but a few of the burgeoning slate of weird ecothrillers. Panelists discuss how weird fiction inspires calls to action. Panelists: Rick Claypool (Moderator), Chesya Burke, Timothy J. Jarvis, Victoria Nations, Jon Padgett.
Ars Necronomica Panel. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Artists from this years’ art show at AS220 discuss their work and inspirations, and what’s happening in the world of weird art. Panelists: Ted DiLucia, Stephen Gervais, Kurt Komoda, Liv Rainey-Smith, Kayte Terry
Theosophy And Weird Fiction: How Did the Esoterica of Madame Blavatsky Influence Cosmic Horror. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
The esoterica of theosophy may have influenced the major weird fiction writers of the 1920s and 1930s, including H.P. Lovecraft, Arthur Machen, Lord Dunsany, Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, etc. as well as modern writers, all of whom employed ideas or themes that can be found in her writings. Although HPL and others were clearly aware of theosophy and other esoteric traditions, did the commonalities come from direct influence, second-hand, or were they part of a broader cultural zeitgeist? Panelists discuss the influence of esoterica and Blavatsky on weird fiction. Panelists: Curtis M. Lawson (Moderator), Kenneth Hite, Curtis M. Lawson, Sean Moreland, Eric Williams, Justin Woodman.
Corporate Horror. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
Cubicles, paperwork, horrible bosses and unseen masters. Ligotti, Ballard, and others have explored the strange and terrifying world that unfolds under the baleful eye and soulless indifference of corporate ownership. Our panelists explore the hellscapes of Late-Stage Capitalism’s 9 5 and how these hellscapes serve as an excellent backdrop for exploring the Cosmic’s most common themes of existentialism and human insignificance. Panelists: John Foster (Moderator), Gillian Daniels, Errick Nunnally, Jeff VanderMeer.
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Michelle Renee Lane; Nate Pedersen; Peter Rawlik; Matthew Spencer
WORKSHOP: Improving Your Skills as a Moderator. Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor
Moderators can make or break a panel and even experienced moderators run into challenges This workshop will explore the role of the moderator in planning, organizing, and running a panel. How do you engage, motivate, and communicate with panelists? How do you keep the panel on track and ensure that everyone shares the microphone? What do you do if there is disagreement or conflict? Trisha J. Wooldridge and K. H. Vaughan help you set the stage for success in this interactive workshop.
Friday, August 14, 2026 11:00 AM
Armitage Symposium session 2 – Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
“…the awesome grandeur of the cosmic cycle wherein our world and human race form transient incidents” Transcendence and Transgressions in Mythos-making. Chair: Eddie Guimont
1. Byron Nakamura “A Shared Bond through Greece and Rome: Classical References in the Letters of HP Lovecraft and Frank Belknap Long”
2. Sean Moreland “Animi Terrores: The Lucretian Roots of Cosmic Horror and Folk Horror from M. G. Lewis to H. P. Lovecraft”
3. Luke Matthews “Lovecraft’s Influence on UFO/UAP Ontologies”
4. Eric Williams “Two-Fisted Horror: Baring-Gould’s Grettir the Outlaw and its influence on Robert E. Howard’s weird fiction”
In Mountains Older than Bones: Appalachian Gothic. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Rightly or wrongly, on America’s cultural map, Appalachia is the equivalent to “Here there be monsters”–a region assumed not only to be unknown but perhaps also unknowable–where we credulously suspend our own disbelief. Panelists discuss what defines Appalachian Gothic, good and bad examples of the genre, and why the region has such a hold on the popular imagination. Panelists: Mike Allen (Moderator), Luke Dodd, Tonya Monteforte, Shanna Germain, Stephen Mark Rainey.
Arthur Machen: A Weird Life. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Arthur Machen came first on Lovecraft’s list of “masters of cosmic horror”, but his work spans several genres, with major shifts in style and subject matter. Machen’s life and work are closely intertwined, from his childhood in the wilds of Wales, through his 60 years as a Bohemian literary figure in London — where he catalogued occult books, made the acquaintance of Oscar Wilde, joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and wandered aimlessly through the weird places of the metropolis, becoming the primordial psychogeographer. The panel will explore the breadth of his writing in the context of his changing fortunes and strange encounters. Presented by the Arthur Machen Society. Panelists: Dean W Zimmerman (Moderator), Timothy J Jarvis, Melissa Stewart, Eric Steinhart, Aaron Worth.
Religion in The Call of Cthulhu RPGs. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
Lovecraft’s fiction often incorporated, not always flatteringly, real world religions. In replicating the Mythos as a TTRPG, Call of Cthulhu also incorporates real faiths, necessitating a tight-rope act balancing felicity to the original Mythos flavor with evolving cultural and social sensibilities. Panelists talk about notable appearances of real world faiths, clergy, and beliefs in CoC, examine how its treatment of belief systems has evolved over successive editions, and offer advice to Keepers on respectfully and realistically incorporating real faiths into the game. Panelists: Peter Bebergal, J F Martel, Mike Mason.
That Abandoned Mall is Still Playing Music: Theory and History of Hauntology. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
There’s no standard definition, but “hauntology” generally refers to the persistence of the ghosts of a possible future that did not come. On a small scale, it’s an abandoned home’s dead Christmas tree with still-wrapped, decaying gifts beneath. On a larger one, it’s the formerly “utopian” city of Pripyat or a landscape/city scarred or destroyed by war. While in a physical sense, hauntology drives many urban explorers, the ideological ghosts of the past haunt our daily lives. Our panelists discuss left-behind futures in architecture and design, language and social conventions, arts, and social structures—because the dreams we had for the future don’t matter to the passage of time. Panelists: Gillian Daniels (Moderator), Gabriel Mesa, Allen B. Ruch, Matthew Spencer, Sonya Taaffe, Jeff VanderMeer.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Masters of Monsters: The Tradition of Horror in Japanese Folklore and Manga. South County Room, Omni 3rd Floor
From the ancient weird energy of mononoke to the rise of yokai in the Edo period, Japanese storytellers have a well of frights to draw on. Kabuki artists like Tsuruya Namboku IV spun ancient folklore into modern stories. Ukiyo-e artists like Yoshitoshi Tsukioka amped up the gore and writers like Ryunosuke Akutagawa refined the shock into terror. Manga artists like Mizuki Shigeru and Junji Ito ensured the ghosts of Japan haunt the modern day. Learn more about this legacy of horror from renowned folklorist Zack Davisson, author of The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai!
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
John Langan; Laura Langrish; Zin E. Rocklyn; Jason A. Wyckoff;
WORKSHOP: Improving Your Skills as a Panelist. Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor
Panels are a core part of the convention experience, and a popular way to highlight your knowledge and upcoming releases. This workshop will explore the role of the panelist, and what makes for an entertaining, informative, and memorable appearance. How do you prepare and communicate with your colleagues? Negotiate topics? What to do if you mispeak while on the dais? Dealing with conflict and differences of opinion. Proper microphone use. And the Deadly Sins you should avoid at all costs! Trisha J. Wooldridge and K. H. Vaughan will help you shine in this interactive workshop.
Friday 12:30-2:00 PM LUNCH BREAK
SPECIAL Pop-up Lunch Panel – meet the cast of DARK PROVIDENCE! Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd floor.
This special lunch-time panel and meet-and-greet features the the cast members of this special live audio drama which first premiered at NecronomiCon a decade ago. Bring your lunch, and come meet and chat with creators Patrick Hayle, Clark Huggins, and Zuzanna Szadkowski (Gossip Girl, The Knick) along with other performers and producers of the DARK PROVIDENCE podcast. And, don’t forget to see the performance live at the Black Box, either 4pm Friday or 6pm Saturday.
Friday, August 14, 2026 2:00 PM
Invited Academic Speakers. Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
1. Allison Horrocks, Walking the Line: Spiritualism and Public History: What distinguishes a cemetery tour from a seance? How do the skills of historians differ from those of mediums? This talk will explore the blurry lines that separate various methods of seeking communication with the dead, with a focus on spiritualism and history tours conducted in cemeteries.
2. Stefani Koorey, Forty Whacks and Due Process: How Massachusetts Law Made and Unmade the Case Against Lizzie Borden: In the popular imagination, the Borden case is a question of guilt: did she or didn’t she? But the more revealing story is procedural. This talk follows that path, with particular attention to the inquest: questioned under oath without counsel while an unserved arrest warrant already bore her name, Lizzie gave testimony that was later ruled inadmissible—a ruling that quietly gutted the prosecution’s case mid-way through her trial. Along the way, the talk untangles the persistent misinformation surrounding Andrew Borden’s estate and the realities of Massachusetts probate, and closes by asking what happens when the law formally acquits someone a community has already convicted.
Worlds of Savagery, Super-science, and Sorcery: the Post-Apocalyptic Dark Ages in Weird Fiction. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
An exploration of works about people living generations after the collapse of industrial civilization, often so far in the future that our world has fallen into myth and the artefacts that remain are incomprehensible to most. Primitive cultures live among the ruins, plagued by mutants, monsters, and those who have recovered the technology of old or discovered powerful new magic. From the pulp adventures of Thundarr the Barbarian, The Coming of the Horseclans, and Gamma World to serious literary treatments such as Canticle for Leibowitz, Riddley Walker, The Road, and Always Coming Home, we discuss the history, themes, and appeal of these narratives. Panelists: Curtis M. Lawson (Moderator), F. Brett Cox, Larissa Glasser, Jacy Morris, Douglas E Winter.
Poe and Whitman in Providence. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Between 1845 and 1848, Poe visited Providence as a stop on the lecture circuit, but it culminated in his courtship and engagement to poet Sarah Helen Whitman. While the final months of 1848 saw the creation of the famous daguerrotypes as well as his attempted suicide, it also was a time of whirlwind romance for the two poets. Panelists discuss his time here, the effect it had on their lives and work, and the importance of Whitman in preserving his legacy. Panelists: John Langan (Moderator), Chad Anctil, Christa Carmen, Joshua Rex, Meg Smith.
The Horror and Weird Fiction of Ray Bradbury. South County Room, Omni 3rd Floor
While he will always have a connection to science fiction because of books like Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury (American, 1920 – 2012) also had one foot firmly in the world of horror during his illustrious career. From Dark Carnival to Something Wicked This Way Comes to The Halloween Tree, our panelists will discuss how Bradbury could go from whimsical and life-affirming in other genres to cruel and unsettling in his writings of horror and weird fiction. How does his vision of the world compare to authors of cosmic horror? Panelists: Jason A. Wyckoff (Moderator), Maurice Broaddus, Jeffrey Ford, T.E. Grau, Thomas Olivieri.
The Pale Song of the Butterfly Collector: Nabokov as Weird Fiction. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
Author, critic, and scholar Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov (Russian, 1899 1977) is famous as the author of Lolita and Pale Fire. His fiction is known for rich character studies and prose, but is it weird? In addition to his explicitly secondary world work Ada, our panelists describe how, beneath the surface, his work is pervaded with hints of the otherworldly and strange. Arguably, the most famous weird fiction author you’ve never heard of! Panelists: John WM Thompson (Moderator), Jeff VanderMeer, Alison Lanier, Sean Moreland, Derek Austin Johnson.
Let Me Tell You About the Very Alien: They Are Different from You and Me. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
Weird fiction is filled with entities that are fundamentally not like humans in the way they think, feel, and perceive the world. How does one write what one cannot understand? Must supernatural or alien beings have some recognizable human characteristics? Our panelists reveal the ways to bring alien psychology, behavior, and motivations to life and discuss the best examples from film and literature. Panelists: Sarah T Walker (Moderator), Linda D. Addison, Phil Gelatt, Fred Van Lente, Rick Claypool, Alexander Dickow.
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Chesya Burke; Trisha J. Wooldridge; Douglas Wynne; Mathilda Zeller
WORKSHOP: Preserving Your Papers for Archival Collection. Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor
Yes, your papers are worth preserving. Yes, there will be a repository out there that wants them. This workshop provides practical information for authors and other content creators on the legal, logistical, and preservation aspects of preparing their papers for archival donation to a university or other archival repository. With demonstration of proper use of archival storage materials. Conducted by Jess Tucker, nationally certified archivist and science fiction/fantasy/horror archivist. Workshop limited to 30 participants.
Friday, August 14, 2026 3:30 PM
Armitage Symposium session 3 – Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
“…the beauty, the terror and the mystery of those obscure realms” H.P. Lovecraft and the Literary Traditions of the Gothic, Romantic, and Decadent Eras. Chair: Daniel J. Holmes
1. Dale Allen Crowley “Gothic Echoes, Spectral Narratives, and Daemonic Rats: Lovecraft’s “Rats in the Walls” as Mimesis for Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto”
2. Perry Harrison “H.P. Lovecraft and Mediaeval Literature”
3. Eric Steinhart “Liberation and Transcendence in Lovecraft’s Fiction”
4. Rosie Sentman “Degeneration and Decadence in the Dragon’s Court: How Fin-de-Siécle Paris’ Gay Cruising Scene Gave The King in Yellow’s Play its Cognitively Poisonous Power”
The Influence of Charles Fort on Mythos Fiction. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Charles Fort (American, 1874-1932) was among the first to systematically study anomalous phenomena, publishing four landmark nonfiction books on the topic. The peak of Fort’s activity, 1919-1932, overlaps Mythos Fiction’s golden age. Did Fort’s publications create audiences hungry for weird fiction and its fellow travelers? To what extent can direct or indirect connections be made between Fort and the tales of Lovecraft and other Mythos contributors? A century on, can we still feel Fortean influence on fiction? Panelists: Will Murray (Moderator), Edward Guimont, Gabriel Mesa, Eric Williams, Justin Woodman.
Representations of the Colonial New England Witch in Weird Film. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
From Mather’s The Invisible World to Egger’s The Witch, the specter of the Salem Witch trials and witch portrayals have ranged from the ultimate civic evil to social criticism to “good for her” revolution. Panelists discuss the diversity and social significance of witches in literature and media. Panelists: Christa Carmen (Moderator), Alan Tromp, VJ Stonecraft, Alyssa Alessi, Joseph Dwyer.
Willis Conover and Lovecraft at Last: Fifty Years Later. South County Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Best known as a jazz impresario and co-founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, Willis Conover was also a teenage correspondent of Lovecraft’s, a fanzine publisher, and an inveterate collector of 1930s science fiction, fantasy, and horror materials. Conover’s Lovecraft at Last, publishing their combined correspondence, helped kick off the late 1970s Lovecraft revival and turns fifty this year. Half a century on, what does it tell us about both people? Conover’s archival papers have recently received unprecedented reexamination and new material has been uncovered. What has it shown us about this complex character and his diverse interests? Panelists: Jon Black (Moderator), Peter Cannon, Jess Tucker.
Japanese Horror Manga Legends. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
You probably know Junji Ito, but do you know Shigeru Mizuki? Kazuo Umezz? How about Daijiro Morohoshi? Manga artist Gou Tanabe, editor Hayato Shimizu and translator Zack Davisson discuss the origins of horror manga in Japan, their influences, the manga industry, and global impact. Panelists: K. H. Vaughan (Moderator), Zach Davisson, Hayato Shimizu, Gou Tanabe.
“I Can’t Go On.” The Horror of Existential Hopelessness. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
Most existential perspectives presume that purpose and meaning are created by the individual and, for many, maintaining hope in the face of the terrors of existence is a central concern. Panelists examine the use and function of existential hopelessness and despair in the Weird. How have authors and filmmakers confronted and portrayed this core challenge of existence? How does the Weird deal with hope and its failure? Authors and trends, etc. Panelists: Despina Durand (Moderator), Mike Allen, Michael Cisco, Jonas Kyratzes, Jon Padgett.
Gaming Industry Meetup Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor
A dedicated space for members of the game industry community to socialize and network. Drop in and get to know some colleagues. Attending the con solo? First time attendee? Don’t go it alone! Find out about the convention and Providence, connect, and make dinner plans.
Poetry Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Linda D. Addison; Katherine Kerestman; Sumiko Saulson; Evan Spreen
Friday, August 14, 2026 5:00 PM
The Weird Within: Parasites and Parasitism. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Tapeworms, flukes, ticks, amoeba, cuckoos, cordyceps. Organisms that steal life, incubate within host bodies, replace young, and manipulate behavior are a powerful source of psychological and bodily terror. Unsurprisingly, these organisms and ideas have permeated the Weird from the beginning. Panelists discuss the reasons why with reference to classic and contemporary examples and a side of biology. Panelists: Ann VanderMeer (Moderator), Matthew Carpenter, Kristin Dearborn, Nicholas Kaufmann, Victoria Nations, Stephanie M. Wytovich.
Designing The Weird: Collaborative Design In Props, Artefacts, And Special Edition Books. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Props, books, sets, game components and specialized display pieces exist not only as tools or products, but as objects of art that represent the aesthetic of their creative team. These labors of love and vision frequently exceed the demands of their practical use and require input from multiple people with different perspectives and skillsets. Panelists discuss their work and creative process, and the way in which collaborative design produces a whole greater than the sum of the efforts of individual creatives. Panelists: Andrew Leman (Moderator), Ivan Carić, Shanna Germain, Andrew Leman, Liv Rainey-Smith, Tonnvane Wiswell.
The Coldest Fear: Arctic and Antarctic Horrors. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
The frozen climax of Shelley’s Frankenstein, the unearthly revelations of Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness, the howling terrors of Ithaqua the Wind Walker, the paranoia and isolation of Carpenter’s The Thing or True Detective: Night Country. The Arctic and Antarctic are so isolated, inhospitable, and alien, stretching on beyond the human imagination, they could be another world altogether.. Panelists discuss why, even among other extreme environments, the Arctic and Antarctic are such persistent and effective settings for horror ranging from the psychological to the cosmic. Panelists: Leslie S. Klinger (Moderator), Madeline Newbery, Douglas E Winter, Mathilda Zeller.
Guests of Honor Panel. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
Meet our 2026 Guests of Honor. Linda D. Addison (Poet Laureate), Chesya Burke, Phillip Gelatt. Badger McInnes, Jon Padgett, Gou Tanabe, Jeff VanderMeer, s. j. bagley (Moderator)
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
David Boop; Jeffrey Ford; Carrie-Edmund Laben; Aaron Worth;
Friday, August 14, 2026 6:30 PM
The Weird on a Moderately Large Color Screen! Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Surviving panelists from 2024’s Weird on a Small Color Screen return with reinforcements to continue their discussion of weird television shows from the Twenty-aughts, when cable and Blockbuster were still dominant but a proliferation of channels, production companies, and DVDs by mail began to change how the weird entered our living rooms. Turn to the infinite scrolling channel guide to see what horrors await! Panelists: Jacy Morris (Moderator), Heather Buckley, F. Brett Cox, John Foster, Nicholas Kaufmann
Atlas of Deep Ones Publication Launch Event, Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor.
Join authors and editors to celebrate the publication of Atlas of Deep Ones, an anthology of poetry and prose devoted entirely to the mysterious Deep Ones of the Cthulhu Mythos, from Transformations by Obsidian Butterfly publishing and edited by Elizabeth Davis and Gevera Bert Piedmont. Commentary on the book and editorial process, author readings by Andy Martin, Bert Piedmont, Jackson Kuhl, John Opalenik, Mark DiStefano, Stephen Gousie, and Theo Macgilivray.
Friday, August 14, 2026 7:00 PM
Guest Reception Party. Outdoor Terrance Graduate 3rd Floor
Friday, August 14, 2026 9:00 PM
The Outer Dark Reception Party – Next Wave of The Weird: Readings from Rising Authors – Outdoor Terrace, Graduate Hotel, 3rd Floor
Participants/readers: Prema Arasu, Ari Mnemonic, Victoria Nations, Millie Price, Sarah Walker. Moderator/Host: Anya Martin. Immediately following the guest reception, but open to all con attendees, this party/gathering organized by our friends in The Outer Dark podcast features community-building, mingling, and readings by authors who represent the future of the vibrant literary mode of Weird fiction.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Saturday, August 15, 2026 8:00 AM
“Line My Eyes and Call Me Pretty:” Sublimation of the Feminine through the Monstrous in Contemporary Horror Literature. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
It has been said that “monsters are the bedtime stories the patriarchy tells itself.” Greek myths characterized most monsters as feminine, and equating the “other” of femininity with the “other” of monstrosity remains part of contemporary horror literature. Panelists discuss how the “monster” is used to sublimate or ‘other’ the feminine in contemporary horror. Are some ascribed-feminine behaviors or attributes more frequently targeted than others? Are we making progress in moving past this? How effective are efforts by women authors to reclaim agency by co-opting monstrosity? When do our monsters become beautiful (inside or out)? Panelists: Anya Martin (Moderator), Nadia Bulkin, Lauren Elise (L. E.) Daniels, Kristin Dearborn, Jess Lewis.
Robert Hayward Barlow: A Life. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
R H Barlow (American, 1918 – 1951) was more than the executor of Lovecraft’s literary estate, with a resume including anthropologist, poet, author, publisher, and noted sculptor. A researcher in Mesoamerican culture, Barlow served as Chair of the Anthropology Department of Mexico City College and made significant contributions to scholarship with more than one hundred academic publications. Panelists consider Barlow’s extraordinary life, contributions to the Mythos, and his greater legacy. Panelists: Despina Durand (Moderator), Peter Cannon, Matthew Cheney, Tim Lonegan, Ryan Page.
The Epistolary Form in Weird Fiction. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
Found journals and letters. Diaries and ephemera. Intimate, voyeuristic, and at times oblique. Although the form peaked in popularity in the 18th Century, works such as Frankenstein, Dracula, The Call of Cthulhu, Carrie, House of Leaves, and Tainaron: Mail from Another City all point to the ongoing role epistolary fiction has in horror and weird fiction. Panelists discuss the use of epistolary stories with reference to classic and contemporary examples. Panelists: Jason A. Wyckoff (Moderator), Alison Lanier, Paula D. Ashe, Joshua Rex, Kevin Scott Joiner.
A Century of Cthulhu: The Greatest Great Old One. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
The Call of Cthulhu was published in 1928, but was written in the Summer of 1926, right here in Providence, RI. Panelists discuss the history and broad cultural impact of HPL’s most recognizable and iconic creation. From a crowded field, Cthulhu became the archetypal eldritch, cosmic entity and shorthand for an entire subgenre of horror. Even outside fandom, Cthulhu has become a broadly understood meme. Why? What was it about Cthulhu that has captured imaginations for a hundred years and continues to resonate? How have perceptions and interpretations of the entity changed over time? Panelists: Kenneth Hite (Moderator), Prema Arasu, Timothy Burall, Leslie S. Klinger, Will Murray.
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Jeremiah Cook; Shanna Germain; Derek Austin Johnson; Thomas Olivieri
Saturday, August 15, 2026 9:30 AM
Armitage Symposium session 4 – Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
“No death, no doom, no anguish can arouse the surpassing despair which flows from a loss of identity” Shadow Over the Self: Uncanny Anatomy, Body Horror and Disability in Lovecraft’s Fiction. Chair: Carlos González
1. Adia Reynolds “Hearing Horror: Disability Representation and Lovecraftian Horror in the Fiction Podcast Malevolent”
2. Benjamin Breyer “Cold, Circulation, and Cosmic Affect: Bodily Experience and Sensory Language in Lovecraft’s Fiction”
3. Bradley Will “Rehabilitating Cthulhu and Decodifying Fishpeople”
4. Warren Bingcang “Fishfolk and Kinsfolk: Trans Resonances in H.P. Lovecraft’s ‘The Thing on the Doorstep’ and Other Stories”
Drifting Down the River of Night’s Dreaming: Karl Edward Wagner. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Karl Edward Wagner (American, 1945 – 1994) was a writer, poet, editor, and publisher born in Knoxville, Tennessee. Wagner is known for his Sword and Sorcery anti-hero Kane, the Mystic Swordsman, and more contemporary horror tales that often drew on his personal demons and training as a psychiatrist. Wagner co-founded Carcosa Press and was executor of Manley Wade Welman’s literary estate until his death. He edited many anthologies, including fourteen years of The Year’s Best Horror. Our panelists discuss Wagner, his influences, and his impact on horror, fantasy, and the greater Weird. Panelists: Stephen Mark Rainey (Moderator), F. Brett Cox, John Langan, Jordan Douglas Smith, Douglas E Winter.
Tales from the Crypt: EC Comics. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
A cackling, cloaked figure opens a dusty tome and reads to their audience stories featuring the supernatural, twist endings, and comeuppance. Welcome to the world of EC Comics, who specialized in gruesome titles like Vault of Horror, Weird Science, The Haunt of Fear and, of course, Tales from the Crypt. Unfortunately, EC’s run of horror, sci-fi, and crime stories was short-lived due to their comics being used as a scapegoat by politicians and psychiatrists for cases of juvenile delinquency in the 1950s. But much like the Crypt Keeper, EC refused to stay dead. Our panelists discuss the writers and artists who contributed to EC’s unique tone, the relationship of EC to the Pulp Era Weird, and how film adaptations, comic revivals and a certain beloved HBO series have kept EC’s legacy alive to this day. Panelists: David Quiroz Jr (Moderator), Adam Golaski, Derek Austin Johnson, Nicholas Kaufmann, Sarah T Walker.
36 Sonnets: The Fungi From Yuggoth. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
Largely written between December 27, 1929 and January 4, 1930, the “Fungi From Yuggoth” is one of Lovecraft’s most well-known and recorded works. Panelists discuss the form and structure of the “Cycle, ” as well as the sources and themes of the work, its publication history, influence, and relationship to his other verse. Panelists: Jason Ray Carney (Moderator), Prema Arasu, Adam Bolivar, Richard Gerlach; Justin Woodman.
Horror Noir: the Contributions of Black Authors and Filmmakers in Horror and Weird Fiction. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
Jordan Peele, Tananarive Due, Victor Lavalle, and P. Djèlí Clark are some of the Black American authors and filmmakers who are utilizing cosmic horror and weird fiction to explore Black identity, white supremacy, and the history and legacy of US race relations (and beyond). Panelists will discuss the books and films that represent, complicate, and expand our notions of horror, exclusion, and the monstrous. Panelists: Michelle Renee Lane (Moderator), Paula D. Ashe, Gwen Callahan, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Jacy Morris, Zin E. Rocklyn.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: The Science of the Dreamlands. South County Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Fred Lubnow and Steve Maschuck present a scientific investigation into H.P. Lovecraft’s The Dreamlands. They will review hypotheses on the position of the Dreamlands in a Multiverse reality, discuss the physics of matter and energy in this realm, and cover the biology and ecology of its residents.
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Michael Cisco; Rick Claypool; Megan Milks; J. Scott
WORKSHOP: Decolonizing the Canon: Teaching Genre Lit in the Classroom’ Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor
Although rethinking curriculum from a more inclusive perspective is hardly new, there is still a clear divide between so-called “serious literature” and “lesser” genre lit in English classes. Of course, there are exceptions: Shelley’s Frankenstein, Orwell’s 1984, and Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale (among many others) make the cut, but why not books like Nadia Bulkin’s She Said Destroy, Steve Van Samson’s Year of the Rattlesnake, Errick Nunnally’s Queen of Saturn and the Prince in Exile, or Paul Tremblay’s Horror Movie? Join Worcester Academy’s English Department Chair David Baillie for a workshop on how these very texts (and others) serve crucial roles in his classroom. This is a discussion-based workshop on how and why spec-fic, horror, and the Weird should be part of the curriculum and an opportunity to create inclusive readings.
Saturday, August 15, 2026 11:00 AM
Armitage Symposium session 5 – Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
“…that which we call shadow and illusion is substance and reality” Filming the Unnameable: Adapting Cosmic Horror for the Screen. Chair: Dale Allen Crowley
1. Sean Lovitt “The Mooncussers of Antonio Bay: Weirding John Carpenter’s The Fog”
2. Seán Martin “Uncanny Wallops and Weirdly Perfect Embodiments: Archive, Memory and the Self in the First Lovecraft Documentary”
3. Taylor Province “Lovecraft in Louisiana: The Intersection of Cosmic Horror and Detective Fiction in True Detective”
Trans and Nonbinary Perspectives in Weird Fiction. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Focusing on the history of trans and nonbinary authors and representation in weird literature. Description to be developed by participants. Panelists: Trisha J. Wooldridge (Moderator), Larissa Glasser, Carrie-Edmund Laben, Megan Milks, Zin E. Rocklyn.
Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted: William S. Burroughs and Weird Fiction. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Beat Godfather Burroughs (American, 1914 – 1997) was well-steeped in pulp-era weird fiction, and acknowledged knowing the work of Machen, Long, Lovecraft, and others. He was a student of Barlow in Mexico and a fan of Crowley, and his work is permeated with mysticism and the esoteric. Burroughs frequents themes of social decline and decay, forbidden knowledge, body horror, and nihilism, often parallel to those in Cosmic Horror. Panelists discuss the weird influences and long surreal shadow of Burroughs. Panelists: Cody Goodfellow (Moderator), Adam Bolivar, Michael Cisco, T.E. Grau, Allen B. Ruch.
Just Enough: Descriptive Narration in Fiction and Gaming. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
A critical aspect of writing is control of information; what is obvious to the author or GM isn’t to the reader or player. The scene must be grounded and comprehensible for the reader or player to understand what is happening clearly and they must have an opportunity to identify the clues and relevant details that enrich their reading experience or allow them to advance the game. Too obvious? Boredom and a tendency to ignore everything else as irrelevant. Too obscure? Frustration and helplessness. How do you hide the important details in plain sight, obtainable without them screaming “I am the important piece!” How do you give them what they need without leading them by the nose? Panelists: Sean Branney (Moderator), Ivan Carić, Shanna Germain, Jonas Kyratzes, Laura Langrish.
Representation of Ghosts in Culture and Literature: Taxonomy, Motivations, and Purpose. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
Ghosts’ meaning, appearance, and reason for being have changed over time: classical antiquity’s chorus of the dead, messengers and omens, cautionary tales, apparitions that exist in their own world, orbs, poltergeists, the sentimental ghosts of Victorian spiritualism, and modern horror’s vengeful and even violent spirits. Panelists discuss the details of this evolution and its relation to cultural trends. Panelists: Robert Levy (Moderator), Nadia Bulkin, Chesya Burke, Liv Rainey-Smith, Sonya Taaffe, Stephanie M. Wytovich.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: “Mars Needs Larry Buchanan!,” an Alan Tromp Presentation. South County Room, Omni 3rd floor
Texas 1960s “schlockmeister” Larry Buchanan churned out no-budget remakes of favorite drive-in flicks with titles like “Zontar, the Thing from Venus,” “Curse of the Swamp Creature,” and “Mars Needs Women.” They became late-night TV cult classics, praised and mocked by “Mystery Science Theater 3000” and “Second City TV” (with the late John Candy playing alien Zontar). This classic presentation, by the amazing Alan Tromp, reviews the impact of Buchanan’s films on popular culture, including the legendary fanzine, “Zontar: The Magazine from Venus,” and as holy propaganda for the glorification of the whimsical Church of the SubGenius. Learn about Buchanan’s connections to fantasy legends Fritz Leiber and Richard Matheson. Come be assimilated by Zontar’s Ejecto-Pods, and celebrate the strange world of rubber monster suits and ping-pong ball eyes through wacky audience participation, chanting, and song!
BIPOC Meetup. Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor
A dedicated space for members of the BIPOC community to socialize and network. Drop in and get to know some colleagues. Attending the con solo? First time attendee? Don’t go it alone! Find out about the convention and Providence, connect, and make dinner plans.
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Theresa DeLucci; Timothy J Jarvis; Jon Padgett; Jeffrey Thomas
Saturday 12:30-2:00 PM LUNCH BREAK
SPECIAL EVENT: Manifesting the indescribable: A Hybrid Performance and Artist Q & A, Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor.
Inspired by the H.P. Lovecraft story ‘Pickman’s Model’, join us for a multimedia performance of original dance, music, and animation. Presented by frequent performer for the Eldritch Ball, Calixta Starr, artist Sheryl Westleigh of Noadi’s Art Original Creations, and composer Eric Wrazen. Followed by a Q&A panel hosted by James Horner. Bring your lunch and enjoy a side (or dessert) of indescribable horror!
Artists/Panel Members: Eric Wazen (musician), Sheryl Westleigh (visual artist) Calixta Starr (theatrical fusion dancer), James Horner (moderator)
Saturday, August 15, 2026 2:00 PM
Invited Academic Speakers 2 Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
1. Madeline Newbery, Speculative Fiction Onboard Polar Expeditions: H. P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness follows the fictional Miskatonic University Expedition to Antarctica, but what of its real-world counterparts? From Poe to Shackleton, this talk will cover the weird and speculative fiction read and produced onboard early 20th century polar expeditions. They too saw strange sights….
2. Bill Goldberg, The Hidden Secrets of Cults: Almost all of us, under the right set of circumstances, could be tricked into joining a cult. This talk will discuss the psychodynamics and group dynamics of cult membership, and explain how otherwise-intelligent individuals can be induced to follow charlatans and con artists. This discussion and its explanations can be applied to other forms of coercive persuasion, such as domestic violence abuse and human trafficking.
Bedeviled Blues and Haunted Hoedowns: African and European Origins of the Weird in American Dark and Horror Folk Music. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Folk music traditions have always been tied to the legends, faiths, and superstitions of the cultures in which they developed. The modern music genres of dark and horror folk are no exception. But within the cultural “melting pot” of the United States, this music has taken on a haunting shape all its own. Focusing on African and European influences, this discussion will explore the roots of the weirder elements of American dark and horror folk music, and related genres. And to better illustrate these cultural and historical connections, a few panelists and the moderator will perform some brief musical pieces. Panelists: Kevin Scott Joiner (Moderator), F. Brett Cox, Joshua Rex, Alan Tromp, Douglas Wynne.
Revisiting Supernatural Horror in Literature. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Lovecraft’s diligently researched essay on the state and origins of horror and the weird tale was widely circulated and well-regarded in its time. Today, it remains a classic in the field of weird scholarship. Panelists discuss Lovecraft’s sources and research, the revisions and publication history, and the early distribution and impact of the document. In what areas was it particularly strong, and are there bodies of literature that he either missed, or considered outside the scope of his work? What was its impact through the history of weird scholarship up to today? Panelists: Matthew Cheney (Moderator), Michael Cisco, Leslie S. Klinger, Sean Moreland, Aaron Worth.
The Weird Art and Literature of Nick Cave. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
From “Red Right Hand” to The Death of Bunny Munro, Nick Cave’s oeuvre as musician and writer explores strange, surreal, cosmic, and undeniably dark territories. Panelists discuss the elements of the Weird evident in his individual works and as a whole. Panelists: Allen B. Ruch (Moderator), Matthew M Bartlett, Theresa DeLucci, Richard Gerlach, Ryan Page
Comedy from the Darkest Places: The Unbearable Lightness of Nihilism. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
The work of some of the bleakest and most nihilistic of weird writers is often downright… hilarious? Panelists discuss the role of humor in the dark work of Ligotti, Kafka, and others, such as M. Shaw, Nicole Cushing, Cody Goodfellow, Michael Cisco, Chesya Burke, and Matthew Bartlett. Panelists: Jeff VanderMeer (Moderator), Rick Claypool, T.E. Grau, Thomas Olivieri, Jon Padgett.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Yurei – The Japanese Ghost. South County Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Black hair. White face. White kimono. Japanese ghosts—called yūrei—are one of the most famous figures Japanese pop culture. Everyone knows what they look like, but few know why. In this audio-visual presentation, monster scholar and translator Zack Davisson, author of Yūrei: The Japanese Ghost, talks about their history and tells some cool ghost stories along the way.
Poetry Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Adam Bolivar; Jamal Hodge; Sonya Taaffe; Meg Smith; Stephanie M. Wytovich
WORKSHOP: Conducting Archival Interviews/Oral Histories. Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor
Provides practical instruction and training for conducting oral history interviews to document the lives and works of authors and other creatives. The volume of material worthy of preservation far exceeds the capacity of professional historians and trained “amateurs” are absolutely essential in filling that gap. Workshop covers successful oral history interview techniques, formulating questions, and technical aspects. A short demonstration, highlighting oral history best practices, will be presented. Conducted by Jess Tucker, nationally certified archivist and science fiction/fantasy/horror archivist. Workshop limited to 30 participants.
Saturday, August 15, 2026 3:30 PM
Armitage Symposium session 6 – Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
“Pleasure to me is wonder—the unexplored, the unexpected, the thing that is hidden” Cosmic Horror and the Subconscious: Exploring Lovecraft through Jung and the Occult. Chair: Michael A. Torregrossa
1. Carlos González “Drawing Dagon Down: Lovecraft’s Presence in the Contemporary Occult”
2. Peter Muise “Unwholesome Nocturnal Meetings: H.P. Lovecraft, Margaret Murray, and the Witches’ Sabbath”
3. Kyle Gamache “The Universal Syzygy: Freud and Jung in The Masks of Nyarlathotep”
4. Taylor Walker “The Dream Quest of Carl Jung: Synchronicity in Jung’s Collective Unconscious and Lovecraft’s Dreamlands”
Let Me Tell You of the Days of High Adventure: Exploring The Hyperborean Age. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
For writers such as Robert Howard and Clark Ashton Smith, Hyperborea was an ancient time lost to history but still echoing in the cultures of the contemporary world. What advantages and constraints appeared for writers using this recognizable but imagined past? How did different writers conceptualize and employ the concept? Panelists discuss the creation and use of “Hyperborean” settings in the Pulp Era by Howard, Smith, and others. Panelists: Eric Williams (Moderator), Zack Davisson, Luke Dodd, Larissa Glasser, Jackson Kuhl.
The Call Of Cthulhuat 100: A Deep Dive into the Story that Launched the Mythos. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
It’s heavy LitCrit time as panelists consider Lovecraft’s signature story on a textual level, discuss its direct influences and antecedents, and analyze its themes and symbolism. Panelists compare and contrast the story through the lenses of 1926 and 2026. Is “Call of Cthulhu” a well-written story? Or more an entertaining and influential one? Panelists: Edward Guimont (Moderator), Sean Branney, Tim Lonegan, David Quiroz Jr, Fred Van Lente.
Roots of Weird Fiction in Romantic Literature. South County Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Romanticism emerged in the late 1800s as a response to the ideals of the rationalist Enlightenment. It carried a focus on individual experience, emotional and psychological aesthetics, pastoralism, and folk and traditional cultures. William Blake, Lord Byron, Samuel Coleridge, Emily Dickenson, The Brothers Grimm, Nathaniel Hawthorne, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Edgar Allen Poe, and Mary Shelley are among the writers whose work looms large in the origins of weird fiction. Our panelists examine the Romantic movement and trace the influence of Romantic ideals to the concerns and conventions of the weird fiction authors of the early 20th Century. Panelists: Trisha J. Wooldridge (Moderator), Jason Ray Carney, Michael Cisco, John Langan, Matthew Spencer.
The Weird and Hip-hop. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Much like heavy metal and punk before it, hip-hop music has crossed paths with the macabre over the years. During the 1980s, it started mostly with humorous tracks, from Whodini’s “Haunted House of Rock” to The Fat Boys’s “Are You Ready for Freddy.” But as the ’90s approached, darker and more complex albums emerged from groups like The Geto Boys and Three 6 Mafia, which eventually led to the emergence of the horrorcore subgenre. Our panel will expand on the hip-hop artists who have incorporated the supernatural and occult into their music, and how hip-hop has influenced the horror genre in return. Panelists: Michelle Rene Lane (Moderator), Errick Nunnally, Ryan Page, Millie Price, Zin E. Rocklyn.
Bloody Weird: Splatterpunk on its Fortieth Anniversary. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
The term “splatterpunk” originated in 1986 at the twelfth World Fantasy Convention, right here in Providence at the (then) Biltmore Hotel. The shockingly explicit violence and gore of the genre was controversial in Reagan’s America, and divisive within the community of weird and weird fiction. Forty bloody years later, we consider the impact of the genre, its relationship with weird fiction, and what it means to be splatterpunk at a time when all the horror and brutality people have to offer in reality can be streamed on demand. Panelists: Victoria Dalpe (Moderator), Alyssa Alessi, Paula D. Ashe, Cody Goodfellow, Douglas E Winter.
LGBTQIA+ Meetup Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor
A dedicated space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to socialize and network. Drop in and get to know some colleagues. Attending the con solo? First time attendee? Don’t go it alone! Find out about the convention and Providence, connect, and make dinner plans.
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Julie C. Day; Adam Golaski; Jacy Morris; Stephen Mark Rainey
Saturday, August 15, 2026 5:00 PM
Armitage Symposium session 7 – Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
“…the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age” Mythos, Misinformation and Conspiracy: Analysing Cosmic Horror through the Lens of Propaganda. Chair: Elena Tchougounova-Paulson
1. Angela Reitz “A Comparative Analysis of the Cthulhu Mythos and its Connection to Antisemitic Propaganda”
2. Eddie Guimont “Lovecraft and the UFO”:
3. Melissa Stuart “Lovecraft and Eugenics: for HPL, It was Personal”
4. Rolf Maurer “When Cognitive Dissonance Fails: Confronting the Inextricability of Lovecraft’s Imagination and Xenophobia”
This Little Meeple Went to Market. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
You’ve developed an idea into a new game, play-tested it to death, and gone over your rules document with a fine-toothed comb until your eyes bled. Congratulations! Now what? Veteran industry professionals discuss the next steps in bringing a game to market, including developing a pitch, and contacting artists, designers, and publishers. How do you decide whether to self-publish or work with an established company? So many questions, including ones you didn’t know you should ask. Time to get some answers! Panelists: Robby Howell (Moderator), Paul Fricker, Kenneth Hite, Mike Mason, VJ Stonecraft.
Cosmic Horror and Gaze: The Terror and Power of Seeing and Being Seen. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
The Gaze is at once power and vulnerability. Panelists discuss cosmic horror through the lens of Gaze Theory. To see can be to know, to define, to acknowledge, to experience horrifying and ecstatic revelation. To be seen can mean many things: to be affirmed, to be affixed, defined, to be the object of predation. Through Gaze Theory, what sees and what is seen in the work of HPL and cosmic horror? What are the consequences of perception and being perceived in the Mythos? Panelists: Heather Miller (Moderator), Paula D. Ashe, Chesya Burke, Fred Lubnow, Jeff VanderMeer.
White Rabbits and Purple Haze: The Influence of the Psychedelic Era on Weird Fiction. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Lovecraft and weird fiction enjoyed a surge in popularity with new readers during the psychedelic sixties as the counterculture embraced pulp-era stories of banned books, esoteric knowledge, mind-altering substances, and exotic cultures. Some of those new fans went on to become creators and artists in their own right, putting a distinct countercultural spin on Weird Fiction. Panelists discuss the different cultural movements embracing HPL and company, and the way psychedelia began to infuse and revitalize the weird fiction of the period. Panelists: John WM Thompson (Moderator), Cody Goodfellow, T.E. Grau, Carrie-Edmund Laben, Douglas Wynne.
Adapting Lovecraft for Manga. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
Mangaka Gou Tanabe, editor Hayato Shimizu, and translator Zach Davisson discuss the process of adapting some of HPL’s most famous works to manga, their impact in Japan and world-wide, and the translation of the adapted texts back to English. What challenges did they face in bringing stories such as The Call of Cthulhu, At The Mountains of Madness, The Colour Out of Space, and other to life? What drew them to the material and how do they account for the popularity of Lovecraft and their adaptations in Japan and around the globe? Panelists: K. H. Vaughan (Moderator), Zach Davisson, Hayato Shimizu, Gou Tanabe
Archives: Preserving Collective Memory. South County Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Archives are stores of documentary history, preserving the past so it will be accessible in the future. Fans, writers, scholars, and artists all collect and accumulate artefacts, but not with the archivist’s eye. How do we preserve the past and present and vouchsafe the survival of information in an electronic age? Whether it is an author’s letters and papers, documents of potential historic interest, rare books, comics, maps, and illustrations, or electronic records and data, there are processes for preservation. In this panel, professional archivists discuss how to assess, collect, organize, and preserve materials for posterity. Panelists: Jon Black (Moderator), David Boop, Jeremy Brett, Thomas Olivieri, Jess Tucker.
WORKSHOP: Skills and Tools for Podcast and Audiobook Narration. Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor
A workshop to strengthen vocal skills around the gothic, the weird, the uncanny, and all manner of dark fiction. This session is for authors, narrators, and anyone who may be performance-curious. If you are looking to up your game when reading aloud, this is for you. Taught by award-winning performers Linda Jones and Jon Padgett (Limited to 15 participants.)
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Christa Carmen; Kristin Dearborn; Gillian Daniels; T. L. Wiswell
Saturday, August 15, 2026 6:30 PM
The Collectable Lovecraft. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Lovecraftiana has been produced and reproduced in a dizzying array of editions, ephemera, and memorabilia. This panel explores the trials and tribulations of the Lovecraft completionist, including the ones that got away, greatest finds, and white whales, and gives advice to those who collect. How do you find, appraise, and research memorabilia? Panelists: Tim Lonegan (Moderator), Sean Branney, Matthew Carpenter, Peter Rawlik, Darrell Schweitzer,
WORKSHOP: Yes, and… improving GM skills using improv comedy techniques. Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor
Hosting a roleplaying game doesn’t need to feel intimidating. Join Robby Howell, creator of the TTRPG ENCLAVE with over 15 years of professional game hosting experience, for an in-depth workshop on improvisation as a game host. You’ll learn shortcuts and tricks for thinking on your feet — spontaneously naming NPCs, resolving calls, expanding lore, and more — and run through quick group activities to help make your game sessions quicker, smoother, and more immersive. You’ll also learn how to cut down on prep time before a session, creating engaging scenarios for your players without hours of painstaking planning, plus strategies for when and how to adapt your plans on the fly. You’ll leave the workshop with a reliable improv skillset at your disposal to elevate your TTRPG sessions and save yourself time and stress. Limited to 12 participants (spectators are also welcome)
Wicked Westerns Kickstarter Launch Party. Ocean State Suite C, Graduate 2nd Floor
Saddle up and join authors and editors to celebrate the Kickstarter launch of Wicked Westerns, an anthology of poetry and prose from the New England Horror Writers, edited by Trisha J. Wooldridge and David Boop. With commentary on the book and editorial process, and author readings by Chad Anctil, Matt Bechtel, JP Behrens, Michael Burke, and Christa Carmen.
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Sunday, August 16, 2026 8:00 AM
Cthulhu Prayer Breakfast. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor.
The One! The Only! The blasphemous and deeply silly Cthulhu Prayer Breakfast returns! Press your robes and dust off your hymnal for a rambunctious and unspeakable morning of fellowship, comedy, and song with Hierophant Cody Goodfellow. Also, there will be eggs!
The Birth of the Fantastique in German Literature: Adelbert von Chamisso (Peter Schlemilh), Achim von Arnim, and E.T.A. Hoffmann. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Influenced by Romanticism, a generation of German writers including Adelbert von Chamisso, Achim von Arnim, and E.T.A. Hoffmann pioneered a literary form prefiguring slipstream and magical realism by integrating supernatural elements into ostensibly real world stories. Reaction to the First World War’s horrors breathed new life into German Fantastique and, through German Expressionism, also put an enduring stamp on cinema. Panelists discuss the movement and its legacy. Panelists: Jon Black (Moderator), Michael Cisco, Matthew Spencer, Eric Williams.
Using Cthulhu in The Call of Cthulhu RPG. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
Although the popular RPG is named for him, Cthulhu himself presents a challenge for keeper and investigator alike. Unlike some adversaries, he does not traditionally have interest in influencing the affairs of mortals or even acknowledging his worshippers. His immediate physical appearance is most likely to trigger an apocalyptic total party kill. Panelists discuss the uses and abuses of the Great Old One, and how his presence is manifested in an effective CoC campaign. Panelists: Mike Mason (Moderator), Paul Fricker, Kenneth Hite, Badger McInnes, Christopher Smith-Adair.
Author Readings. Ocean State Suite C, Graduate 2nd Floor (NOTE: different room from other readings!)
Mike Allen; Pamela M. Durgin; Tony LaMalfa
Sunday, August 16, 2026 9:30 AM
Armitage Symposium session 8 – Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
“…a frightful messenger from unformed realms of infinity beyond all Nature as we know it” Eco-Horror and Cosmic Decay: Monstrous Environments in Lovecraft’s Works. Chair: Byron J. Nakamura
1. Fred Lubnow “In the Absence of Light…An Assessment of Lovecraftian Non-Photosynthetic Ecosystems”
2. Daniel Zygiel-Clague “Climate of Cthulhu: The Cosmic Horror of Environmental Disaster”
3. Matthew Buffington (ft Zachary Griebenow) “Towards a classification of the HP Lovecraft creature-universe”
4. Prema Arasu “The Antipodean Weird in Lovecraft and Others”
Humans Are Such Easy Prey: Forty Years of From Beyond. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
The success of the film Re-Animator–based on Lovecraft’s “Herbert West–Reanimator”–put director Stuart Gordon and actors Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton on the radar of both critics and cult movie fans alike. However, their sophomore Lovecraft adaptation, From Beyond, has never achieved that same level of recognition, despite it also taking many wild swings at Lovecraft’s original text. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, our panel will expound on the merits of this grisly (and gooey) film, and why From Beyond remains overlooked. Panelists: Fred Van Lente (Moderator), Victoria Dalpe, Jason LeBlanc, David Quiroz Jr., Kayte Terry.
Sheridan Le Fanu: Seeing Through a Glass Darkly. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Author of Victorian ghost stories, gothic horror, and mysteries, Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu (Irish, 1814 – 1873) was a master of atmosphere and dread. His transformative work was a significant influence on M. R. James, and Carmilla preceded and influenced Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Our panelists discuss his life, work, and enduring cultural impact. Panelists: Adam Golaski (Moderator), Michael Cisco, Timothy J. Jarvis, Robert Lloyd Parry, Aaron Worth.
Representation and Function of Disease and Illness in the Weird. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
From plagues like the sleeping sickness in “The Beak Doctor” by Eric Basso to alien infection in Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach books, weird fiction is filled with tales of illness, both physical and psychological. We will explore why writers of weird fiction continue to return to these themes and why readers are hungry to read more. Panelists: VJ Stonecraft (Moderator), Matthew Carpenter, Eric Schaller, Ann VanderMeer, K. H. Vaughan.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Hotrods and Horror, an Alan Tromp Presentation! South County Room, Omni 3rd floor
Explore how the worlds of “kustom kar kulture” and Frankenstein patchwork creatures collided in pop culture! Learn about how nightmare jalopies turned up in films like “The Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow” (1959) and “Death Race 2000” (1975), TV programs such as “The Munsters,” and the creations of designers like Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. Witness the revved-up monster rallies depicted by “low-brow” artists like Robt. Williams and Doug P’Gosh. Did you ever build Aurora monster hot rods, collect sticker sets like Odd Rods and Weird Wheels, or listen to songs like “Dracula’s Deuce” by The Ghouls? Most of the classic Universal monsters, many of the ’50s drive-in creatures, and even Cthulhu showed up at the racetrack. Get there before the checkered flag waves for ghoulish audience participation and a souped-up singalong dedicated to monstrous motors!
Author Readings. Ocean State Suite C, Graduate 2nd Floor (NOTE: different room from other readings!)
David Baillie; F. Brett Cox; Nadia Bulkin; Errick Nunnally
WORKSHOP: Writing Weird Poetry. Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor
Linda D. Addison, our Poet Laureate, leads this special workshop to discuss and shape approaches to creating wonderful weird poetry.
Sunday, August 16, 2026 11:00 AM
Armitage Symposium session 9 – Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
“We see things only as we are constructed to see them” Decoding Mythos: How Linguistics, Comics, and LLMs Reframe Cosmic Horror. Chair: Heather Miller
1. Eric LaFreniere “Lovecraft’s Unspeakable Grammar: Moore’s Excavation of the Alien Holophrase in The Courtyard”
2. Nathaniel Wallace “Eidolic Augmentation: Machine Generated Grimoires and Stage Plays”
3. Michael A. Torregrossa “New England Legends in Comics”
4. Timothy Jarvis “A Simple Obstinacy: Weird Fiction and Transgression”
Mucho Mojo Storyteller: Joe R. Lansdale. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
With tales of an interdimensional creature obsessed with razors, apocalyptic drive-ins, and an elderly Elvis Presley facing down a soul-sucking mummy, Texas based author Joe R. Lansdale (American, 1951 -) has created his own distinct space in the world of speculative fiction. Join our panelists as they examine Lansdale’s lengthy career in both print and film, the one-of-a-kind narrative voice used in his stories, and the way he merges different genres, from mysteries to Westerns to horror, in unique and surprising ways with an emphasis on his contributions to the weird. Panelists: Jon Black (Moderator), Jeremy Brett, Theresa DeLucci, Derek Austin Johnson, Alan Tromp.
Collaborative Writing in Weird Fiction. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Although writing is most often seen as a solitary activity, writing partnerships can produce work that is distinct from that produced by the collaborators on their own and a source of inspiration, support and accountability. Panelists discuss the advantages and disadvantages of writing as a team, how the creative process differs from their solo efforts, and maintaining relationships when opinions differ. Panelists: Peter Rawlik (Moderator), Matthew M Bartlett, David Boop, Laura Langrish, Jon Padgett.
Redefining Cosmic Horror. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
As a genre, cosmic horror has always been a little bit nebulous. What is it, exactly? How have conceptions of the genre changed, and how will it continue to evolve in years to come as a literary movement? Are the original definitions truly relevant as “horror” when materialism, cosmic indifference, and existentialist themes are increasingly mainstream positions in culture? Panelists: Paula D. Ashe, Gwen Callahan, Sean Moreland, Ann VanderMeer.
Sources Over Innsmouth. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
An examination of the inspirations and influences behind Lovecraft’s The Shadow Over Innsmouth, considering the importance of real-world inspirations, philosophical concerns, and the art and literature he drew on. Panelists: Leslie S. Klinger (Moderator), Prema Arasu, Kenneth Hite, Tim Lonegan, Donovan Loucks.
Cancelled – WORKSHOP: Research Tools for Amateur Scholarship and Fiction Writing. Ocean State Suite B, Graduate 2nd Floor
There is a long tradition of amateur scholarship in the weird fiction community, dating back to the amateur press associations that H. P. Lovecraft was so actively involved in. Writers, too, need to find accurate information on a variety of topics outside their field. How do you gain access to databases and archives without professional or academic credentials? How do you connect to communities of amateur researchers and get your work in front of an audience? How do you identify accurate information with the internet overwhelmed with AI slop, meme culture, and “content creators.”
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: Propping Up the Mythos – The Art of Creating a Necronomicon, revisited – South County Room, Omni 3rd floor
Since 1997 Christian Matzke has been encouraging Lovecraft fans to create objects from the Cthulhu Mythos. As a Lurker, Christian has made many short films including the cult classics Nyarlathotep and Experiment 17. Now he reveals the secrets and strategies of his most ambitious project, a 1,000 page Elizabethan Necronomicon. Through a multimedia presentation, Mr. Matzke will explain the origin of his Necronomicon project, and detail the process he uses to create an authentically Lovecraftian tome. Using visual examples pulled from over 750 completed pages, Christian Matzke will lead the audience on a wild ride through the first seven years of his project and beyond.
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Lauren Elise (L. E.) Daniels; S. L. Edwards; Joshua Rex; Jeff VanderMeer
Sunday 12:30-2:00 PM LUNCH BREAK
Sunday, August 16, 2026 2:00 PM
Invited Academic Speakers 3 Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
1. Rob Coyne, When Bells Toll in the Deep Dark: Gravitational Waves and the Cosmic Carillon: Since time immemorial, we have understood the cosmos by its light — every star charted, every distant galaxy weighed by the glow it casts across the void. But some of the universe’s most violent events shed no light at all. A black hole is, almost by definition, a thing that refuses to be seen; and when two of them collide, the catastrophe unfolds where no telescope can follow. Yet it is not silent. What remains rings out across the fabric of spacetime like a struck bell — a tone whose pitch and fade are set by the mass and spin of the object that sounds it. In 2015 we finally built instruments delicate enough to hear that ringing, and began, for the first time, to listen to a universe we had only ever watched.
2. Lauren Cassidy,“The Ick”: the horror of chemical contamination: A brief overview of the horrors of chemistry and toxicology. This presentation will include some real-world example events with resources for writers who want to incorporate aspects of this into their creations. Warning: includes graphic imagery of acute exposures.
Monsters in the Closet: Queer Representation in Horror Gaming. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Queer representation in horror has come a long way since its early days of stereotypes as evildoers and outcasts. When we create and play horror games, and more, how can we utilize the breadth and depth of our queerness to tell incredible, haunting stories that resonate not just within our community, but without as well? Panelists: Tonya Monteforte (Moderator), Shanna Germain, Alison Lanier, Christopher Smith-Adair.
Orientalism in HPL. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Orientalism refers to a scholarly and cultural movement that arose in the 18th and 19th centuries that mythologized various aspects of “The Orient, ” or those lands east of the Mediterranean (including the Near and Middle East, South Asia, and northern Africa). These “exotic” cultures were portrayed as lands of ancient civilizations and decadence, populated with fakirs, snake charmers, and sheiks on magic carpets. This romantic but savage view was deeply tied to Colonialism and ideas of the racial and cultural supremacy of The West. Our experts discuss Orientalism as it appears in Lovecraft’s letters and literature. Panelists: John Langan (Moderator), Prema Arasu, Zack Davisson, Matthew Spencer.
Weird Film from the Pre-Code Era. South County Room, Omni 3rd Floor
The 1934 Motion Picture Production Code (“The Hays Code”) had a devastating impact on creativity and free expression in Hollywood. Pre-Hays Code films challenge much of the conventional wisdom about America’s early motion pictures: portrayals of marginalized groups, depictions of sex and sexuality, and complex explorations of criminal, supernatural, or horrific topics. Panelists consider Hollywood’s Pre-Code era specifically in light of the Weird. What characterizes or defines Hollywood’s Pre-Code Weird? What films and directors should every cinephile and connoisseur of the Weird know? Panelists: Gwen Callahan (Moderator), Matthew Cheney, Gillian Daniels, Sonya Taaffe.
It Came From the Stacks: Librarians & Archivists in Weird Fiction. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor Librarians and archivists are the keepers of knowledge, and as such, are often featured as important characters in weird fiction. Our panelists discuss these figures who preserve, catalog, and safeguard mysterious tomes, haunt forbidden archives, offer counsel and information to the curious, and sometimes employ their knowledge and expertise to explore the supernatural for good or ill. Panelists: VJ Stonecraft (Moderator), Jeremy Brett, Timothy Burall, Nate Pedersen, Jess Tucker.
The Electric Nightmares of Philip K Dick. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
Exploring themes of identity, surveillance, paranoia and technology, Philip K. Dick (American, 1928 – 1982) was prolific as a writer of science fiction short stories and novels, but his tales frequently contained elements of the Weird. From the alternate history horrors of The Man in the High Castle to the various realities and unrealities in The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, our panel will delve into the strange and unforgiving worlds that sprung from Dick’s imagination. Panelists: Cody Goodfellow (Moderator), Matthew M Bartlett, Richard Gerlach, Derek Austin Johnson, Eric Schaller.
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Paula D. Ashe; Alexander Dickow; Paul Magnan; Laura Tempest Zakroff
Sunday, August 16, 2026 3:30 PM
Armitage Symposium session 10 – Providence Ballroom, Omni 3rd Floor
“The vengeance of the infinite abysses” Cosmic Pessimism: Investigating Lovecraftian Politics and Epistemological Critique. Chair: Kyle Gamache
1. Ethan Covnat “Correlating the Mind’s Contents: Lovecraft’s Challenge to Philosophers”
2. Robert Ames “From Theory-Fiction to Petropolitical Exegesis: Negarestani’s Cyclonopedia and ‘the Spouter’”
3. Troy M. Rondinone “Cryptid Country: Making Sense of America’s Monstrous Landscape”
French Fantastique in the 19th Century. Washington/Newport Room, Omni 3rd Floor
Fantastique may have been born in Germany, but it was polished in France. Its tropes would feel familiar to modern horror fans: vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and unspeakable crimes, all served up with liminal uncertainty and alienation. French Fantasists include titans such as Balzac, Dumas, Gautier, and Maupassant, as well as lesser-known figures like Mérimée, Nodier, and Nerval. Panelists discuss the history of these writers and their influence on weird fiction over time. Panelists: Matthew Spencer (Moderator), Jon Black, Michael Cisco, Alexander Dickow, Eric Williams.
Theatre and the Weird. Bristol/Kent Room, Omni 3rd Floor
From more obscure works like W.B. Yeats’s Purgatory to international sensations like Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, the first half of the 20th century is replete with plays that rejected what George Bernard Shaw dubbed “Ibsenism.” Thus, like Modernism in the plastic arts, Modernist theater divided itself (roughly) into two broad camps: Ibsen-esque realism (championed first in the United States by Eugene O’Neill), and plays that drew upon Surrealism, Dadaism / Absurdism, the weird, and the grotesque. Yeats, Beckett, Pirandello, Ionesco, Brecht and Steffin, even Tennessee Williams—all sought to capture the dilemma (or catastrophe) of Modernity in ways that defied the conventions of realism. Panelists will discuss the theatrical techniques / conventions employed by playwrights to express how the human psyche was deeply affected by the crisis of modernity. Tonnvane Wiswell (Moderator), David Baillie, F. Brett Cox; Evan Spreen, Justin Woodman.
The Sheer Mind Bending Terror of Physics. Capital Ballroom, Graduate 2nd Floor
While physics promises understanding, more often than not, science fiction, horror, and weird lit and film render it in shades of profound terror—a terror of scale, indifference, and forces that don’t notice us at all. The overwhelming power of physics and forces beyond human comprehension is present in thousands of pieces of work, in everything from “The Color Out of Space” and Jeff VanderMeer’s “The Third Bear” to Interstellar, Event Horizon, and Ant-Man—and that barely scratches the surface. In this discussion, panelists will examine how writers and filmmakers use physics not as a device, but as an existential threat. Panelists: (Moderator), Despina Durand, Fred Lubnow, Jonas Kyratzes, Sonya Taaffe, Allen B. Ruch.
Dancing Backward In The Black Lodge: David Lynch & The Weird. Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
The late David Lynch (1946 – 2025) was a grand master of Weird cinema, sometimes taking Weird to a place it seldom goes: commercial success. Twin Peaks, not just Weird but with nods to cosmic horror, was a 1990s pop culture phenomenon. Many of his less commercially successful Weird projects, such as Eraserhead, have found critical and scholarly acclaim alongside cult status. Panelists offer a Lynch retrospective, considering Lynch’s influences and influence, impact on cinema, and place in the Weird. Panelists: Matthew Cheney (Moderator), Theresa DeLucci, Joseph Dwyer, Ryan Page, Kayte Terry.
Author Readings. Narragansett Bay Room, Graduate 17th Floor
Curtis M. Lawson, Richard Gerlach; Larissa Glasser, Sasha Ravitch
Sunday, August 16, 2026 5:00 PM
Closing Ceremony/Feedback Meeting Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
Join program staff in bringing the convention to a close, with an initial post-mortem, statistics, and audience feedback.
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Additional evening programming continues elsewhere – visit our extended programming page for info on the Dunwich Horror Picture Show, etc, etc
Please note: All event and program rooms have limited capacity to appease the Fire Marshal and in an effort to minimize public health concerns. Even though your pass is needed to get into most events, it does not guarantee you access if safe capacity has been reached. We cannot clear rooms between events.