Anthrocon (abbreviated AC) is an annual furry convention that takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, each June or July. It caters to furries, which are fans of fictional anthropomorphic animal characters in art and literature. The convention was first held in 1997 in Albany, New York, and moved multiple times before settling at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Since moving to Pittsburgh in 2006, the convention has drawn millions in financing to the local economy.
Anthrocon is among the most attended furry conventions in history, peaking at 20,618 in 2026.
Background and history Anthrocon was founded in 1997 as Albany Anthrocon (AAC) in New York state, with a membership of about 500. The convention was renamed to 'Anthrocon' and moved to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in 1999 and 2000; then to a larger hotel, the Adam's Mark, on the outskirts of Philadelphia in 2001. Attendance grew each year, Anthrocon becoming the largest furry convention in 2001 with an attendance of 1,457. In 2004 it had climbed to 2,404 attendees in its final year at the Adam's Mark.
Due to the unforeseen sale of the Adam's Mark Hotel in November 2004, Anthrocon chose the Wyndham Franklin Plaza in Philadelphia as the site for its 2005 convention. Attendance that year dropped to 2,373. In June 2005, a contract with the Westin Convention Center Hotel in Pittsburgh was signed, and Anthrocon was scheduled to be held at the adjoining David L. Lawrence Convention Center between June 15 and 18, 2006. Despite concerns that the move to Pittsburgh would decrease attendance, it rose to 2,489, enough to ensure the future of the convention in Pittsburgh.
In 2007, Anthrocon was featured in the Guinness World Records (2008 Edition) as the "largest furry fan club" in the world. In 2008, Anthrocon became the first furry convention to have an attendance exceeding 3,000 members, the official count reaching 3,390. In 2009, attendance rose 11% to 3,776, and the Fursuit Parade count jumped to 640—a 41% increase. Anthrocon 2009 brought approximately $3 million to the Pittsburgh economy.
Anthrocon 2010 had an attendance of 4,238, the first furry convention to exceed 4,000 members; and by 2012 saw 5,179 attendees, with a Fursuit Parade exceeding 1,000. The admission price was also set overall at $60 for a four-day pass, though pre-registered attendees paid $50.
In 2017, Anthrocon lost the title of "World's most attended furry convention", as Midwest FurFest in Rosemont, Illinois, claimed the title with an attendance of over 8,700.
The chairman of the convention since 1999, Samuel Conway, oversees the operations of Anthrocon with the assistance of convention staff and volunteers who donate their time and energy throughout the weekend to assist the multitude of small tasks which arise. Since 1997, Anthrocon has raised more than $200,000 for animal-related charities.
The convention has been acknowledged as part of Pittsburgh's culture; since 2014, Pittsburgh Pirates player Andrew McCutchen has been known for making an X (Twitter) post simply containing the word "furries" prior to the convention. A superstition emerged surrounding McCutchen's performance at Pirates home games during Anthrocon, with a statistician noting in 2023 that he had a batting average of .419 and three home runs (one of which being a walk-off in extra innings in 2014) over 15 games. The convention was also referenced in a side plot in a 2026 episode of the medical drama The Pitt, where a fursuiter attending Anthrocon was shown being treated for heat exhaustion.
Fernando's Café Since the convention's presence in Pittsburgh, Fernando's Café, a fast food restaurant located near Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh, is one of several restaurants that cater to furries during Anthrocon weekend. However, in 2012, Fernando DeCarvalho, the owner of the restaurant, called Conway informing him that he had gone into debt as a result of the Great Recession. In response, Conway initiated a fundraising campaign which resulted in the restaurant receiving $20,000, a move HuffPost reports would "alleviate some of [DeCarvalho's] debt and allow him to keep his doors open long enough for one last Anthrocon." The cafe has since switched ownership, and names, but still schedules unique offerings.
Typical programming and events There are areas open most of the day to accommodate sales by Dealers and Artists, as well as an area to congregate and socialize.
Anthrocon provides a number of specialized 'tracks' of programming with similar furry based themes and scheduled 'events'.
The programming tracks involve discussions and work groups focused on the application of furry in Art, Comedy and Improv, Computer Gaming, Costuming (Fursuits), Music, Puppetry, Role-Playing (both gaming and real-life), and Writing.
Scheduled events that take place have included a Charity Auction, Masquerade, Fursuit Parade, nightly dances, Art Show Auctions, and special presentations by Uncle Kage and "2 the Ranting Gryphon".
Every year, the convention has several Guests of Honor, who are prominent individuals who are compensated for their attendance and travel expenses. Past Guests of Honor at Anthrocon have included Rob Paulsen and Mark Evanier.
Anthrocon by year This table includes the locations of each convention as well as attendance figures, charity donations, convention themes, and guests of honor by year. Year Dates Location Attendance CharityDonation Charity Theme Guests of Honor1997 July 4–6 Albany, New York 500 est $2,200 Therapy Dogs/K9 Friends An East Coast Furry Con artist Daphne Lage author Watts Martin1998 July 3–5 600 est $3,092 Whiskers Here Be Dragons artist Jim Groat author Jeffrey A. Carver1999 July 2–4 Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 804 $3,600 Great Valley Nature Center The Furry Revolution artist Vicky Wyman author S. Andrew Swann2000 June 30 – July 2 1,128 $6,534 The National Greyhound Adoption Program Furries of Myth and Legend artist Sara "Caribou" Palmer author Paul Kidd2001 July 27–29 Philadelphia 1,457 $7,237 Reins of Life Furries in Flight comic-book artist Dan DeCarlo, creator of Josie and the Pussycats syndicated cartoonist Bill Holbrook2002 July 11–14 1,648 $13,280 Canine Partners for Life Invention author Lisanne Norman (of The Sholan Series) artist Heather Bruton2003 July 17–20 1,949 $8,348 Support Our Shelters Creatures of the Night artist Guy Gilchrist artist Mark E. Rogers2004 July 8–11 2,404 $7,200 Forgotten Felines & Fidos (FFF) Summer Games artist Stan Sakai (creator of Usagi Yojimbo) artist Michel Gagné2005 July 7–10 2,370 $6,470 Greater Philadelphia Search & Rescue Heroes Peter Laird (co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) Timothy Albee (director "Kaze, Ghost Warrior")2006 June 15–18 Pittsburgh 2,489 $8,407 Western Pennsylvania National Wild Animal Making History artist Scott Shaw! (creator of a number of comic book and cartoon characters) Diane Duane (author of several series including So You Want to Be a Wizard)2007 July 5–8 2,849 $7,608 Animal Friends Looking to the Future voice actor Rob Paulsen writer Mark Evanier artist Carolyn Kelly2008 June 26–29 3,390 $13,154 Pittsburgh Parrot Rescue It's a jungle out there! animator and Disney Legend Floyd Norman2009 July 2–5 3,776 $8,993 Animal Rescue League Wildlife Rehabilitation OMG Aliens! character developer and artist Joe Harris Character artist and story designer Ben Balistreri illustrator and television producer Bob Boyle2010 June 24–27 4,238 $12,849 Fayette Friends of Animals Modern Stone-Age Furries author and illustrator James Gurney puppeteer and director Jim Martin with Gary Gnu from The Great Space Coaster2011 June 23–26 4,400 $11,522 ToonSeum The Anthropomorphic Institute of Magic author and illustrator Andy Runton writer Peter S. Beagle2012 June 14–17 5,179 $20,656 Hello Bully A Midsummer Night's Dream Comic Artist, Animator, Director, TV Repairman Mike Kazaleh Comic Artist and Video Game Art Director Dev Madan of Sly Cooper fame.2013 July 4–7 5,577 $31,255 Equine Angels Rescue The Fast and the writer Mercedes Lackey illustrator Larry Dixon animation writer, storyboard artist Tom Minton2014 July 3–6 5,861 $32,372 The National Aviary Secret Societies voice actor Lee Tockar voice actor Jim Cummings2015 July 9–12 6,389 $35,910 The Western PA Humane Society Viking Invasion! voice actress Kimlinh Tran Major League Baseball mascot The San Diego Chicken2016 June 30 – July 3 7,310 $30,880 Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium Roaring Twenty animator Joaquin Baldwin Tracy Butler, creator of Lackadaisy voice actor Trevor Devall2017 June 29 – July 2 7,544 $37,598 Hope Haven Farm Sanctuary Take Me Out To The Ballgame voice actor Charlie Adler2018 July 5–8 8,407 $42,051 South Hills Pet Rescue Movie Monsters artist Len Simon writer Ursula Vernon2019July 4–7 9,358 $46,440 PEARL Parrot Rescue Surf Pacific voice actor Ben Diskin comics creator Steve Gallacci esports personality SonicFox2020Cancelled colspan="6" 2021Cancelled colspan="6" 2022June 30 – July 3 Pittsburgh 9,702 $41,553Wildlife Works Inc.Aesop's Fables comic creator Susan Rankin Animator Kévin "Kéké" Gemin Acrobat Sardyuon2023June 29 – July 2 13,644 $52,000+ Rabbit Wranglers Anthropolis: Our Furry City Pittsburgh (unspecified)2024July 4–7 17,639 $100,000+ Gray Paws Sanctuary AnthroCoaster!2025July 3–6 18,357 $87,267+ Nose to Tail Cat Rescue Deep Sea Adventures! none2026July 2–5 20,618 $74,240+ J and J Farms Animal Sanctuary Cryptids, Creatures, and Curses! none2027July 1–4 TBA TBA TBA TBA Level 30: Begin! TBA
References
External links
Anthrocon at WikiFur