January – March
Left Coast Crime 2026
February 26 – March 1, 2026
San Francisco, California, USA
Annual mystery convention for readers and writers. Expect panels, author meet-ups, book signings, and mystery education tracks.
Contact: via website form (Left Coast Crime)
Genre Focus: Crime/Mystery (mainstream & noir fans welcome)
April
Malice Domestic 38
April 24 – April 26, 2026
Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center / Bethesda, Maryland, USA
https://www.malicedomestic.net/
Email: MaliceDomesticInfo@gmail.com
Genre Focus: Traditional mystery (cozy, whodunit style) — good for classic mystery fans, less hard-boiled/noir.
May
CrimeCon 2026 (Las Vegas)
May 29 – May 31, 2026
Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Genre Focus: True crime and mystery — panels with experts, creators, and fans blend narrative mystery with investigative themes.
May – June
ThrillerFest XXI
May 5 – May 9, 2026
New York Hilton Midtown, New York, NY, USA
Genre Focus: Thriller & suspense readers — crime and noir crossover panels common.
June
(No dedicated crime con dates announced early June — but plenty of genre conventions with broader scope where crime/noir panels may appear.)
Sci-Fi & Fan Conventions (Genre Crossover)
- LAcon V – World Science Fiction Convention: August 27–31, 2026 (Anaheim, CA) — sci-fi crowd with panels that often include sci-fi noir, mystery, and speculative crime elements.
- GalaxyCon Series: Multiple US city dates; general pop culture/sci-fi conventions where crime-genre media and author guests sometimes appear.
Summer – Fall
PulpFest
July 30 – August 2, 2026
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Genre Focus: Pulp fiction celebration — plenty of noir and classic crime fiction interest.
August
Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference
August 20 – August 23, 2026
Franklin/Cool Springs, Tennessee, USA
Genre Focus: Thriller, mystery, and suspense — a mix that appeals to noir and crime fiction readers.
LAcon V – 84th World Science Fiction Convention
August 27 – August 31, 2026
Anaheim, California, USA
Genre Focus: Science fiction — great for fans of sci-fi crime, futuristic noir, and genre blending.
October
Bouchercon 2026 – World Mystery Convention
October 21 – October 25, 2026
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Contact: Sponsorship2026@Bouchercon.com (for info/sponsorship)
Genre Focus: Premier mystery/crime convention — Anthony Awards, panels, meetups.
June
Capital Crime Festival (London)
June 18 – June 20, 2026
London, England, UK
Genre Focus: Crime & thriller celebration with author panels and deep dive discussions.
July
Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
July 23 – July 26, 2026
Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, UK
https://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/festival/theakston-old-peculier-crime-writing-festival/
Box Office: +44 1423 562303
Email (Box Office): info@harrogate-festival.org.uk
Genre Focus: Leading UK crime fiction festival — excellent for noir and thriller readers; notable panels and author conversations.
September
Comic Con Northern Ireland
September 19 – September 20, 2026
Lisburn, Northern Ireland, UK
www.comicconnorthernireland.co.uk/
Genre Focus: Multigenre pop culture convention — great crossover for noir/sci-fi crime fans interested in TV/film/media.
Comic Con Scotland
October 24 – October 25, 2026
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
www.comicconventionscotland.co.uk/
Genre Focus: Large fan event — broad panels including crime and noir media.
Genre & Attendance Highlights
For Crime & Noir Readers
- Bouchercon – Major international mystery festival.
- Left Coast Crime – Classic mystery & crime community.
- Capital Crime – UK’s large crime festival.
- Theakston Old Peculier – Prestigious UK crime writing fest.
- CrimeCon – Mixes true-crime and mystery storytelling.
For Sci-Fi Crime / Genre Crossover Fans
- Worldcon (LAcon V) – Sci-fi giant with speculative crime panels.
- GalaxyCon & Other Pop Culture Cons – Broader fan context with mystery/crime media elements.
- Comic Cons (UK) – Offer panels on crime & noir in TV/film.
Tips for Planning Your Visit:
- Book early: Most conventions open registration months before.
- Check panels in advance: Crime/noir or sci-fi crime panels can be specific tracks.
- Subscribe to newsletters: Official sites often send programming and ticket updates.
- Sometimes contacting organizers directly (emails or social links via websites) is the best way to get detailed access info.