Meet Your Guides – LA in 2026

The LA in 2026 Worldcon bid is spearheaded by its bid committee, backed by the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI) Inc., and with the generous support of the California Anime Foundation (CAF). Read on for details on the adventurers behind the bid!

“Dare to discover, dare to explore, dare to be uncharted…” — LA in 2026

Meet The Expedition

≫ Our Expedition Leader

Joyce Lloyd, chair of the LA in 2026 bid committee, is regularly involved with fan conventions with attendance from 100 to over 30,000. Her non-Worldcon experience includes being the Facilities Second for FanimeCon (2008 – present), Vice Chair for Anime Los Angeles (2010 – 2013, 2019 – present), Facilities Director for Gallifrey One (2003 – present), Vice Chair World Fantasy 2019, and Co-Chair of Loscon 35. She has been involved with Worldcons since 2006 (LA Con IV) where she was the Con Suite Second. Since then, she has worked as Hugo Administrator (Nippon 2007), Hotel Assistant (Denvention 3), Treasurer (Chicon 7), Facilities Division Head (LoneStarCon3), Finance Division Head (MidAmeriCon II), Timeline Assistant and Convention Center Liaison (Worldcon 76 in San Jose), Deputy Division Head, Facilities (Dublin 2019), Deputy Division Head, Exhibits for DisCon III and Division Head, Facilities for Chicon 8. Currently she is the Assistant Timeline Manager for Glasgow 2024. Joyce is also the current Chair of the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests, Inc. (SCIFI, Inc.), sits on the board of the Institute for Specialized Literature, Inc. (ISL, Inc.), and is the Treasurer for the Science Fiction Outreach Project (SFOP).

≫ Navigate the Unknown With Our Seasoned Guides

The LA in 2026 Worldcon bid has many seasoned participants at all convention levels, including a wealth of experience with Worldcons. Some of the members of our team include the following people.

(* denotes a member of the Board of Directors of the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI), Inc.)

Bobbi Armbruster*, Vice Chair, Chicon 7 (2012 Worldcon)
Sherri Benoun*, Co-Chair, World Fantasy Convention 2019
Bert Boden, over 20 years of Worldcon and convention experience
Steve Cooper, Co-Chair, Loncon 3 (2014 Worldcon)
Genny Dazzo*, over 30 years of Worldcon and convention experience
Jill Eastlake, worked her first Worldcon in 1971
Bruce Farr*, Co-Chair, World Fantasy Convention 2019, 2001 and 1991
Lea Farr*, Co-Chair, World Fantasy Convention 2001
Sara Felix, Chair, ArmadilloCon 32, 2012
Elizabeth Klein-Lebbink*, over 40 years of Worldcon and convention experience
Shaun Lyon*, Co-founder & Program Director, Gallifrey One (34 years)
Karin May, DH Staff Services, Chicon 8 (2022 Worldcon)
Elizabeth McCarty, multiple DH level positions for various Worldcons
Christian B. McGuire*, Chair, L.A. Con IV (2006 Worldcon); Co-Founder & Chair (12 years), Gallifrey One
Helen Montgomery, Chair, Chicon 8 (2022 Worldcon); Vice Chair, Chicon 7
Elayne Pelz*, over 40 years of Worldcon and convention experience
Jerome Scott*, over 30 years of Worldcon and convention experience
Randy Shepherd*, Chair, LoneStarCon 3 (2013 Worldcon); Vice Chair, LoneStarCon 2 (1997 Worldcon)
Ben Yalow*, Co-Chair, Chengdu Worldcon (2023)

We also gratefully acknowledge the support for the LA in 2026 bid from these additional members of the Board of Directors of the Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI) Inc.: Kim Marks Brown, Sandy Cohen, Cathy Johnson, Dean Johnson, Craig Miller, Marilyn Niven, Alec Orrock, and Noel Wolfman.

Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI)

Southern California Institute for Fan Interests (SCIFI) Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, established for the promotion and conduct of conferences, conventions or congresses relating to the field of Science Fiction and Fantasy. SCIFI has organized many popular events in Los Angeles (see our Past Conventions page for details); provided funding to other events; lend our technology to local conventions; contributed to popular science fiction fan funds; and fostered relationships with other charitable and beneficial organizations. Additionally, the organization sponsors the annual Rotsler Awards, named after the popular late SF artist William Rotsler and given each year to the best and brightest amateur talents in science fiction and fantasy illustration.

SCIFI is the past sponsor of the 1984, 1996 and 2006 Los Angeles World Science Fiction Conventions (Worldcons); the 1999 North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFIC); the 2019 World Fantasy Convention; the 1989, 1994 and 2002 West Coast Science Fantasy Conferences (Westercons); and the 1994 and 2014 SMOFCons.

SCIFI, Inc. is currently sponsoring this bid to bring the 2026 World Science Fiction Convention back to the Los Angeles area, to be decided at Glasgow 2024 , the 2024 Worldcon, taking place August 8-12, 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland.

California Anime Foundation

LA in 2026 has received generous support from the California Anime Foundation during its bid process. The California Animé Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, anime, manga, Japanese history and culture, and related art-forms primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate these works and provides a common forum for creators, fans, and others to interact.

The California Anime Foundation is the parent organization of Anime Los Angeles, an annual four-day anime convention held during January at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in Long Beach, California.

About This Website

The LA in 2026 website is edited by Shaun Lyon, with generous assistance from Joyce Lloyd and Justin Lloyd. Thanks to Member Solutions for handling our membership form and processing. Additional thanks to SmartCat Web Design for the base WordPress template (Relia Pro) we used to create this site (a template we also used for the 2019 World Fantasy Convention website.)