Celebrating Cultures
Real & Imagined
April 4 & 5, 2026
A two-day interactive Sci-Fi convention in Bozeman, Montana for nerds of all stripes
Transport yourself out of the mundane and into an interactive sci-fi convention that celebrates universes of our own making.
Bring your creativity and your best cosplay, whether you come as you are, or as a being of your own imagination. Meet advocates, teachers, explorers, and makers — from cosplayers to cosmonauts — and join them in celebrating cultures both real and imagined. Explore the hopeful possibilities of the future through the lens of science fiction — and maybe acquire an artifact or two during your journey!
What to Expect
INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES
Engage with new science, games, activities specific to fandoms, immersive themed spaces, and food from other galaxies.
IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTS
Feel transported to new worlds! Each space in our Con will occupy its own little galaxy.
engaging Speakers
Hear from people in the sci-fi universe and learn about their experiences
presentations & demos
From the Mando Merc Costume Club to the Kankelborg Solar Research Lab.
a bazaar
Aquire hand-made goods from regional makers. Support your peers, find unique goods.
NEW FRIENDSHIPS
Meet — or build — your crew.
APRIL 4 & 5, 2026
Schedule
Get ready for two action-packed days of interactive experiences.
Saturday, April 4th
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
✦ All-Day Bazaar with Artists & Makers / Children's Event Space / Photo Area / VR Goggles / Hologram Exhibit / BRICKS & MINIFIGS / Queers in Space/Third Mountain Arts
✦ 9:00 AM: Check-in begins
✦ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Welcome & Photo Opportunities
✦ 11:00 AM -11:30 AM: Opening Ceremony
✦ 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Kathy Tyers Author Talk
✦ 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Matter of the Imagination Presentation
✦ 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Storms in Space, Presented by Professor Charles Kankelborg, Montana State University, Department of Physics
✦ 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Cosplay Runway
✦ 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM: Spice Dreams - Live Music & Afterparty
Sunday, April 5th
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
✦ All-Day Bazaar with Artists & Makers / Children's Event Space / Photo Area / VR Goggles / Hologram Exhibit / BRICKS & MINIFIGS / Queers in Space/Third Mountain Arts
✦ 11:00 AM: Check-in begins
✦ 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Welcome & Photo Opportunities
✦ 11:30 AM -12:30 PM: Illustrator Panel
✦ 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM: Joey Morrison, Mayor of the City of Bozeman, Announces for All to Hear the Proclamation of First Contact Day on April 5, 2026
✦ 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Cosplay Workshop Series with the Mando Mercs, Altered Shadow Cosplay, and Gallatin Furs
✦ 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: American Computer & Robotics Museum: Lessons I Learned From Star Trek, Presented by Dr. Jake Chipps
✦ 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Closing Ceremony
event venue & hotel
LOCATION
Join us at the Best Western Plus Grantree for FCC 2026!
Best Western Plus Grantree hotel
1325 N 7th Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715
Parking in back
Lodging information available at https://visit-bozeman.com/. Mention First Contact Convention when you book direct with Best Western Plus Grantree Inn, Field & Stream Lodge, and upcoming partner hotels to get the block rate!
FCC bazaar
vendors
Acquire small-batch artifacts from artists, illustrators, and makers. Support independent creatives!
Interested in vending? Send us a link to your shop.
First contact con ‘26
sponsors
First Contact Con ‘26 has grown exponentially in our ability to welcome a broad audience of science fiction fans for a compelling convention experience, and we couldn’t have done so without our generous sponsors!
Interested in sponsoring? Reach out to us.
FAQs
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No! First Contact Con is a sci-fi convention that celebrates all of the sci-fi universes, whether you’re into Star Trek, Star Wars, Barbarella, Planet of the Apes, or something else altogether.
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While this event’s concept is inspired by Star Trek’s timeline, we recognize that first contact takes place between all cultures and is NOT exclusive to Star Trek.
We wanted to build upon the theme of first contact: meetings of different cultures both real and imagined.
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Bozeman is the site of First Contact with alien life in the Star Trek universe, so it felt like a natural place to host a sci-fi convention.
Bozeman may be a small town by population, but is a large hub for innovation and creativity, home to:
MSU’s holography labs, astrophysics research, a subzero research lab, and their partnership with NASA
The most world-renowned Computer & Robotics Museum you’ve never heard of (home of the Stibitz-Wilson Awards)
The Museum of the Rockies, a Smithsonian Affiliate with an extensive collection of rare and significant dinosaur fossils (part of the Jurassic Park universe)
A bustling, underground art community
World-class climbing, skiing, hiking, fishing, and hunting. 🤠
We’ve even got our own sci-fi magazine!
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An interactive sci-fi convention that celebrates universes of our own making. April 4 & 5, in Bozeman Montana.
Meet advocates, teachers, explorers, and makers — from cosplayers to cosmonauts — and join them in celebrating cultures both real and imagined. Explore the hopeful possibilities of the future through the lens of science fiction — and maybe acquire an artifact or two during your journey!
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FCC is for nerds that want to nerd out with other nerds. For nerds to learn about their favorite nerd, and therefore nerd better than they’ve ever nerded before. For the nerds that want to dive deep into their nerddom. Nerds who give a shit (you know who you are…nerd).
In other words, if you’re into sci-fi, if you’re into the sciences and want to learn about our universe, if you’re a humanitarian who’s trying to develop their community and celebrate culture, this convention is for you.