We are now 30 weeks away from passing through the looking glass into the 1893 Chicago Exposition turned topsy-turvy into a realm of absurdity, whimsy, and wonder! In another month we will be exactly half a year away so it is time to begin our weekly updates as we countdown to welcoming special guests Gail Carriger, UnWoman, Leanna Renee Hieber, and a number of other people who make Steampunk truly wonderful.
The Exposition at Other Conventions
Last weekend, the Exposition Crew had a great time chasing the White Rabbit through Teslacon’s Nordic folklore and crossing the Bifröst to Wonderland (picture above)!
We also had a VERY successful first year of sponsoring and running the new Teslacon Gaming Room which offered 45 hours of tabletop gaming (picture below). The Vaesen RPG was the main game on offer, to fit with the weekend’s theme and inspiration, and the vast majority of sessions had a full table of players.
We are happy to announce that the Exposition shall run the Teslacon Gaming Room again in November 2026 and is already planning a wider selection of games that will include Cthulhu by Gaslight and Dungeons & Dragons 5E compatible Oz themed scenarios.
Later this month, the Exposition will be at Chicago TARDIS presenting a panel of Doctor Who’s adventures in Victorian Britain and the Steampunk motifs that permeate the longest running Sci-Fi TV show. Additionally, we shall be running games in their Gaming Room, a Victorian London adventure in which the newly established Torchwood Institute investigates reports of alien technology and murder!
The Program
Over the next nine months the Exposition is putting together the 2026 Program for amusement and education. We are currently accepted session proposals. Please CLICK HERE for more information.
We will list session descriptions as we countdown to June 12th, 2026, and should have the full and final schedule online by mid-April, 2026.
Exhibitor Updates
For 2026 we have FOUR exhibitor spaces.
- The Underground Market remains downstairs in Sienna
- The Midway Market (formerly known as Artists’ Alley and Printers’ Row) is in Slate.
- Hallway Exhibitors in the Atrium Lobby, the North hallway, the South hallway, and the Central hallway.
- The Hall of Curiosities in Mahogany 4.
The Exhibitor Application Form is available now!
Social Media
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- LIKE the Chicago Steampunk Expo page on Facebook for regular updates!
- RSVP to our Facebook event page!
- JOIN the Chicago Steampunk Exposition Adventurers’ Club group of Facebook to make plans with other steampunks!
- Yes, it’s all Facebook, but when we start posting on other platforms, we’ll be sure to add them to this list.
On the Horizon . . .
- Our NEW newsletter!
- Exhibitor updates!
- Programming updates!
