Weekend at the Asylum (steampunk)

Weekend at the Asylum (commonly shortened to just The Asylum) is likely the largest and second longest running steampunk festival in the world. Since 2009 - 2020, starting up again in 2022 the festival (or convivial in steampunk parlance) has been held annually in Lincoln and currently stretches over multiple venues in the historic cathedral quarter of Lincoln town, Lincoln Castle and Bishop Grosseteste University. It is run as a not-for-profit event organised by the now Ministry of Steampunk, previously the Victorian Steampunk Society.

Language

English

Genres

comics-anime, dark fantasy

Duration (days)

4

Next edition

TBA 2027 (Asylum 16 was 28–31 Aug 2026 Lincoln; 2027 city TBA)

Audience

The success of this year resulted in the convention being called the Best International Convention in the Steampunk Chronicle Readers Awards in April 2012.

Accessibility

event and ensure to the best of our ability that Weekend at the Asylum remains accessible to as many members of the Steampunk community as possible

Language notes

Listed working language: English

Genre notes

Primary focus: comics-anime; Also listed: dark fantasy

Programme

It combines four full days of features, classes, craft workshops and entertainment, such as the Grand Ball, Majors Review (The Major's Soiree) and the Asylum Tea Duelling Championship, along with live music, comedy acts and the largest steampunk market in the world referred to as the Bazaar Eclectica.

Past editions

2000, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Festival site