This page provides answers to many common queries about Worldcon memberships and registration. If you can’t find the information you need here, please contact registration and we will do our best to help you.
The questions are grouped into topics as follows:
Membership Basics
Q: Why is it called a membership?
A: Worldcons sell memberships rather than tickets. That’s because Worldcon is the annual gathering of a community, run by and for members of that community on a completely voluntary basis. If you have an Attending membership (other than Kid-in-Tow), a Virtual Attending membership or a Supporting membership, you are a member of the World Science Fiction Society for this year, with the right to vote in the Hugo Awards and Site Selection. The feelings and memories that each member takes home from the convention will be influenced just as much—if not more—by their interactions with other members as by their enjoyment of the program, events and exhibits put on by the convention team.
Q: What types of memberships do you sell?
A: A full list of membership types can be found on the main membership page. Basically, though, there are a variety of full Attending Memberships for different age groups (Adult, Young Adult, Teen, Child, Kid-in-Tow); a lower cost First Attending Worldcon membership; a Virtual Attending membership which allows you to participate remotely, and a Supporting membership which allows you to support the event and vote in the Hugo Awards and Site Selection. From June 1 we will also be selling Single Day admissions which let you attend the convention in person for one specified day.
Q: I keep hearing about “WSFS.” What is that about?
A: WSFS stands for “World Science Fiction Society” which is the unincorporated organization that runs Worldcon. All Attending and Supporting members of Chicon 8 (apart from Kids-in-Tow) are automatically members of WSFS until the end of Chicon 8. As such they can nominate and vote for the Hugo Awards, vote in Site Selection, and (if attending the convention in person) participate in the Business Meeting. For more information, see the WSFS website.
How to Join and Pay
Q: How can I join online?
A: Memberships can be purchased through the registration system.
Q: What options are there for payment?
A: You can pay online using a variety of common credit and debit cards. You can also complete your registration online and then send your payment by check (within the US). More information can be found on the main membership page.
Using the Registration System
Q: Where can I find the registration system?
A: You can access the system here.
Q: What can I do using the registration system?
A: You can use the registration system to buy new memberships, upgrade existing memberships, or update your personal information.
Q: How do I use the registration system?
A: To ensure security, you are given a unique login link every time you would like to access the system. The first step is to enter the email address associated with your membership (this will be the one used when you bought the membership, unless you have changed it since) and request that a login link be sent to you. When you receive the link in the email just sent to you, click on it and you will be taken to the Members’ Area. From here, you can select “My Memberships” to see all the memberships associated with this particular email address.
Q: I know I have a membership, but the system can’t find it.
A: The most common reason for this is that you used a different email address when the membership was set up. If you can’t remember which address you used, contact us and we will do our best to help you.
Q: The system is showing me as having more than one membership and I’m confused.
A: If you see a membership described as “Discon III Membership,” that is a Discon III (2021 Worldcon) membership that we imported into our system to allow you to nominate in the 2022 Hugo Awards. It has no other meaning for Chicon 8 and can be ignored.
Q: The system is showing several memberships against my name, but they’re not all mine?
A: If you bought several memberships in one purchase (e.g. for a number of family members), they may initially all be linked to your email address. To update these memberships to the other person, you must email Chicon registration to initiate a membership transfer. Please see the Transfer Process for details.
Q: I bought multiple memberships, but now can only see my own.
A: When you log in, you will only see the memberships linked to your email address. Once the memberships are linked to separate addresses (see previous question), then each person will need to log in separately to see their respective memberships.
Q: What information can I update myself using the registration system?
A: You can use the registration system to:
- Check your membership status
- Upgrade your membership
- Update your name (as we will use internally)
- Update your badge name
- Edit your contact information (email and/or postal address)
- Update your Souvenir Book preference (electronic or physical)
- Specify whether you would like to appear on the public membership list
- Give or decline approval for us to pass your membership information onto the 2023 Chengdu Worldcon (we will need to pass this information on if you wish to exercise your right to nominate for the 2023 Hugo Awards)
- Request information on disability or access services
- Volunteer to work on Chicon 8
- Express interest in our Program, Dealers Room, or Art Show
Refunds and Transfers
Q: I made a mistake during registration and bought the wrong or an unwanted membership. Can I get a refund?
A: Yes, we will refund memberships which are genuinely bought in error, so long as we are notified promptly once you become aware of the issue. Please contact us and let us know your specific problem.
Q: I am no longer able to attend. Can I get a refund?
A: We regret that we cannot offer refunds for memberships which were correctly purchased. However, many members have been able to sell unwanted memberships and recover most or all of their original purchase price. You can read more about this on the refunds and transfers page.
Q: Can I transfer my membership to someone else?
A: Yes, you can always transfer your membership to someone else as long as they are also eligible to hold it (e.g. a Young Adult membership has to be transferred to someone else in that age group). You can read more about this on the refunds and transfers page.