First Convention? Lets talk about that!

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Everyone has a first convention.

Maybe you’ve been part of the furry fandom for years and just never made it to one. Maybe you recently joined the fandom. Maybe a friend convinced you to come along. Or maybe you saw a bunch of pictures of people running around a hotel dressed as giant animals and thought, “Okay, I need to see what this is about.”

We’ve heard from quite a few people (both this year and previous years) that Furry Migration is going to be their first furry convention, so we wanted to put together a little guide about what to expect, what to bring, and… most importantly… how not to stress yourself out trying to experience everything in one weekend.

So… what exactly do you DO at a furry convention?

Honestly. Whatever you want.

Furry Migration has panels, dances, games, vendors, artists, fursuiters, meetups, social events, and plenty of other things happening throughout the weekend. You can fill your entire schedule with things to do, or spend half the convention hanging out with new friends in the lobby.

There really isn’t a “correct” way to attend a furry convention.

If something on the schedule sounds interesting, go check it out. Wander through the Dealers Den and Artist Alley. Checkout the fursuiters. Play some games. Sit down and talk with people. Go back to your room and take a nap.

Wait. Schedule? We hope to have the schedule posted on the website soon! Stay tuned! Programming is finalizing it! This includes DJs, Dances, Official Room Parties, Panels, Artist Alley vendors, etc. We’re working on it, promise!

Before You Leave Home

There are a few things worth doing before heading to the Hyatt. First: make sure you have your ID.

You’ll need a valid government-issued photo ID when picking up your badge, and the legal name on your ID needs to match the legal name you registered with. If you’re attending as a minor, make sure you and your parent or guardian have reviewed our Minors Policy and have the required parental consent documentation (if needed).

Seriously. Check for your ID before leaving home. Then check again.

Beyond that, we’d recommend packing:

• Comfortable shoes. You will probably walk considerably more than you expect.
• A refillable water bottle.
• Phone charger and/or battery bank.
• Any medications or personal items you’ll need.
• A small bag or backpack.
• Snacks!
• A little extra room in your luggage for anything you buy.
• A swimsuit (if you plan to use the hotel pool)
• Your fursuit supplies and repair kit (if you’re bringing a suit)
• Deodorant and Hygiene products (You’d be surprised)

Didn’t Pre-Register? That’s Okay!

Didn’t get around to pre-registering? Decided at the last minute that you want to come? That’s completely fine! You don’t need to pre-register to attend Furry Migration. Though do know that a attendee badge is required in the convention space.

Badges will be available for purchase at the convention during Registration’s posted hours of operation. Just stop by Registration when you arrive, purchase your badge, and you’ll be ready to join the convention. Keep in mind that at-door registration pricing is be different from pre-registration pricing, and you’ll still need to bring a valid government-issued photo ID to pick up your badge.

Registration hours:

• Thursday (Pre-reg only) 4pm-8pm
  • Super Sponsor starting at 4pm
  • Sponsor starting at 5pm
  • Regular badges starting at 6pm
• Friday: 10am – 8pm
• Saturday: 10 – 8pm
• Sunday: 10am – 3pm

Need at door reg? You can do that friday! You cannot purchase at-door on Thursday unless declared otherwise on social media.

You Don’t Need a Fursuit

This is probably one of the most common misconceptions about furry conventions. You absolutely do not need a fursuit to attend Furry Migration.

Plenty of attendees don’t own one. Some people wear ears, tails, badges, or furry-themed clothing. Honestly, just a plain old T-shirt and jeans is common. If you want some furry swag though, The dealers den is a good place to find shirts and other furry adjacent things to pickup!

Making Friends

This can be the intimidating part, especially if you’re coming alone. A convention puts a lot of people with a shared interest into the same building, which makes starting conversations considerably easier than it might be elsewhere. Panels and meetups are particularly good places to start. If you see someone with a badge, character, costume, pin, or shirt you like, it’s perfectly fine to compliment them and strike up a conversation!

You don’t need to arrive with a group of ten friends to have a good weekend. Talking around and getting to know people on our FM discord is a great start pre-con!

At the same time, remember that everyone has different social batteries. Someone sitting alone may be happy to chat, or they might be taking a much-needed break. Be respectful, read the room, and don’t take it personally if somebody isn’t feeling social at that particular moment.

Remember the 6-2-1 Rule

There’s an old convention survival guideline called the 6-2-1 rule:

• 6 hours of sleep.
• 2 real meals.
• 1 shower.

We’d also like to add a fourth unofficial rule: Drink water.

Conventions are exciting, and it is remarkably easy to realize at 8 PM that you’ve been surviving entirely on caffeine and whatever snack was at the bottom of your backpack. Take care of yourself. Eat. Sleep. Shower. Hydrate. The convention will still be there when you get back.

A Few Etiquette Things

Most convention etiquette boils down to the same rules you’d follow anywhere else: respect people’s space, belongings, and boundaries.

In particular, always ask before touching someone or their fursuit.

Fursuiters give great hugs, but not every fursuiter wants one. Ask first.

The same applies to photos. If you’d like a posed photo with someone, ask. And if a fursuiter doesn’t respond immediately, remember that visibility and hearing inside a fursuit can be surprisingly limited.

Also, please don’t grab tails, ears, wings, props, badges, or costume pieces. They’re attached. We promise. If you want to touch or feel a part of someones costume or person, Always ask!! Consent is important and you can get in serious trouble with the con for not checking first!

Most Importantly: Have Fun

Your first furry convention is something you’ll probably remember for a long time. You don’t need the perfect fursuit. You don’t need to know everyone. You don’t need to understand every fandom reference, attend every event, or stay awake until 3 AM.

Show up. Explore. Meet some people. Take care of yourself. Try something new.

And when Sunday rolls around and you’re tired, carrying three things you definitely didn’t plan on buying, and wondering how the weekend disappeared so quickly… Congratulations. You’ve survived your first furry convention.

Welcome to Furry Migration.