2026 Convention Report

Highlights from the 2026 Red Dwarf Convention.

31 July, 2026

The inaugural Official Red Dwarf Convention took place at The Level, Nottingham over the weekend of 18-19 July 2026, bringing together one of the largest gatherings of Red Dwarf fans ever assembled. With appearances from much of the principal cast, creator Doug Naylor and guest stars, the event was a celebration decades in the making. The programme featured Q&A panels, including Doug talking warmly about his relationship with Rob, autograph sessions, professional photo shoots, merchandise and opportunities for fans to meet many of the people who have made Red Dwarf such an enduring success.

A Truly International Gathering

One of the biggest successes of the weekend was the remarkable turnout from across the globe. More than 100 fans travelled from overseas, with visitors arriving from the United States, Canada, Australia, the Czech Republic and Belgium, alongside attendees from every corner of the UK. The atmosphere throughout the weekend reflected that international community, with friendships formed over a shared love of the series.

The enthusiasm of fans demonstrated beyond doubt that the appetite for an official Red Dwarf event is stronger than ever.

The Positives

The main and guest casts were, almost universally, praised for their warmth, humour and generosity with fans. The Q&A sessions produced plenty of laughs, fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and memorable moments that reminded everyone why the series continues to attract such a loyal following.

Meeting fellow fans was another highlight. For many, travelling long distances became worthwhile simply because of the welcoming community atmosphere created by those attending.

Smeg Happens

It would be unfair, however, to ignore the difficulties experienced on Saturday morning.

The most significant issue was entry to the venue. The venue itself imposed restrictions that no amount of last-minute problem solving could entirely overcome. Venue security staff insisted that all guests, including Access guests, joined a single queue, resulting in lengthy delays and understandable frustration. This assessment echoes comments made by many attendees after the event, who praised the cast while expressing concerns about queuing and organisation. While this created a poor first impression, the situation was largely resolved on Sunday, when entry procedures ran much more smoothly.

Looking Forward

Perhaps the clearest indication that the organisers EM Con have listened to feedback is the decision regarding the next event.

The next Official Red Dwarf Convention will move to Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena, a venue approximately four times larger than The Level. The additional space will allow for a much better visitor experience, with room for multiple activities to run simultaneously, wider walkways, improved queue management and significantly greater capacity for fans travelling from around the world. Doug also wants to include cast read throughs of never performed before scripts, something that he wasn't able to do this time.

If anything, the challenges of this year's convention underline just how successful it proved to be.

Final Thoughts

The first Official Red Dwarf Convention wasn't perfect. Saturday's admission process caused unnecessary frustration, particularly for Access guests. Those shortcomings deserve to be acknowledged honestly.

At the same time, they should not overshadow what was ultimately a landmark weekend for the Red Dwarf community. The opportunity to see so many cast members together, meet fellow fans from around the world and celebrate one of Britain's most beloved science-fiction comedies created memories that will last for years.

If the lessons learned this year are carried forward to the much larger Motorpoint Arena, the next Official Red Dwarf Convention has every chance of becoming the event fans always hoped it could be.

Grant Naylor Productions did not organise the event, they merely licensed the rights.

In loving memory of Rob Grant