We know a lot of you have been waiting for an update on Penguicon’s mask policy, and we really appreciate your patience. Before making any decisions, we asked for your feedback, read through every comment, and took that input into a thoughtful, in-depth discussion at our most recent publicly available Board of Directors meeting.

Balancing community safety, accessibility, practicality, and evolving public health guidance is not something we take lightly. Your voices were a huge part of this conversation, and we want to thank everyone who shared their perspective, especially those who spoke up with care and concern for others.

So here’s where we’ve landed:
Masks will absolutely be welcome at Penguicon. They will not be required in order to attend.

A more detailed policy will be published soon, but we wanted to share this decision now along with the date and location so you can start making plans.

This decision wasn’t made to exclude or disregard anyone. We know that some members of our community are immunocompromised or take extra precautions for their health, and we see you. We strongly encourage masking for those who wish to, and will continue to support anyone who chooses to wear one.

At the same time, requiring masks across the board has become increasingly impractical and difficult to enforce in a way that’s fair and effective. We’ve done our best to balance evolving science, individual responsibility, and the desire to create an inclusive and welcoming space for everyone.

And no matter where you land on masks, please remember this one basic rule: If you’re sick, stay home. It’s the best way to protect your fellow attendees (and staff!) and ensure we can keep this amazing event going strong.

As always, thanks for being the thoughtful, passionate, occasionally chaotic community we love. More updates soon!

– The Penguicon Board of Directors