The 2020 NASFiC Committee announced that the 2020 NASFiC, previously announced as cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held as an online-only event from August 21-23, according to a statement posted on the convention web site on July 22, 2020:

Along with ongoing negotiations with our Hotel, we’ve been exploring the possibility of providing an Online event for all of you. We are happy to announce that this is now a reality. We have a small team working hard to put together the best online event we can for you to enjoy at the end of August. Due to our transition we’ve revised our dates to reflect the limit of our planning capabilities at this point; they are now Friday, August 21st-Sunday, August 23rd.

As you may know, the skills required to run a virtual event are different from those required to run an in person event. We held off on announcing this digital transformation until we were able to confirm with enough of our staff and guests that they were able and willing to help with a virtual convention that we knew that we’d actually be able to provide you with content.

In recognition of the difficulty of these times we are offering this event for Free with optional donation. We will be reaching out to all our paid members to make sure they have the opportunity to enjoy the content we’re putting together, and are also going to be opening it up to other’s who would like to join.

If you would like to volunteer with us in this challenging transition please fill out our volunteer survey. If you would like to join us as a program participant please email program@columbus2020nasfic.org .

Thanks

Lisa Garrison, Chair
Dale Mazzola, Vice Chair
Kim Williams, Treasurer

The 2020 NASFiC Committee announced the cancellation of the 2020 NASFiC on May 14, 2020 in a statement from convention chair Lisa Garrison:

It is with a heavy heart that I and the executive committee, in consultation with Hotel management and the local Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, announce that we have made the decision to cancel the Columbus 2020 NASFiC. Due to the uncertain health situation and the unreliable travel restrictions, it was decided by all that hosting the NASFiC at this time would be unwise.

We still plan on publishing a souvenir book for all attending and supporting members. Due to the fact that we are still in negotiating penalties with the hotel, ongoing expenses, and our intention to publish a souvenir book, it is not feasible to offer refunds.

The Sheraton is canceling all room reservations for this event. If you have not heard from the hotel within two weeks, please contact the Sheraton directly at 614-365-4500.

We may have a virtual event on the weekend of August 20 -23. We’ll update everyone on that later once we have some plans.

We were very much looking forward to hosting the North American Science Fiction Convention this fall with you and regret that it cannot happen.

Direct questions about the 2020 NASFiC to the 2020 NASFiC committee. The NASFiC.org web site does not operate individual NASFiCs. Each NASFiC is operated by its individual operating committee, not by a central organization. The World Science Fiction Society does not operate NASFiC or Worldcon. It is only the sanctioning entity, and does not operate conventions. Contact each individual convention with questions about that convention.