BiCon is the UK's national Bisexual Con..
.. -vention or -ference!
BiCon is a weekend-long gathering for bi+ people, their friends, partners, and others with a supportive interest in bisexuality.
Who goes to BiCon?
A typical modern UK BiCon will have three to four hundred participants, of whom usually somewhere between a fifth and a third are at BiCon for the first time. Most people would fit the definition of being bisexual, some don't. Even those who do don't all use the labels "bi" or "bisexual" or even agree on what it means to be bi.
Throughout the event's history there have been more women attendees than men. There are plenty of people who are trans and/or are non-binary. Some are monogamous, some aren't. Some have children (and some bring them) and some don't. Some attendees have been going to BiCon for longer than some other adult attendees have been alive. Some come to help change the world for bi+ people, others come to party or meet old & new friends, and some come to do all those. While most people are from the UK, some come from other parts of the world.
It is better at representing the wide range of disabilities in society than being as racially and class diverse as we'd like – there are people trying to improve that. (The cost of attending depends on income, for example.)
Where is BiCon?
BiCon has been held in a different part of the UK each year since 1984. Each is organised by a different team of volunteers from the previous one.
All of the BiCons since 1995 have been held at university venues during their summer holidays.
That doesn't mean that you need any educational qualifications to come, but it reflects that these tend to allow self-catering – many attendees have some dietary needs that make a catered event difficult to organise – and are cheaper than booking an entire hotel for a long weekend.
What happens during BiCon?
The weekend often runs from Thursday through to Sunday, but that can vary. There are discussion groups and sessions in the daytime, social spaces and entertainment in the evening. You're free to attend as much or as little of BiCon as you like – you don't have to be there for the whole thing. The Saturday always has the most attendees.
Some discussions cover bi-related themes, for example coming out or our experiences of the lesbian and gay communities, and there are often lots with a title like "Bisexuality and X". Other topics have ranged from parenting to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". Some sessions are action more than talk: e.g. in past years belly dancing, sign language and massage. Some are creative and some are plain silly, like the "Live Action Space Invaders" that happened one year.
Each evening there's a bar and social space, sometimes with performers or a disco, plus quiet space for board games or simply chilling out. Sometimes there's a "BiCon Ball", one evening for those who like to dress up (although you don't have to!) and many other indoor and outdoor activities.
Many people find that their experience of BiCon is made better by staying 'on site' along with other attendees. We recognise that can be scary for new people, and if you're nervous about committing to coming to a multi-day event without knowing more, see what other people have said, try coming for one day, and/or going to a BiFest or BiTastic (a one day event).
When's the next BiCon?
You can always find out more about the next BiCon at next.bicon.org.uk
What about past BiCons?
See the menu!
