Grab your incense, your hooded cloak and a ritual sacrifice…It’s HorrorCon Scotland, 2026!
On the 11th April, Northern Frights returned to the SEC with Scotland’s horrifying convention, Horrorcon Scotland. Starting back in 2022 above a pub in Aberdeen, Horrorcon has dug its roots in the SEC again, now in a bigger unit and filled with even more surprises.
This was my third time attending Horrorcon, and it certainly won’t be the last. My previous experience in Paisley, which took place on Halloween weekend last year, was truly terrifying, and an event I simply couldn’t pass up again.
This year hosted a wide variety of vendors, actors, performers, and cosplayers alike, which stirred an excited and enthusiastic hum in the air as I traversed the absolutely massive convention space. Two stages, both hosted by popular video game franchises, Resident Evil and Cult of the Lamb, were packed with interesting talks and panels.
All Image Credits: Amy Brandon
I caught John McNee’s talk about cursed objects and the tragedies that befall those who possess them, followed by a great panel with returning visitors, Dead by Daylight. One of the many events available for the horror community, it was lovely to witness players asking their burning questions to the DBD team and cheering each other on over their cosplays.
I was incredibly excited over the guest roster this year, with appearances from Chi Lewis-Parry (28 Years Later, 28 Years Later: Bone Temple), Ash Millman (Horror TV personality), The Grimm-Life Collective (Supernatural Youtube content creators), Carolyn Hennesy (True Blood, St. Agatha), Tara Buck (True Blood, Bones), Caroline Munro (Dracula A.D. 1972, Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter), Tom Lenk (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Cabin in the Woods), and Marta Svetek (Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach, Savage Prey).
The 28 Days/Weeks/Years franchise is my absolute favourite horror franchise, so I was thrilled to grab a chat and an autograph from Chi Lewis-Parry. He is truly the nicest guy and had so many great answers to queries at the panel.
The vendors this year were phenomenal; with returning favourites such as Mar Makes It (@marz.makesIt), Chaos Curios (@chaoscurios), and Dr Ged’s Hot Sauce (@drgedshotsauce), there were a whole host of small businesses, artists, and writers at The Dark Market.
OctoBabe (@octo.babe) had a variety of horror artwork and accessories (I couldn’t resist copping Mother Gooseberry and Lilliya from Outlast Trials, and Alan from Smiling Friends, of course!) BlueFox Comics, The Emporium Next Doorium (@theemporiumnextdoorium), with their electroformed copper talismans of wonder, Bardic Inspiration (Bardic_Inspiration_uk), who were incredibly patient and kind when I just had to smell all of the body sprays on offer, and Stish Prints (@stishprints) with their incredible lino-cut prints.
If there is one thing I would love for you (yes, you, reader) to take away from this article is that you should get chatting to vendors about their work. They are all incredibly passionate and hardworking, and it was one of the many things that brought me joy throughout the day!
There were stalls set up for SFX teams, production companies, charities, local film clubs, and even mental health services from Shadowed Path Psychology. I felt truly spoiled by what was on offer, and HorrorCon Scotland continues to be a safe, community hub for all the ‘freaks and geeks’; one of the many reasons I continue to return, and am always excited to report on it all.
The event is 100% fan-driven, and you can feel that pulsating throughout the event. Nothing feels cash-grabby or disingenuous; just pure passion and love for the genre that brings the community together.
Horrorcon Scotland will be back in the SEC Glasgow in April 2027 with their ‘Undead’ themed event. Early bird tickets are out now, with trader applications also open. If you or you know someone with a particularly eerie small business, be sure to register your interest.
Featured Image Credit: HorrorCon Scotland Via Instagram
