Westmoot 2026 will be held from May 22nd-24th in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown!
The first Westmoot was held from May 9th-11th, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri, at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. It featured a range of presentations, including talks, quizzes, lectures, workshops, performances, papers, discussions, and entertainment, and provided a rich and engaging experience for all attendees.
Logo artist: Tsvetelina and Michael Taaffe
Registration
Click here to register for Westmoot 2026.
If you are not currently a member of the Tolkien Society, you may wish to consider becoming a member in order to save on event prices and to receive the other benefits of membership.
The registration rates are as follows:
| In-Person Westmoot Registration | Tolkien Society Members | Non-Members |
| Full Conference | $350 | $375 |
| Student/Educator Price* | $250 | $275 |
| Child Price (ages 6-12)** | $150 | $165 |
*With discount code; see “Financial Support” section below for details.
**Children under six may attend the sessions for free.
| Online Westmoot Registration | Tolkien Society Members | Non-Members |
| Full Conference | $70 | $85 |
| Student/Educator Price* | $50 | $65 |
*With discount code; see “Financial Support” section below for details.
Financial Support
Westmoot 2026 is able to offer a discount towards the conference registration fee for the first 30 student or educator delegates who book (30 discounts available for In-Person Westmoot, plus an additional 30 discounts available for Online Westmoot). In order to receive this discount, please contact the bookings officer via the form below. You will be asked to verify your student or educator status, then a discount code to use during registration will be provided.
Merchandise
We have the classic Westmoot shirts available to order! Order yours by using the link below.
Call for Proposals
The Westmoot committee invites proposals for papers related to the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The theme of 2026 is Hope / Eucatastrophe. All proposals are welcomed and will be considered. Potential topics could include, but are not limited to:
- a theme in one of Tolkien’s major works, or across works
- a critical theory application to Tolkien’s work
- adaptations or derivations of Tolkien’s works
- source identification and/or analysis
- cultural or biographical approaches to Tolkien or his works
- the “West” in Tolkien’s works (e.g. Valinor, Numenor, or Beleriand)
- involvement with the legendarium and its effect on one’s life
The Call for Papers is now OPEN. It will close on Mar 1, 2026. Submit a paper/talk here.
Change as of January 23rd, 2026: GREAT NEWS! Westmoot 2026 is now also accepting submission for remote paper presentations! Use the same link to submit a remotely-presented paper/talk. The call for remotely-presented papers is the same: Mar 1, 2026.
Call for Activities and Masquerade & Ents
For descriptions of what these are, please see the FAQ page.
The Call for Activities is now OPEN. It will close on March 9, 2026. Submit an Activity here.
The Call for Masquerade and Ents is now OPEN. It will close on March 30, 2026. Submit an entry for the Masquerade and Ents here.
Keynote Speakers & Special Guests
We are very pleased to start announcing our keynote speakers and special guests for Westmoot 2026!
Check out our Keynote Speakers & Special Guests page to learn about them!
Schedule
Westmoot 2026 will start in the afternoon (Central Time) on Friday, May 22nd and conclude on Sunday, May 24th.
Hobbit Play
Click here for information about an exciting special event included with Westmoot 2026 admission!
Accommodation
More information is coming soon. We will be sharing a discounted reservation link which will give you a chance to stay at our event venue: Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown.
DEAI
DEAI is vital to our mission to make the life and works of JRR Tolkien accessible to as wide an audience as possible. It is also the way that we can empower diverse voices to share their experiences and perspectives with us and with the wider community. DEAI information for Westmoot 2026 is coming soon. For any related concerns not covered on the support page, please contact DEAI via the contact form.
Overseas Delegates
Delegates based outside the US who are planning to travel to Westmoot 2026 must comply with any health or travel related restrictions in place in the US at the time they travel. There are no current COVID-19 related or other restrictions for travel to the US, but this is not guaranteed and all delegates should check before they travel.
Delegates are responsible for ensuring they are aware of the regulations which apply to them. The Society and Westmoot cannot be held liable for any issues arising from delegate’s failure to follow any such regulations.
If changes to the regulations mean that you find you cannot travel to Westmoot please notify the Bookings Officer as soon as possible. Overseas delegates are recommended to acquire travel insurance which includes cover for any travel restrictions related disruption.
Venue
The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown
35 S 7th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
FAQs
We have created an FAQ page so that attendees can find answers to their burning questions quickly. If you have a question that is not covered there, feel free to use the contact form below and send you question to Inquiries.
Please submit questions in the Contact form below.
Contact
Westmoot 2026 is brought to you by the Westmoot 2026 Team of volunteers.