High temperatures slowed down the furries only slightly this weekend at the 2026 Anthrocon, which by 10 a.m. Friday sold out of weekend passes — a first for the convention of human-like animal characters as it celebrated its 20th anniversary in Pittsburgh.
“Anthropomorphic is a $5 word for the nickel concept of a walking, talking animal,” said John Cole, Anthrocon director of public relations, whose golden retriever fursona goes by Kuddlepup.
Anthrocon is the largest furry fandom convention in the world, according to WikiFur, an online site that documents anthropomorphic culture. For a second year in a row, it set an attendance record, with 20,618 attendees this year, event organizers said Sunday night. The gathering also set an attendance record last year, with 18,357 attendees. It has been held annually at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center of Pittsburgh since it relocated to the city in 2006.
This year, both the city and the convention organizers prepared for dangerous heat. The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for much of the Pittsburgh area beginning July 1 and later extended it through July 4, a period that overlapped with most of the Anthrocon’s run from July 2-5.
Anthrocon Director of Safety Nick Terwilliger, whose fursona is named Aisu the Ice Cream Fox, said organizers and attendees came prepared. Water stations were plentiful, stocked with extra-long straws to reach through the fursuit masks.
The control room where the safety team set up contained two large screens that followed a minute-by-minute weather forecast, tracking temperatures and potential storms.
“These suits get very, very spicy,” he said, “So we are continuing to increase our staff size because safety is very important. We have a staff of close to 100 for safety alone. And the number of scheduled hours that we have are roughly 1,600 for the weekend.”
Ultimately, though, ongoing heat prompted organizers of the gathering to cancel the outdoor parade and block party — a beloved tradition for furries and local residents — which had been scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Attendees said they were disappointed but understanding. In replacement, Anthrocon hosted a ‘fursuit mingle’ in the convention center.
Audrey the cat cools down from the heat during Anthrocon by removing the head of her fursuit inside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown.
Hayes Yocum is an Ohio-based firefighter whose fursona is Kay, a German shepherd. He said he was concerned with heat conditions from the start of the event.
“I think that it’s probably for the best [to cancel]. I’ve seen a lot of people; they’re very hot,” he said with a howl.
But most eventgoers weren’t deterred.
“I’m actually kind of used to the heat, coming from Puerto Rico,” said Stephanie Rios, whose fursona is a cat. “Like, for me, it’s just a normal day.” She said she and her husband, as newlyweds, celebrated their honeymoon at Anthrocon.
Other attendees built fans into the heads of their fursuits. Many more carried handheld fans that they passed through the mouths of their fursuits when they needed cooler air.
Pascal Gienger, of Boston, said he considers himself a wise elder of the furry fandom. Dressed as his fursona, Enu the caribou, he said he takes special precautions in the heat.
“I walk slowly because I’m not the youngest,” he said. “We call ourselves gray muzzles. Our muzzle is gray if you’re over a certain age.”
For those who were overwhelmed by the heat, organizers set up a “headless zone” with strict no-photography rules for those who like to maintain anonymity under their fursona.
And, some attendees, even those with fursonas, said they preferred to leave their fursuits at home this year in favor of better visibility, greater mobility and, most importantly, cooler temperatures.
William Carlson, of Orlando, Florida, is a member of the furry fandom, but he said he preferred to go sans fursuit.
“I get to just rub it into all my friends,” Carlson said. “I’m like, ‘Look, I’ve got skin. I can sweat! Take that!’”
For attendees who were overwhelmed by the weekend heat, Anthrocon organizers set up a “headless zone” with strict no-photography rules for those who prefer to maintain anonymity under their fursona.