UNTIL
221B Con Panels and Schedule
Our schedule and panel list for 2026 are below. Check out our programming from this year’s con and get hyped for 2027!
Bookmark this page for panel descriptions, because those will only be available on the website.
Download our PDF with session descriptions, or check out the accordions below!
Gather with friends old and new to launch the convention!
Are you new to the con, or wondering about those references you hear but aren’t sure you understand? An introduction to the convention and a primer on the common in-jokes of 221B Con, important people to know, important places/events to know, and more.
In past years, we've discussed the state of Ace representation. Now let's talk about what we can do to improve it within our fanfic communities. What kinds of fic do you want to see? How can you encourage others to include Ace characters? What other steps can we take to increase our presence in the stories we read?
This real-life crime boss may have been the Inspiration for Moriarty. Come discuss the actual Napoleon of Crime as nicknamed by Scotland Yard.
Watch the first episode of the new season of The Adventures of Jamie Watson and Sherlock Holmes, a queer gender-swapped modern adaptation of the famous stories.
What we do (meetings, podcasts, quizzes!), where we meet (online!), what it costs (nothing!), and how to contribute your work to The Watsonian journal.
The return of a rambunctious hour of Sherlock Holmes inspired trivia that's half trivia night and half game show.
Making soda fountain drinks using period formulas from over 100 years ago.
Doyle wrote more than Sherlock Holmes. He was also fascinated with the supernatural and published more than twenty stories of the strange and unexplained. Let’s discuss Doyle’s scariest stories both in canon and out.
Mark Gatiss has done it again! In his latest detective show, Bookish, Gabriel Book is a bookseller in post war London, who has a beautiful wife, lovely bookshop, and a loyal dog. More interestingly, he consults with the local police on their most difficult cases, an arrangement allowed by a mysterious letter from Churchill. There are even more mysteries swirling around Gabriel Book besides the ones brought to him by the police.
A Q&A about pastiche and the world of Holmes with Fawx & Stallion. As long as Holmes stories have existed, there have been stories about the characters in the margins. Join us for a talk about pastiche, how new media stories can enlighten the original text, and the future of Holmes-adjacent media with the team behind Fawx & Stallion, an audio drama about the detective team living at 224B Baker Street.
How are we enjoying the CBS Watson series? What works and what doesn't? How does Watson compare to House as a "Sherlock Holmes in a Hospital" adaptation/homage?
A discussion about how greater understanding of diseases changed medicine, public health, and public perception of illness during Holmes and Watson’s era.
A criminal attorney and fanfic writer presents how often and flagrantly Sherlock Holmes breaks late 1800s English law.
Join Shannen and Sara once again to talk about the cults of the Sherlock Holmes canon, now with 15% more deconstruction.
Get ready to conquer the dance floor at Queer Prom by learning the moves to group dances like Cupid Shuffle, Electric Boogie (The Electric Slide), and more!
Following up on last year's panel "Can You Do That And Live?" a quick recap of survivable vs. non-survivable injuries, an in-depth discussion on writing believable medical components in fanfic, and medpicking small sections of works (as submitted by the authors).
What’s better than talking canon with a group of Sherlockians? Talking canon while drinking with a bunch of Sherlockians! Come join this late-night round table where we drink and discuss everything in the canon. (Drinking not required.)
Empire Building. You are James Moriarty, aspiring crime lord, and you have the ability to recruit anyone from all of fact and fiction to build your empire. Who are you recruiting and why? Live episode recording of the Moriarty-focused podcast.
We’ve been through a lot lately. How fic helps us with gender identity, sexuality, and survival in today’s increasingly stressful world. Restricted to those 18 years old and older.
What pulls you out of a story? What makes you sure to read? How does one write a good description? Are certain tags necessary? How many tags are too many? A general discussion about critical points in fics that turn us on or off. Remember to practice YKINMKATO so there will be no bashing of fics or authors.
A look at the ten Fast and the Furious films, what we know about the 11th, and the international films that are their legacy.
What happens when a boring Canadian professional hockey player meets an asshole Russian professional hockey player? Hot sex, stiff competition, blueberry smoothies, tuna melts, concussion, and the cottage. Join us as we discuss the massive hit TV show from Canada and the books by Rachel Reid that inspired it.“Come for the hot men, stay for the deconstruction of misogyny and toxic masculinity and all of the problems with hockey culture and discussions about mental health.” ~Rachel Reid
The Hellaverse has taken over! We jump into the adult musical series Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss to discuss why they have become such smash hits.
Holmestice is a twice-annual anonymous gift exchange for all Sherlock Holmes universes, timed to culminate on the winter and summer solstices. On this panel, we'll talk about Holmestice experiences past and present and give handy links to explain exactly how to participate. We'll keep signups open until after the con is over to welcome everyone.If you've ever participated or think you might want to, or have questions for the moderators, stop on by. We're happy to guide you through the process, and we're happy to hear your experiences and feedback.
Ashley Polasek and Curtis Armstrong discuss some aspect of Sherlockiana in their own uniquely entertaining way.
Season 4 of BBC Sherlock was... less than well-received. But, statistically, someone must have enjoyed it! Or at least, aspects of it! Come and discuss what you *did* enjoy about Sherlock season 4.
Each sex scene in a story should be unique to the characters involved and true to their motivations, but it can be a challenge to transpose aspects of character into a sexual situation. This workshop will discuss how to write sex scenes in a way that forwards plot and integrates the character's personality. Bring your pairing ideas! Restricted to those 18 years old and older.
The detective and his doctor are the core of Conan Doyle's stories, but what else do they mean to each other? Why is this reading so common? What does it add to the story? What does it change? Panelists will discuss the history of shipping our dear Holmes and Watson together. Attendees are encouraged to bring their favorite books or pieces of art!
More than a decade after its finale, we still love Cabin Pressure, the radio show about an air dot and its quirky crew.
Fact-checking Dr. Watson’s dates in the original Canon is a task best left only to madmen and the foolhardy. Join the Sherlockian Chronology Guild for the history and techniques of this hundred-year-old area of Sherlock Holmes specialization, devoted to untangling the Gordian Knot of Sherlockiana.
A panel about Victorian cooking and recipes. Ever wonder how hard it was to cook a goose? Or which recipes were popular in Victorian times? Join our panel of Hudsons to discuss the popular dishes of the time of Sherlock Holmes.
Local Atlanta filmmaker Jacob McKee and his cast and crew present a sneak peek of their new short film, My Dear Watson, followed by a discussion about the filmmaking process and inspiration. My Dear Watson is a queer, young adult adaptation of Sherlock Holmes coming soon to YouTube and a film festival near you.
An OTP for the mature fanfic reader and writer. Mystrade is the rare pair consisting of two middle-aged men with a lot of emotional (and physical) baggage. This pair often has past relationships, real estate, children, not to mention trauma from work and family. How do they manage to negotiate all that to establish a healthy relationship? Or do they?
Adapting Sherlock Holmes for a current audience can be full of insightful upgrades and treacherous pitfalls, whether steampunking him where he was or letting him have a cell phone. Join us for a discussion of all best and worst decisions for trying to bring a modern audience to 221B Baker Street. How do you keep the Great Detective relevant but still recognizably Holmes?
One last chance to gather. The final panel before heading back to the real world. Come provide feedback and suggestions on the con.
Raffles and Bunny, written by ACD's brother-in-law E. W. Hornung, features the “Gentleman Cracksman” and his loyal accomplice as thieves. How much is this a parody or comment on Sherlock Holmes?
A look at how Scotland Yard detectives have been portrayed in adaptations and pastiche. And why does Lestrade get most of the glory?
This podcast has taken the Sherlockian world by storm. Let’s chat!
Nine years after The Final Problem, the ship that will not die had gone past early crush to full relationship. Join fellow Sherlollians to discuss why Sherlock Holmes and Molly Hooper are standing the test of time in the fandom.
A one-woman show developed for and originally presented at the Harrisburg Fringe Festival in 2025. It begins and ends with The Speckled Band and looks at families, the truth, and domestic violence. Restricted to those 18 years old and older.
Who is Solar Pons? What is his connection to Sherlock Holmes? What is his connection to H. P. Lovecraft? Join us as we discuss the origins, history, and future of this mysterious pulp detective.
What is it about Bram Stoker's classic vampire story that we keep coming back to? We discuss Dracula's legacy, and how it still resonates today.
A discussion of why fanfiction, and other fannish pursuits, are strange. Does fandom attract weirdos? Does it make us weird? Is it safer to be weird here?
Join Curtis Armstrong for a screening of the 1971 film starring George C. Scott as a man who thinks himself Sherlock Holmes and Joanne Woodward as Dr. Watson, his psychiatrist.
From medicinal tonics to arsenic-laced wallpaper, the Victorian Era hosted dangers in the most innocuous items. Discuss how these poisons shaped daily life, medicine, crime and how it was used in Victorian stories.
A roundtable discussing how we recognize a Watson and what characteristics we expect in adaptations.
Is there a gay show you love? What queer book can't you get out of your head? What movie makes you want to scream about the gays? Share your current obsession at this round table discussion to find your next favorite!
What are the new AU trends you are seeing in the stories you're reading? Do you think they will continue, or is this a flash in the pan? What AU tropes are still hanging on, and what ones have disappeared? Share your favorites and maybe learn about some new ones.
Meet the editors and contributions to the new volume of When the Rose Speaks Its Name, an anthology showcasing queer Holmes and Watson. We will discuss our process and present readings from the stories.
And who would be her Watson?
Always fashionable. Always making a scene. From Irene to Mary to the many Violets. Let’s discuss the ladies of canon.
A hands-on workshop focusing on the essential writer’s tools of character development and voice. Join other writers in sharing tips and activities to encourage the creative muse. Open to all ages and levels of experience.
The Saturday night con classic returns! Join writers of all stripes and experience for an evening of irreverent advice, saucy speed prompts, and camaraderie!
Let’s talk about Psych! How does it work as a Sherlock Holmes adaptation? How does it work in general? Who's Shawn's Moriarty? Is it Despereaux? Yang? Val Kilmer?
The new Amazon Prime Video show gives us a college student with little discipline and without a Watson. What does the show do well? How does this version resemble or differ from other versions?
221B Nerd Prom 2027
SATURDAY, APRIL 10 | 10:00 P.M.
All Ages until 11 P.M. 18+ after 11 P.M.
In 2024, we turned our usual dance party into a Nerd Prom!
All genders and sexualities are welcomed.
In addition to a dance floor and tunes spun by our very own DJ Cufflink, we’ll have decorations, fidgets, temporary tattoos, glow-in-the-dark toys, and more. If dancing isn’t your thing, there’s space in the back to sit and socialize! We’ll also have Prom Pictures being taken for download after con.
Our 2027 theme is to be determined.
There’s no official fancy dress code (come in PJs if that’s what you feel comfy in) but feel free to go all-out. If you’re not a cosplay artist but you still like to get dressed up, this is your chance!
