221B Con 2026 Panel List
221B 101 - Are you new to the con, or wondering about those references you hear but aren’t sure you understand? A primer on the common in-jokes of 221 B Con, important people to know, important places/events to know, etc.
ACEing the Fanfic World - 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?
Adam Worth: The Napoleon of Crime - This real-life crime boss may have been the Inspiration for Moriarty. Come discuss the actual Napoleon of Crime as nicknamed by Scotland Yard.
The Adventures of Jamie Watson and Sherlock Holmes Season Premiere - 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. NOT OPEN TO OUTSIDE PANELISTS
Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes, Baker Street Irregulars, and other Sherlockian Societies - A discussion of traditional or "old school" Sherlockian fandom: history, present conditions, how to get involved.
All About the John H Watson Society, Watsonian Weekly Podcast and The Watsonian - 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 Alpha Inn Goose Club Pub Trivia Hour - The return of a rambunctious hour of Sherlock Holmes inspired trivia that's half trivia night and half game show.
Antique Soda Demo - Making soda fountain drinks using period formulas from over 100 years ago.
NOT OPEN TO OUTSIDE PANELISTS
Arthur Conan Doyle’s Supernatural Stories - 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 Conan Doyle’s scariest stories both in canon and out.
BBC Sherlock: Headcanon “Cookout” - Want to “cook” up headcanons about our beloved BBC boys? Come to this panel!
Bookish: The latest detective show we love - Mark Gatiss has done it again! This is a panel discussion of 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, which Book carries. There are even more mysteries swirling around Gabriel Book besides the ones brought to him by the police.
A Business of Lestrades - Lestrades through the years. Perhaps with a slideshow of the Lestrade Squad.
But What About 224B? 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.
Can I Have a Fic Without Quite So Much Spam In It? - How creators stay sane in a modern world. Commiserating and providing tips and hope for writers bombarded with non-readers using them as a marketing tool and artists struggling to create when AI is pushing them aside.
CBS Watson - 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?
Consumption, Brain Fever, and Germ Theory - A discussion about how the changing understanding of diseases changed medicine, public health, and the public perception of diseases during Holmes and Watson’s era.
The Crimes of Sherlock Holmes - A criminal attorney and fanfic writer presents how often and flagrantly Sherlock Holmes breaks late 1800s English law.
NOT OPEN TO OUTSIDE PANELISTS
Critical Role: Onto New Adventures - Critical Role is into its fourth campaign and now has two animated series and myriad other projects. Come discuss the show and its growing media empire.
The Cults of Sherlock Holmes 2: Electric Boogaloo - Join Shannen and Sara once again to talk about the cults of the Sherlock Holmes canon, now with 15% more deconstruction.
In Defense of Season 4 (BBC Sherlock) - 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.
Drunk Canon Book Club - 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.
Don't Do That: Medpicking in Fic v. 2.0 - 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 author).
NOT OPEN TO OUTSIDE PANELISTS
Dynamics of a Podcast - Live episode recording of the Moriarty podcast. NOT OPEN TO OUTSIDE PANELISTS
Every Disguise Is A Self-Portrait:Healing Through Fic (18+) - We’ve been through a lot lately. How fic helps us with gender identity, sexuality, and survival in today’s increasingly stressful world.
Fic Criticism - 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 YKISNYATOK so there will be no bashing of fics or authors.
Found Family: The International Influence of the Fast and the Furious Franchise - A look at the ten Fast and the Furious films, what we know about the 11th, and the international films that are their legacy.
The Great Detective and the Great Dane: Sherlock Holmes and Scooby Doo - Sherlock Holmes has appeared as a main character in three different Scooby Doo TV series: "Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo", "The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries", and "Scooby Doo and Guess Who?" This panel will discuss Sherlock Holmes as a character in the Scooby Doo universe, his influence on the Scooby gang, and his effectiveness at being just another "meddling kid."
Group Dance Tutorial- 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!
A Helluva Good Time: A Deep Dive Into Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss - 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 Introduction, Discussion, and Meetup - 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.
How Did We Get Omegaverse? - A history and exploration of the trope. Why is it so popular? How did it cause a lawsuit? Where did it start? What are the rules? An exploration into a popular troupe that has spread across so many fandoms.
It's Not Smut, It's Erotica! (18+) - 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 the plot of and integrates the character's personality. Bring your pairing ideas!
Johnlock Through the Ages and Other Queer Interpretations- 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!
The Lemon Is Still in Play - More than a decade after its finale, we still love Cabin Pressure, the radio show about an air dot and its quirky crew.
The Most Boring Panel All Con: Sherlockian Chronology 221 - 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.
Mrs Hudson’s Kitchen - A panel about Victorian cooking and recipes. Ever wonder how hard it was to cook a goose? Or recipes that were popular in Victorian times? Join our panel of Hudson’s to discuss the popular dishes of the time of Sherlock Holmes.
Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade: 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?
A New Coat of Paint on an Antique Detective: What Sells Sherlock Now?- 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?
No Ghosts Need Apply: Sherlock Holmes and the Supernatural - Holmes once famously said that. And indeed, all the canon tales that might originally seem to have some supernatural or metaphysical explanation turned out to be rooted in mundane manipulations of human beings. Why do authors find it an irresistible challenge to write stories in which the answer to the mysteries is not always so rooted in material reality? Stories driven by the fin-de-siecle world of shadowy occult secret societies and flamboyant magical practitioners. Stories in which Holmes himself, or perhaps Watson and Moriarty as well, are supernatural beings themselves, or adepts in the mystical arts. Films and games have occult societies like the Golden Dawn in The Irregulars TV series and Blackwood in the first Guy Ritchie film.
Our Last Bow - One last chance to gather. The final panel before heading back to the real world. Come provide feedback and suggestions on the con.
NOT OPEN TO OUTSIDE PANELISTS
Raffles and Bunny - 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?
Scotland Yard through the Years - A look at how Scotland Yard detectives have been portrayed in adaptations and pastiche. And why does Lestrade get most of the glory?
Sherlock & Co. Fan Panel - This podcast has taken the Sherlockian world by storm. Let’s chat!
Sherlock Hound: The World of Sherlock Holmes Seen Through the Eyes of Academy Award Winning Japanese Animation Director Hayao Miyazaki - The presentation discusses the development, broadcast, and continuing popularity of the series which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Sherlolly: It Was Never a Phase - 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.
Snakes I Have Known - 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.
NOT OPEN TO OUTSIDE PANELISTS
DUE TO THE SENSITIVE TOPICS, PLEASE READ ALL THE TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE YOU ATTEND.
Solar Pons: The Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street - 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.
The Staying Power of Dracula - 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.
Stranger Than (Fan) Fiction - 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?
A Study in Fan Fiction: A Writing Workshop - A hands-on workshop focusing on the essential writer’s tools of character development and voice.
Variations on a Hound - The Hound of the Baskervilles has been adapted more than any other Sherlock Holmes story, and possibly more than any other book. Let’s get into how very different adaptations of a single story can be by looking at the many, many varieties of Hound.
Victorian Poisons - 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.
Watson is that you? - A round table discussing how we recognize a Watson and what characteristics we expect in adaptations.
ROUNDTABLE
Watson on Watson Violence - Which version of Watson would win in a no-holds barred, ultimate showdown type fight? Joan from Elementary? John from Sherlock? Jude Law Watson from the RDJ movies? John (James) from the original ACD? Would Wilson from "House MD" use those big brown eyes to look extra sad and trick everyone else into backing down? Does Nigel Bruce’s Watson have any secret skills that would come in handy?
What's Good in Queer Media? - 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's New in AUs? - 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.
When the Rose Speaks Its Name Volume 2 sneak preview - 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.
NOT OPEN TO OUTSIDE PANELISTS
Which Jane Austen Heroine Would Make The Best Detective? - And who would be her Watson?
Women of the Canon - Always fashionable. Always making a scene. From Irene to Mary to the many Violets. Let’s discuss the ladies of canon.
Writers Workshop (18+) - The Saturday night con classic returns! Join writers of all stripes and experience for an evening of irreverent advice, saucy speed prompts, and camaraderie!
NOT OPEN TO OUTSIDE PANELISTS
You Named Your Fake Detective Agency "Psych"? As in “gotcha"? - Let’s talk about Psych! How does it work as a Sherlock Holmes adaptation? How does it work in general? Who's Shawn's Moriarity? Is it Despereaux? Yang? Val Kilmer?