A convention, in the sense of a meeting, is a gathering of individuals who meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest. The most common conventions are based upon industry, profession, and fandom. Trade conventions typically focus on a particular industry or industry segment, and feature keynote speakers, vendor displays, and other information and activities of interest to the event organizers and attendees. Professional conventions focus on issues of concern along with advancements related to the profession. Such conventions are generally organized by societies or communities dedicated to promotion of the topic of interest. Fan conventions usually feature displays, shows, and sales based on pop culture and guest celebrities. Science fiction conventions traditionally partake of the nature of both professional conventions and fan conventions, with the balance varying from one to another. Conventions also exist for various hobbies, such as gaming or model railroads.
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, late 2004.
Wikimania 2006: Photo of some participants during the lunch break. Wikimania is an international conference of users of Wikipedia and other projects operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, which has been held annually since 2005.
Lecture during the summer meeting of the Association of North German Surgeons in the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania State Parliament building.
A fandom is a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of camaraderie with others who share a common interest. Fans typically are interested in even minor details of the objects of their fandom and spend a significant portion of their time and energy involved with their interest, often as a part of a social network with particular practices, differentiating fandom-affiliated people from those with only a casual interest.
Cosplayer dressed as Katniss Everdeen during the Montreal Comiccon, July 2015
Banquet at the 14th World Science Fiction Convention in New York City in 1956
Fan art for the Sherlock TV series on an English telephone booth
An example of the furry fandom, a cartoon of an "anthro vixen"