“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
– a final thought from Thorin Oakenshield
For many of us Children of the Kindly West, these early weeks of 2026 have been less than kind. Whether it’s weather that has been especially challenging, or news stories more reminiscent of Mordor than Michel Delving, perhaps your thoughts have begun to turn toward seasons of respite and restoration, ideally ones reminiscent of a “proper 1420” in the Shire filled with food, cheer, and friendship.
And we have some options for you! Consider laying out that hoarded gold for one or more of a myriad of opportunities for Tolkien-themed gatherings and events that are richly decorating the 2026 calendar. What better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that culture-shaping event of the 2001 release of Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring than finding a Fellowship of your own?
All you have to decide is what to do with all the options that have been given to you. Here are some 2026 gatherings in the US to get you started.
Following a successful inaugural event in May 2025, our friends at The Tolkien Society are assembling a host of speakers, activities, entertainment, and other Middle-earth goodness for their second annual gathering this spring in Minneapolis. Happening at the Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown, the Moot will feature the Tolkien Society’s classic array of talks, quizzes, lectures, workshops, performances, papers, and discussions. Featured guests already include Signum University’s Sara Brown, an active scholar and podcaster, as well as scientist and writer Kristine Larsen. Making a special appearance will be cartoonist and Edward Gorey fan Tom Racine. Here’s your chance to get an autograph for your copy of his recently published Doomed to Die: An A to Z of Death in Tolkien! Attendees will also have an opportunity to take in a private showing of The Theater in the Round’s new and unique adaptation of The Hobbit. Full conference registration for Tolkien Society members is $350, and $375 for non-members. Virtual participation will also be an option.
This annual gathering of uber-fans hardly needs an introduction. Those Middle-earth mavens fortunate enough to have snagged their badges last fall are now left to speculate: just how much Tolkien content can they expect. Will we see a Rings of Power panel in Hall H should season three be a 2026 possibility? What might we see in the way of unique collectibles, first glimpses and show exclusives during this 25th anniversary of the PJ films? Who knows what untold discoveries are in store for those wandering among artists and exhibitors (like last year’s Middle-earth Enterprises and Weta booths, not to mention our own booth!)? Here’s our recap from last year’s SDCC to whet your appetite.
Our colleagues at The Mythopoeic Society are offering an opportunity to “get your fantasy kicks ” at their 54th more-or-less annual conference, this year held in Weatherford, Oklahoma and taking particular inspiration from the state’s centennial celebration of the famed Route 66. Hosted at the Stafford Air and Space Museum, this year’s Mythcon will feature the Society’s classic combination of scholarship, literary exploration, local color, and cordial common interest in themes fantastic and mythic. As such a classic “Mother Road” might suggest, you can expect discussions revolving around quests and traveling adventures, written and oral traditions, and archived memories worthy of the Great Library of Minas Tirith. Featured guests include author David R. Slayton (White Trash Warlock, which is not about Saruman, and Dark Moon, Shallow Sea); and scholar Dr. Joe R. Christopher, a retired professor of English at Tarleton State University and a prolific essayist with a particular focus on Inklings studies. Mythcon typically attracts 100-200 attendees, and registration is now open, with the full conference set at $110 for Mythopoeic Society members and $125 for non-members. Virtual attendance is also possible.
For any elves, dwarves, hobbits, or humans who happen to reminisce fondly about their summer camping days, this may be exactly the gathering you’re looking for. Brought to us by the same planning team behind the sesquiennial celebration of “A Long-Expected Party” (ALEP), the first ever Camp Eledhrim stays in the Harrodsburg, Kentucky area, but will shift from ALEP’s traditional Shaker Village setting to the new environs of “Camp Horsin’ Around”. This five bunkhouse complex will offer communal (non-private) living arrangements for 140, with dedicated air-conditioned cabins for each of your favorite Tolkien-inspired races (presumably excluding orcs). The classic ALEP offerings of fully catered and Middle-earth-themed meals, immersive decor, lore-driven programming, contests of Third Age skill (including Elvish canoe races), and campfire gatherings will all be available. The new venue will also expand these ALEP traditions to a swimming pool, a rope obstacle course, and – brace for it – Hobbit mini-golf (surely ‘Hobbit-sized-golf’?). A “Bullroarer Memorial Open” seems somehow appropriate. Join and then stay tuned on the ALEP Facebook page for developing details. Having experienced an ALEP event for the first time last September, I can attest that the Fellowship is restorative, the welcome for newcomers as genuine as any Hobbit could wish, the lore conversations deeply satisfying, and the shared merriment infectious. It’s encouraging that our ALEP friends are experimenting with new opportunities to gather more frequently!
Held every Labor Day weekend, Atlanta’s mega-fan gathering is celebrating its 40th year of gathering gamers and geeks, cosplayers and comics enthusiasts, partygoers and patrons of the fantasy arts. And this includes, of course, fans of that great-grandfather of modern fantasy, J.R.R. himself. Dragon Con is a collection of more than 30 mini-conventions, or “tracks” designed to appeal to the full spectrum of interest in fantasy, science fiction, gaming, and fandoms of the fantastic. Across its five downtown host hotels and the Atlanta Merchandise Mart, attendees have the challenge of prioritizing over 1,000 panel offerings, a “Walk of Fame” offering signature opportunities from more than 100 celebrity guests, a four-floor vendors hall and artists market, and themed parties lasting into the wee hours every night. For Tolkien fans, official programming falls under the “High Fantasy” track, and includes everything from a dance party in Bree, to costume contests, to scholarly panels, to creative content like trivia contests and Hobbit drinking songs, to speculation about what we’ll see in upcoming movie and television releases along with other pending Middle-earth fun, all straight from TORn staffers greendragon, deej, and MadeyeGamgee. Beyond the programming, Dragon Con also offers a stunning array of cosplay craftsmanship and photo ops, elven choirs wandering the halls between hotels, and an opportunity to march with fellow Tolkienites in the annual parade down Peachtree Street, an event that attracts many additional thousands. You can purchase passes that cover all five days of the convention, and also individual day passes.
The inaugural Brandywine Festival in October 2025 introduced a completely new North American experience for those wishing to deeply embed themselves in the Hobbit lifestyle through Live Action Role-Playing. Specializing in producing medieval and fantasy-inspired clothing and equipment, the Burgschneider Group is also one of the world’s premier producers of large-scale LARP events. Burgschneider and Middle-earth Enterprises established a licensing arrangement last year that saw a successful Kickstarter campaign mobilizing roughly 1200 Hobbit-hued LARPers, most of whom had never before participated in this kind of event, to assemble for Buckland’s 259th annual Brandywine Festival. It is an astonishing thing to take up residence amongst so many excellent and admirable Hobbits, each with their own backstories, and each fully committed to engage with one another entirely in the spirit and attire of the Shire. A merrier world indeed. Burgschneider’s Chief Creative Officer, Thomas “Beol” Miller, along with the Group President Markus Böhm, describe last year’s Brandywine Festival as a “pilot” event, one offering substantial opportunities for learning and improvement, while also reflecting a spirit and array of fan experiences that was so encouraging that the second annual event this October was automatic. Having been part of that Hobbit throng last year, nearly everyone I spoke with was heartily hoping to be able to return in 2026, from LARP newbies to the few with deep experience at other role-playing events.
The 2026 challenge for Burgschneider will be to apply important lessons learned – improved load-in logistics, a more confined footprint for LARP challenges and game play, some alterations in the camping layout to enhance community interaction, and a better approach to the celebratory banquet toward the end of the event. Simultaneously, they’ll be seeking to preserve those magical elements that so many participants enjoyed – a spontaneously effusive talent show, lore-driven story-lines and non-player characters (we see you, Nerd of the Rings!), and above all the rich array of opportunities to become a part of a thriving Hobbit community, surrounded by feasting and dancing, storytelling and generosity, mathoms and memorable moments. As the on-site lead “Beol” remarked, “Brandywine is providing a Shire sandbox, not an amusement park.” And it’s a wonderful sandbox, indeed. For a firsthand account of the 2025 Brandywine experience, see our very own Happy Hobbit’s (or “Thistle’s”) report here.
For any wondering, the Brandywine Festival 2026 will once again be set in the fall of SR 1418, shortly after one Frodo Baggins has left Bag End, presumably to take up residence in Crickhollow. Every player is invited to develop their own unique character and backstory, and named LotR characters are excluded. While the Shire timeline and venue settings in 2026 repeat last year’s, the LARP story-line and challenges will draw from different elements of Tolkien’s legendarium. We can expect variations on last year’s Ruffians and Spiders and Rangers and Elves (oh my!). Tickets are still available, but being claimed rather rapidly.
Should the San Diego version not be an option, you might consider joining its East Coast cousin for their 20th anniversary this October in the Big Apple! (And yes, that was a subtle second breakfast allusion.) Similar in design to the California convention, NYCC is promising to “pull out all the stops” this year. In addition to all the nerdy goodness you’ll find at the Javits Center in Manhattan, from programming to LotR-focused vendors on the show floor, you’ll also be close to, well, everything else Manhattan has to offer. That includes the classic annual TORn NYC Gathering, which will take place on the Friday evening of the Con. Here’s a reminder of some of the Tolkien fun which was on offer at last year’s event!
Of course, this list is just a sampling of possibilities! There are many other events we could have mentioned, both in the US and internationally: such as WonderCon in Anaheim next month (TORn staffers will be there!); Orlando’s Mega Con in late March, with MANY LotR movie guests; Oxonmoot in Oxford in early September; or the Deutsche Tolkien Gesellschaft’s mid-October Tolkien Seminar 2026 in Augsburg. While Fathom Event’s January theater screenings of the PJ trilogy are now behind us, many other theaters are now following suit as we press deeper into this 25th anniversary year. Or you may wish to take in one or more of the movies accompanied by a live orchestra, with a number of European and North American options already scheduled. And of course in September we’ll host our annual Baggins Birthday Bash on the West Coast – which is always a gathering of special magnificence.
We wish you all the best as you seek your 2026 Fellowship(s)! May they bring you joy and hope! And may the hair on your toes never fall out!
So… Netflix just bought Warner Bros. (Pending regulatory approval…) We all knew WB was up for sale, but Netflix coming out on top was a bit of a plot twist. [Press Release]
Like us, Ringers across the world are asking what this means for Middle-earth on film. Do the rights change? Does this affect ‘Hunt for Gollum?’ Will we be watching the Extended Editions on Netflix next week? We decided to put a little list together to help walk through the big questions fans are already asking and what we actually know.
Does Netflix now own Lord of the Rings?
Nope. That is unless they are buying Embracer… (Which they aren’t)
The core adaptation, merchandising, and related rights are with Embracer’s Middle‑earth Enterprises. WB has been the licensee making the films. Netflix is just buying the parent company that owns the studio which holds that license. Yes, that’s a big deal, but it doesn’t magically move the Tolkien IP to Netflix.
Think of it like Netflix now owns the workshop where Middle-earth movies get built, but not the blueprints.
Does this affect the movies Warner Bros/New Line already made?
Yes – but not in a scary way. The Peter Jackson trilogies, the Hobbit films, and the War of the Rohirrim anime all stay with the studio. Since Netflix is buying the studio, that whole library goes with it. So yes, Netflix now owns those. (Again, once the deal is complete)
Once contracts with other streaming services expire, Netflix will probably want LOTR on their own platform. It’s the Arkenstone, and Netflix likes shiny things.
Illustration from Letters From Father Christmas 2023 ed – Christmas 1934
It’s that most wonderful time of the year again! If you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift for your favourite Tolkien fan, you’ve come to the right place. The staff of TheOneRing.net have put together a list of our favourite items of the year, with price points for every budget.
From our Fellowship to yours, TheOneRing.net would like to wish you all a peaceful and happy holiday season.
Please note, unless otherwise indicated, all prices are in US Dollars.
Demosthenes recommends the Letters from Father Christmas.
Letters from Father Christmas is always a good choice, I think. The illustrations are cute and there’s a dry sense of humour to the letters and I really like how a story gradually evolves over the years.
2020 Centenary Edition
Published to celebrate the first ever ‘letter from Father Christmas’ in 1920, this beautiful oversized edition of Tolkien’s famous illustrated letters from ‘Father Christmas’, includes a wealth of charming letters, pictures and decorated envelopes, and promises to be a festive feast for Tolkien fans of all ages.
The centenary edition of Letters from Father Christmas is available from Harper Collins Australia for AUD$39.99.
Kelvarhin recommends the 2026 Tolkien Calendar: The Great Tales of Middle-earth.
This is the must have, yearly gift for every Tolkien fan, and lovers of Alan Lee’s beautiful artwork.
The official Tolkien calendar, this year containing 13 breathtaking paintings inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s three ‘Great Tales’ of Middle-earth: THE CHILDREN OF HÚRIN, BEREN AND LÚTHIEN and THE FALL OF GONDOLIN. Featuring beautiful artwork by Alan Lee, including a selection of stunning new paintings and drawings appearing here for the first time.
Kristin Thompson recommends a copy of Tolkien’s Medievalism in Ruins: Relics and Ruins in Middle-earth for your academically inclined Tolkien fan.
I just received my copy of TOLKIEN’S MEDIEVALISM IN RUINS: RELICS AND RUINS IN MIDDLE-EARTH, eds. Nick Katsiadas and Carl Sell. I haven’t had a chance to read it but it looks excellent. A good gift for the academic-minded Tolkien fan, but the giver has to have deep pockets and considerable affection for the recipient.
The structural and symbolic purposes of ruins in literary texts have a long history, yet few scholars explore their importance within J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium. From the ruins of Erebor and the relics of Gondolin appearing in The Hobbit to the various images of Amon Sûl, Moria, and Osgiliath in The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien constructs a distinct mood—one that captures characters’ awareness of the glories of the past and a desire to emulate them. The scholars who do engage Tolkien’s relics and ruins tend to limit the scope to Tolkien’s debt to the Middle Ages. While such scholarship begins important conversations, the full story of Tolkien’s relics and ruins is left untold. Tolkien’s Medievalism in Ruins takes corrective action and expands this historical and critical literary scope. This collection seeks to promote a more comprehensive approach to Tolkien’s legendarium.
It’s $150.50 hardback on Amazon and $86.40 for the Kindle version.
Wee Tanya recommends The Bovadium Fragments.
A version of JRRT’s The Bovadium Fragments was released in America on November 18 that includes a forward and context from Christopher Tolkien. TORn’s article about the book is over here. The short story is a satire about Oxford and how congested it was getting from vehicle traffic, as seen from the future, a piece that directly speaks to Tolkien’s nostalgia for an agrarian past and his dislike of the polluting elements of modernity. Here is the blurb: “The first-ever publication of a previously unknown short satirical fantasy by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien, and accompanied by illustrations from the author together with an essay, ‘The Origin of Bovadium,’ by Richard Ovenden OBE. In this new edition, Christopher Tolkien provides notes and commentary that will enable the reader to enjoy at last this tale of an imagined Oxford viewed through the lens of future (and not wholly reliable) academic study.”
Elessar recommends the Aragorn miniature from Weta Workshop.
What disembarked the great ships of Umbar™ were not the expected reinforcements; descending upon the docks was a man, an elf, and a dwarf. The dead soon followed, bound by oaths unfulfilled, their presence like shadow and fear upon the wind. Urged on by the thought of comrades hard-pressed under the siege of death, Aragorn unsheathed his blade and gave the cry of war. Thus, once more, he led the charge into the jaws of darkness.
Or if you want to get in early for next Christmas, or your favourite Tolkien fan’s birthday next year, this miniature of Sharku on Warg is available for pre-order for $179.00 and will ship in early 2026.
An Orc of withered years and many wounds, upon his seamed visage lay records of long strife and harsh labour. Sharkû was a master of the great Wild Wolves, those fell Wargs, whose cunning and savagery few could tame. Long had he dwelt among them, bearing upon his flesh their piercing bites and tearing claws. Yet he endured and, honed by skill and scar, savagely led his pack of unrelenting hunters.
As ever, Oscha have so many gorgeous items – I’d be thrilled to find any of their treasures under my tree! I asked their creators what their own choices would be; they suggested:
For her – Trees of Gondor Ithildin Scarf Elegant and ethical, this organic cotton scarf features the iconic Trees of Gondor—perfect for Tolkien fans who love style with a story.
For him – Treebeard Pine Mug Start the day in Middle-earth style. This bone china mug showcases Treebeard and his classic quote: “The world is changing: I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, and I smell it in the air.”
For little ones – Shire Westfarthing Baby Blanket Wrap them in warmth and whimsy with this super-soft organic cotton blanket, inspired by the peaceful Shire. Lightweight yet cosy, it’s perfect for naps, pram adventures, and treasured keepsake moments.
Oscha also have items perfect for stocking stuffers or secret Santa, with tote bags and tea towels around the $20 mark.
greendragon’s next choice is Geek Orthodox’s stained glass masterpieces
Artist Ian at Geek Orthodox creates the most gorgeous pieces. The great news is, if one of his pieces of glass art work is beyond your budget, he has window cling replicas (of a very high standard) of the stained glass; and he has lovely pins. So there is something to suit every pocket book!
greendragon adds: “And finally, I can’t very well NOT remind folks that there is Green Dragon whiskey out there, from our good friends at Syzygy Forge. To toast the holiday season – cheers, Gaffer!”
It’s Thursday, and already the Marriott hotel in downtown Atlanta is pulsing with music, crowds and excitement. DragonCon is upon us! And staffers from TORn are looking forward to connecting with our fellow fans.
We’ll be at our ‘fan table’ in our usual spot (Hyatt Exhibition Level, opposite the entrance to the Art Show). We have some awesome new buttons for sale, as well as this year’s shirt designs – the Prancing Pony Club:
And Bilbo from the Rankin/Bass The Hobbit:
Please come by the table and say hi. As an added bonus – if you come and tell us something Boromir would have done (in the style of Denethor, a la ‘Boromir would have remembered his father’s need…’), we have a special secret prize for you!
Join us in Bree!
Friday night is of course the annual ‘Evening at Bree‘, starting at 8.30pm. We’re in the Grand Ballroom in the Courtland Grand (same venue as last year), and we’ll have the Brobdingnagian Bards and Beth Patterson playing again, as well as a new (to Bree) band this year, the duo Kinnfolk. The Elf Choir will sing for us, and of course we’ll have the costume contest. (If you’d like to enter, please sign up before the event, either at the High Fantasy Track room: Marriott L401, or at our table.)
Panels
There is lots to enjoy for Tolkien fans this year. TORn’s own panel, ‘An Hour with TheOneRing.net’, when staffers deej, Madeye Gamgee and greendragon will be joined by TORn’s good friend Knewbettadobetta, is Saturday 5.30pm in the Hyatt International South. You can also find greendragon on The Rings of Power Season 2 panel (Friday 1pm, Marriott A601), and join many excellent Tolkien scholars and friends of TORn for ‘Harmony and Dissonance: Creation in Tolkien’s Mythos’ (Sunday 1pm, Marriott L401). For those who stay right through the end of the con, come and Scour the Shire with us at 11.30am on Monday, Marriott L401.
Dance Party
The High Fantasy Track’s ‘Goblin Ball’ goes 90s this year – and our own deej will be DJing once again! Put on your plaid shirt and DMs, apply some frosty lipstick, and come and party 1990s style. We’ll be dancing in the Marriott A601 from 10pm on Sunday night.
As if that weren’t enough…
Tolkien lovers abound at DragonCon this year! Artist Donato Giancola is well-known to fans of Middle-earth, and he’s this year’s Guest of Honour in the Art Show – so be sure to stop by and visit him there. Another featured guest is singer, songwriter, actor and well-known Tolkien fan Jason Charles Miller, who will be performing and appearing in a couple of panels.
In this Collecting the Precious, I thought we’d have a look at a piece from my collection that is from an area of Middle-earth that means a lot to me, Gondor. I love it’s entire history from all the bits of lore we know, from it’s earliest beginnings in Numenor, through to the restoration of the High Kings throne by King Elessar.
This review covers one of that cultures greatest heroes; King Elendil. I’ve loved the armour since I saw The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring almost 25 years ago. I was lucky that many years ago my Dad got me the King Elendil bust, but as the years went on I very much wanted a statue of this character. Finally after 20+ years it got announced and it sits proudly in my collection. If you’re looking for this statue now, you will have to look for it on the secondary market, because it is long sold out. So I wish you the best of luck on your hunt. I hope you enjoy this look at one of my favourite pieces made by Weta Workshop.
San Diego Comic Con is almost upon us – and we are looking forward to seeing our fellow fans there. Here are some of the things Tolkien fans can look forward to this year:
First and foremost, be sure to visit us at Booth #1934. There will be so much going on there! We’ll have our two new shirts designs for 2025 – official licensed apparel, a steal at just $30 each.
AND as if that wasn’t enough – returning to SDCC is the legend himself JED BROPHY, who will be signing all weekend at TORN’s booth #1934. Jed is the only actor to feature in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit trilogy, AND The Rings of Power. Plus he is a fabulous guy – don’t miss your chance to meet him and snag an autograph.
More booths – don’t miss them!
When you’ve had your fill at TORn’s booth, you might stroll across the aisle and visit incredible artist Jerry Vanderstelt at #1931. You’ll want to check out all his art – and in particular, he has created a new original artwork based on the Rankin/Bass animated The Hobbit. There will be FREE prints of this amazing masterpiece – but to claim them, you’ll have to go on a quest to another booth… Middle-earth Enterprises are making their first con appearance ever, inside the Dark Horse booth #2615. We’ll say no more about it, except that you will NOT WANT TO MISS IT! The Vanderstelt prints are not the only treasures to be claimed there…
Our good friends Weta Workshop return to SDCC after a five year absence, with a big new booth #3613. You’ll also find the wonderful Badali Jewelry near door A at booth #715.
Panels to share all the latest news and views!
If you can tear yourself away from such an exciting show floor, we have PANELS for you:
Friday 2.30pm, Room 5AB: The Lord of the Rings: What’s Next?
This is TORn’s own, unofficial panel; which means you’ll get all the latest gossip and grist from the rumour mill! Our ears are to the ground and we have thoughts to share on all the goodies coming up in Tolkiendom. What will we see in The Rings of Power Season 3? When will we be hunting for Gollum…? Join us to speculate!
Sunday 2.15pm, Room 6BCF: Middle-earth: The Adventure Ahead
For this panel, TORn is collaborating with Middle-earth Enterprises to bring you official news from Weta Workshop, The Brandywine Festival, Return to Moria and more – all the latest announcements from Middle-earth Enterprises and their licensees. And there may be some very special guests!
Phew! So much to keep us all busy – and this is supposedly a ‘quiet’ year!! We don’t have an official party or offsite experience happening this year; we are drawing breath before the big year with all that will be happening in 2026! BUT there is so much to see and visit on the show floor, and we hope to see you at our booth #1934, and at our panels. Hanging with our fellow fans – it doesn’t get better than this! See you in San Diego!
Oh and – if you can’t make it to San Diego, or if you just know you’re going to have the post con blues a week from now, then you should plan on going on Comic Con The Cruise! It’s next January – but right now we are giving you the chance to WIN a Cruise for Two! Don’t delay – enter today!
