PolaCon
Updated: Sep 19
Polacon 11 - september 25 - september 27, 2026
PolaCon 11 is the world's first 3-day instant film conference, and it's back for its 11th year! PolaCon brings instant film lovers together for a weekend of shooting, sharing, and learning 📸. From photo walks to hands-on workshops, you’ll have plenty of chances to load your camera, meet fellow shooters, and see what’s possible with instant film.
Things will kick off with our 15th Annual State Fair Of Texas PolaWalk on that Friday. Then, a full day of workshops and demos on Saturday. Then, on Sunday, more community, photo walks, and opportunities to take in the wonders of Denton, TX, with your camera. And, we're partnering with Meow Wolf for special Day 0 programming on Thursday, Sept. 24. More details soon!
What your three-day pass gets you: Instant Film Society is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to education and promoting the art of instant film photography. Your ticket price supports our efforts, provides the resources necessary to stage PolaCon, and ensures the future of PolaCon for the entire instant film community. Thank you for your support!
PolaCon is a rain or shine event!
FULL PolaCon 11 SCHEDULE:
Day Zero (Thursday, 9/24)
Note: Day Zero events are not included in the PolaCon 11 ticketing options.
3:00 PM—Denton at Free Play, 101 W. Hickory St.For the early birds, Free Play arcade opens at 3:00 PM. For $12.89 entry fee (plus tax) attendees get unlimited play on 120+ arcade games and pinball machines! Note: On Thursdays, drafts are 40% off!! Open until 2:00 AM. Keep your wrist band on for reentry all day.
7:00 PM—Meow Wolf Grapevine, 3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy. Suite 253, Grapevine, TXAdulti-Verse: Double Exposure—The PolaCon After Dark Show with performances by Amy H. Graves, August Edwards, Daniel Deon, Scott Skyy, and Mystique Summers Madison. Doors open 7:00 PM. Note: 21 & up with a valid photo ID. Tickets $41–56 (plus tax/fees). You can also arrive earlier in the day to fully explore Meow Wolf with entry times to The Real Unreal as early as 10:00 AM.
For full details, see the event page: https://tickets.meowwolf.com/events/grapevine/adulti-verse---double-exposure-the-polacon-after-dark-show09-24-2026/
Day 1 (Friday, 9/25)
11:00 AM—Fair Park, Dallas: 15th Annual IFS Rain-or-Shine PolaWalk at the State Fair of Texas
Join us for a day of film, fun, and community as we celebrate instant film photography in one of the largest surviving Art Deco complexes remaining in the US. Opened in 1886, the park was reimagined and redesigned for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition and features a large collection of Art Deco buildings, sculptures, and murals. More info: https://bigtex.com/about-us/faq/
A ticket to PolaCon is NOT required to join us for this annual photowalk, but you must have a ticket to the State Fair to enter Fair Park.
The parking gates and ticket booths open daily at 9:30 AM, before the fair’s gates open at 10:00. Feet free to arrive early and start snapping frames.
We’ll meet for the photowalk BEHIND Big Tex first at noon, then again at 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM. Each time, we’ll gather in the shade nearby. (Look for the heels of Big Tex’s boots.) We’ll take our customary big group Polaroid at the 2:30 PM meetup.
Note: Plan to arrive at Fair Park about 30–45 minutes before your preferred scheduled meetup to give yourself time to enter the gates, find your bearings, and walk to Big Tex.
A State Fair of Texas instant film scavenger hunt list will be posted by noon on Day Zero. All cameras are welcome on the photowalk, but entries for the scavenger hunt at the fair must be instant film photographs.
Attendees should feel free to stay with the group or to wander off and choose their own adventure until the next meetup time.
Noon–6:00 PM—Denton at Harvest House, 331 E. Hickory St.A lower-key hangout for those who arrive later or who want to skip the crowds of the fairgrounds, featuring a special instant film exhibition. Attendees can also head to the Courthouse-on-the-Square to view the Polaroids of the Instant Film Society exhibition.
7:00 PM–midnight—Denton at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, 411 E. Sycamore St.“Welcome to Denton!” Party at the Photo Studios & The Slab. We’ll have two studios set up with backgrounds, strobes, continuous lighting, colored gels, and other fun surprises. All-in pass holders also get admission to see bands on all three Rubber Gloves stages Friday night.
Day 2 (Saturday, 9/26)
8:30–11:00 AM—Mural PolaWalk ‘Round The SquareGather and caffeinate at Jupiter House. Walk begins at 9:00 SHARP and ends at the Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum at 11:00.
11-11:30 PM—Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum to view Polaroids of the Instant Film Society exhibition on all three floors. The museum has A/C, elevators, water fountains, and restrooms.
Noon to 5:00 PM—Zines & Things Swap Meet, Rubber Gloves Rehearsal StudiosAn original PolaCon tradition! Vendors and attendees sell and swap zines, photobooks, prints, buttons, and more. You may also find cameras and expired film.
Programming Schedule: All Day—Fox Tintype: Tintype Portraits
Noon—IFS Board of Directors: Welcome Address
12:15 PM—Fox Tintype: Tintype Portraits (continuing all day)
12:15 PM—Alexas Monroe & Daniel Rodrigue: Cyanotypes
12:45 PM—Adrian Garcia Mendez: Instant Film Zines
1:30 PM—Brian Brooks: Polaroid Emulsion Lifts
2:00 PM—Mario Machon: Large Format (4x5) RA4 Presentation & Photobooth
2:30 PM—Will Malone: Double Exposures
3:00 PM—OpenSX70 w/ Brooklyn Film Camera and Zane Pollard
4:00 PM—Michael Aaron: The Art & Practice of Photographing Queer Nightlife on Polaroid Film
4:30 PM—Brooklyn Film Camera: Experimenting w/ Filters & Lights
5:00 PM—IFS Board & Special Guests: State of the Emulsion Panel Discussion
6:00–8:00 PM—Dinner break
PolaCon After Dark Demonstration (21+):
8:00 PM—Michael Aaron with a special “After Dark” session further exploring the art and practice of photographing queer nightlife on Polaroid film.
8:00 PM–Late—Evening EntertainmentAll-in pass holders get admission to the evening’s live music performances and a Y2K Futurism Rave.
For all other attendees, we’ll have several cool activities and more surprises Saturday evening, plus the Photo Studios open again.
Day 3 (Sunday, 9/27)
Noon–6:00 PM—Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial St.Back by popular demand: PamFood Brunch until 3:00 PM or the food sells out. Fixed price $20 for a plate. Vegan options and grab-and-go items available.
Programming Schedule: Noon—Gather for Brunch while DJ Fraîche Printz spins vinyl records on the patio
12:30 PM—Lou Noble: On the Evolution of his Polaroid Work 1996–2026
1:30 PM—Brian Brooks: How to Bleach Peel-Apart Film Negatives
2:00 PM— Mario Machon: Polaroid Polyptychs & Collages
3:00 PM—Daniel Rodrigue: Hands-on w/ Creative & Special Effects Filters
3:30 PM—Andy Odom: Instant Film Printers
4:00 PM—Zachary Hazlett: SX-70 Mods & Making Magic Frame Film
5:00 PM—Martin Souza: Getting Closer: Telephoto Lenses on the SX-70
7:00 PM—Day 3 Wrap Party at Rubber Gloves
This special night is free for all PolaCon 11 attendees. Performances by The Side Chicks, Smothered, Calling Shot, and DJ NODAD.
WHERE TO STAY IN DENTON
Denton is located 40 miles north of Dallas and 25 miles north of DFW Airport.
We've partnered with Home2 Suites to provide a limited number of discounted rooms. Book before 9/17 to take advantage of this deal.
For other options, we recommend you book early for the best selection of nearby hotels, AirBnBs, and B&Bs. Saturday and Sunday's events will all take place within a very walkable, picturesque 0.9-mile area around the historic Denton Square, so we recommend staying as close to downtown Denton as you can.
Check out Denton accommodations here: discoverdenton.com/where-to-stay/
Check out Denton accommodations here: discoverdenton.com/where-to-stay/
Volunteer for PolaCon 11!
Present at PolaCon 11!
Sell at the Zines & Things Swap Meet!
Follow @instantfilmsociety and @pola.con on Instagram and Facebook for more details as they develop. Stay tuned for schedule updates, presenter announcements, and more!
Thanks to our sponsors:
Polaroid
Denton Camera Exchange
Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios
Harvest House
Dan's Silverleaf
Comments