A deep dive into the origins, impact, and future of Luxembourg’s sci-fi and fantasy phenomenon with Gérard Kraus.

The air in the Forum Geesseknäppchen is thick with the hum of anticipation. Cosplayers adjust their costumes, authors flip through freshly printed novels, and gamers strategise over boards of miniatures. At the centre of it all stands Gérard Kraus: teacher, nerd, and the towering, gentle force behind LuxCon, Luxembourg’s annual celebration of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

Kraus is a man of contradictions. His imposing height is offset by a soft-spoken demeanour, his British accent (a remnant of his MA in Science Fiction Studies from the University of Liverpool) a stark contrast to his Luxembourgish roots. He speaks with the measured patience of an educator, but his eyes light up when he talks about the worlds that exist beyond reality, worlds he has spent a lifetime exploring, and now, helping others discover.

From Tribbles to Tétange

Kraus’s journey into the realms of sci-fi and fantasy began in the living rooms of 1980s Luxembourg. “I remember watching Star Trek on one of the German channels at my grandma’s,” he recalls. “It was the Tribbles episode. These furry little things just dropped down on Captain Kirk. I was fascinated.” The year was likely 1986 or 1987, and Kraus, born in 1978, was just a child. But the seed was planted.

His early years were a patchwork of sci-fi and fantasy influences. “There were these sci-fi adjacent kids’ TV shows that the Germans and French were broadcasting,” he says. “And then there was E.T. I don’t remember connecting with the movie itself, but I do remember wearing an E.T. T-shirt in kindergarten. My dad tells this story about how I won a plastic E.T. from a claw machine at the kermesse. He gave me 20 francs, thinking I’d never win. I got it on the first try.”

The 1980s and 1990s were formative decades for Kraus. He devoured Japanese anime on French TV, followed the wave of Japanese pop culture that hit Luxembourg in the early 1990s, and immersed himself in the worlds of Masters of the Universe and Star Wars, first through novelisations, then through the films. “I didn’t actively pursue it at first,” he admits. “But in 1994 or 1995, I really dove back in through games. That’s when I discovered Star Wars properly, through the books, and then went back to the movies.”

But it wasn’t just about consumption. Kraus and his friends were creators, too. “We tried to put together a Nintendo fan magazine,” he laughs. 

The Social Fabric of Fandom

For Kraus, sci-fi and fantasy were never just about the stories, they were about the people. “A lot of it was social,” he explains. “We’d hang out in a friend’s basement, watch Star Trek: The Next Generation, chat about TV shows at school. We’d go to Trier just to pick up the latest Star Wars novelisations because you couldn’t get them in Luxembourg. We’d read them voraciously.”

The 1990s also marked his introduction to role-playing games. “Eventually, we got into Dungeons & Dragons,” he says. These shared experiences forged bonds that lasted decades. Kraus suggests they were adjacent to groups like the metalheads with their patched denim jackets. “There was definitely a social fuel to it.”

The Birth of LuxCon: A Community’s Dream Realized

The idea for LuxCon emerged from a simple, almost rhetorical question: Why doesn’t Luxembourg have its own convention? Kraus was part of a group of friends who met monthly, and went to conventions abroad. One day he thought: Somebody should do something about this. “Eventually, we realised that if we didn’t do it, nobody would.”

The first LuxCon, held in 2014, was a leap of faith. “We thought if we got 500 people, that would be great,” Kraus says. “But 1,300 showed up.” The event quickly outgrew its original venue in Tétange, moving to Dudelange and eventually to Luxembourg City. “By the third year, we had over 3,000 people,” Kraus says. “With all of the traffic chaos that that entailed.”

The convention’s rapid growth reflected a deeper hunger in Luxembourg’s cultural landscape. “There was this appetite for people to come together around the things they love,” Kraus explains. “To exchange ideas, discover new things, and just be themselves.” LuxCon became a safe space for fans to explore their passions without judgment. “People can live the life they imagine, even if it’s just for a weekend,” Kraus says. “That’s what we wanted to create.”

The Role of Sci-Fi and Fantasy in Luxembourg

Kraus is acutely aware of the cultural perceptions surrounding sci-fi and fantasy. “It’s always existed on the margins,” he says. “Every now and then, something like Game of Thrones or The Handmaid’s Tale breaks through, but for the most part, it’s still seen as niche.” Arguably, that’s where it thrives and has the freedom to be wild, creative, and completely different.

He points to the resurgence of dystopian literature as an example. “Books like 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale have never been out of print,” he notes. “Since 2016, their sales have skyrocketed. People are looking at these stories with new eyes, seeing the warnings they contain. They’re not just entertainment, they’re reflections of our world.”

Kraus also highlights the role of sci-fi and fantasy in shaping real-world innovation. “Engineers and scientists make things happen, but sci-fi writers have already imagined the consequences,” he says. He cites Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, which have been integrated into robotics regulations in some countries. The power of speculative fiction being that it doesn’t just predict the future; it helps us navigate it.

The Heart of LuxCon: Community and Connection

At its core, LuxCon is about bringing people together. “We want to create a space where someone who loves cosplay can walk away having talked to an author, or where a gamer can discover miniature painting,” Kraus says. “It’s about breaking down barriers and making connections.”

The convention’s programming reflects this ethos. Workshops, cosplay contests, author panels, and gaming tournaments are all designed to encourage interaction. It attracts people from all walks of life. Kraus is particularly proud of the convention’s role in nurturing local talent. “We’ve had young authors, artists, and cosplayers who got their start at LuxCon,” he says. “We want to put a young Luxembourgish author next to a Hugo Award winner and let them chat over coffee. Those kinds of connections are priceless.”

The Future of LuxCon: Passing the Torch

As LuxCon approaches its 12th edition, Kraus is thinking about the future. “We’ve had shifts in the team,” he says. “Young people are bringing new energy and ideas. That’s how it should be.” He’s focused on sustainability, both in terms of the event’s organisation and its impact on the community. “I’m not getting any younger,” he laughs. “It’s important to share what I know and make sure LuxCon continues to thrive.”

Kraus is also excited about the potential for LuxCon to inspire other initiatives in the Greater Region. “When we started, there wasn’t much here,” he says. “Now, we’re seeing more conventions, more clubs, more events.” He points to the success of local clubs like the Star Wars fan group and the Ghostbusters team, both of which were born out of connections made at LuxCon. 

A Final Thought: Why LuxCon Matters

For Kraus, LuxCon is more than just a convention, it’s a celebration of what makes us human. “We make people's lives happier by organising it,” he says. 

As the doors of LuxCon 2026 open, Kraus’s vision is clear: to keep creating a space where imagination is celebrated, where connections are forged, and where everyone, from the seasoned fan to the curious newcomer, can find a place to belong.

LuxCon 2026 takes place April 18–19 at Forum Geesseknäppchen, Luxembourg City. 

For more information, visit luxcon.lu