MicroCon in the world's largest and niftiest gathering of micronations. First held in 2015 in California, MicroCon has a long and proud tradition and has been the origin of some of micronationalism's deepest friendships and most exciting initiatives.
In 2025, the Aerican Empire had the honour and pleasure of hosting MicroCon in Montreal, Canada. Initially a joint venture with the Newgraviate of Saint-Castin, and the Principality of Sancratosia, the Aerican Empire became the sole host due to irreconcilable disagreements about how the event should be hosted. Still, the Empire was and to this day remains very grateful for these nations' contributions to MicroCon.
MicroCon 2025 was held at Hotel Ruby Foo’s in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Opened in 1962, Hotel Ruby Foo’s is a Montreal institution known for its unique architectural style and Asian influences. It was chosen as the venue because of its excellent balance between classy comfort and affordable price, as well as its perfect location in a safe, walkable part of Montreal, a mere few minutes’ walk from some of the city’s most beloved restaurants, and right on several major public transit routes.
An amazing list of micronations attended the event:
Æfira
Aerica
Aethodia
Aigues-Mortes
Avant Garde Irz
Baustralia
Belmoor
Bir Tawil
Checkland
Curnon
Cycoldia
Dracul
Eldonia
Engledom
Fergus
Flandrensis
Formori Institute
Ironland
Karnia-Ruthenia
Ladonia
Liahonia
Molossia
New Athens
New Nidaros
New Rubix
Nolandia
North Barchant
Pearson Republic
Pibocip
Pontunia
Quackers
Rastonia
Rosellia
Roseson
Ruritania
S-A. Holdings
Domain and Realms of the Shadows and the Darkness
Slabovia
Slowjamastan
Soundland
Sylvestria
Tsveykhland
Turisa
Vallant
West Who
Westarctica
Zaqistan
MicroCon's many events were spread out over four days:
The very first event of MicroCon 2025 was an informal welcome reception, which also featured one of the most popular events at any MicroCon: the trivia night, hosted by Commodore Jonathan Miller of Molossia in collaboration with the Nemean Games and the Micronational Olympic Federation.
Four teams competed to answer trivia questions and unscramble anagrams. The night was won by the Desert Penguins, an international team comprised of members from Aethodia, Dracul, Ironland, Molossia, and Westarctica.
The first full day of events began with a walking tour of downtown Montreal led by Cloe, Sovereign Princess of Sancratosia, and Minister-President Dominic Desaintes-Bellemare of Saint-Castin.
That afternoon, competitors met at a nearby park for the Nemean Games, a series of sporting events operated by the Micronational Olympic Federation. Dozens of micronationalists competed to win the coveted gold, silver and bronze medals.
That evening was the formal diplomatic reception, where guests showed up in full finery to meet, eat and mingle.
The main day of MicroCon 2025 consisted of the conference and presentations followed by the gala dinner. The biggest and most anticipated part of any MicroCon, the Gala Dinner is a chance for micronationalists to arrive in their most impressive fancy dress. In accordance with Aerican Empire customs, this includes pajamas and Kigurumis, and some guests made the sophisticated choice to come in their finest sleepwear. The gala dinner was also an opportunity for micronationalists to hand out medals and otherwise recognize each others’ hard work in the community.
The Presentations
| Presenter | Abstract |
|
Anna Ralls-Ulrich Circle of Belmoor |
Heraldry: A Primer for Micronations This presentation goes over the basics of heraldry for micronations and how the principles of heraldry can assist micronationalists in creating flags and coats of arms, as well as the essentials for creating and keeping an armorial. |
| Olivier de Constance and Jennifer Rioux Principality of Aigues-Mortes |
The Role of Micronations in Humanitarian Action Certaines micronations revendiquent des actions caritatives. Quels sont leurs impacts réels ? Quelles sont les actions qui sont menées et comment ? Quel peut être le rôle social et culturel que certaines micronations africaines peuvent jouer ? |
| Dr. Phillip J. Pillin Kingdom of Pibocip |
The Sovereignty of Micronations: How Micronationalism Can Raise Awareness for Global Geopolitical Issues This presentation is an adaptation of the one given on the topic of sovereignty at MicroCon 2022. This presentation is aimed at considering how Micronationalism can raise awareness of global geopolitical issues in the "macro-national" community. Since micronations are not typically separatist movements seeking largescale acceptance, how can a micronation explicitly express sovereignty (even if limited) on a day-to-day scale? By understanding the implications of the concept of "sovereignty," the presentation asks what lessons we can learn at a macro level so as to avoid continuing to make the same geopolitical mistakes. The presentation also draws upon, and expands, the themes of the common good discussed at the last MicroCon. |
| Dr. Elaine Holden Grand Duchy of Flandrensis |
Educational Importance for Teaching Micronations This presentation will have a two-fold purpose. First, the understanding and appreciation of micronations is common to adults. Children, however, and not directly or frequently exposed to this, or any model of government. Yet, the creation and running of a micronation is an exceptional way to bring the abstract concepts of government creation and management down to a concrete level, which is where most children operate. As we know, a government is only as strong as its citizenry, and with the experience of the actual creation and running of a micronation, children will gain the necessary familiarity and understanding to make them strong participants, as adults, in other governmental organizations. I contend that micronations, while enticing to adults, need to be brought to the forefront of childhood education, beginning at the elementary level. All too frequently the abstract instructional methodologies associated with traditional educational practices leaves too many children still without the necessary, practical knowledge of how governments operate. Direct instruction through actual creation of a micronation helps to develop the concrete understanding of governance, along with the training needed to help develop leadership qualities in children. Second, this presentation is also a call to researchers, or to those micronation representatives who can encourage researchers, for inspiring investigation into the positive academic and personal outcomes of children who have directly participated in the creation, development, and administration of a micronation. We currently have insufficient research with respect to changing educational instructional practices, and only through compiling a greater number of studies supporting the explicit building of micronations will we be able to support instructional improvement. |
| Bennie Ferguson Kingdom of Fergus |
The Capricious Nature of Nationhood This presentation will consist of an account of micronationalist studies in academia, specifically my own work. The definition of a "nation," academically and under international law will be discussed. The importance of scholars within the micronationalist community will be emphasized, as well as the establishment of micronations as academic projects. |
| King George 2.0 Slabovia |
Staying Legal: Keeping Your Micronation Out of the News, And Yourself Out of Jail At first glance, incarceration might seem to offer some amazing opportunities for the new micronation. After all, you have a ready-made population in the form of your fellow inmates, provided you can stay out of solitary confinement. Furthermore, you will get some "land of your own", albeit it will measure only six feet by eight feet, you will have to share your territory with a cellmate, and its sovereignty will frequently be impinged by mandatory inspections by the guards. However, while such a stay may give you ample time to work on your micronation, the flow of essential supplies will be tightly controlled by the warden, and for some items you may have to pay a premium on the black market. Therefore, we do not recommend exploring this avenue of micronation development. To that end, this presentation will focus on avoiding certain potential pitfalls which could result in your micronation being sponsored by the Department of Corrections for the next ten to twenty years, depending on the judge's mood... |
| Clark Morber Republic of Soundland |
Crafting A Micronation That Serves This presentation will explore how to build a strong, lasting, and successful micronational democracy. Drawing from my own experience as the founder and President of the Republic of Soundland, I will offer both conceptual and practical guidance for all micronational leaders who seek to develop good government within their own nations. I will break down what it means to create a respected nation by offering attendees with advice that goes beyond typical guides and dives into creating something that lasts - with purpose. Through lessons learned in founding and leading Soundland for almost five years as a foundationally democratic state focused on its people's needs, I will walk attendees through actionable approaches to how to build and strengthen institutions, create a sense of national identity, engage citizens, and develop meaningful representation. The presentation will address essential questions: What does it mean to be a democratic micronation? How can tiny, largely unrecognized nations operate with legitimacy? I wish to help other micronationalists take home concepts and lessons that they can apply so that their nation finds legitimacy through serving its citizens with meaningful, representative governance. Beyond structure and process, the presentation will also touch on broader and essential topics of micronationalism seeking to address frequent questions about the field, why micronations exist, and how they represent an increasingly relevant and meaningful form of sovereignty in a rapidly changing and disillusioned world. |
| Sogoln yg Ysca Formori Community |
From Myth to Identity: Cultural Nationhood Beyond the State Most micronations adopt structures based on existing governments, but some do away with hierarchy and instead focus on building a community instead. This talk explores one example of a non-governmental micronation and considers what lessons it can teach us all about doing things differently. |
| Mark Corona Republic of Slowjamastan |
A Car Fit for a King: Transforming Your Vehicle from Civilian to Federal - The Dos and Don’ts and How to Stay Out of Jail Join Chief Mark Corona of Slowjamastan for "A Car Fit for a King," a lively guide to transforming everyday vehicles into official micronational icons. Learn the dos and don’ts of custom decals, lights, and sirens—plus how to avoid legal trouble while turning heads. Featuring real-world examples like Slowjamastan’s legendary “Porder Batrol” truck, police cruiser, and fire engine, this presentation is packed with practical tips, creative inspiration, and cautionary tales. Whether you're building your nation's first patrol car or presidential limo, this is the roadmap to making it official—without getting pulled over. |
| Asa Ward Unitary Republic of Curnon |
The Fun Way to Freedom How micronations can fight discrimination in their local communities. Using real life examples such as the Gay and Lesbian kingdom of the coral sea islands, diving into how different micronations may prioritize rights differently from purely dedicated to the cause to simply having basic rights, and supporting fighting discrimination worldwide, Ending in a passionate and proud call to action. |
| Michael Farr Republic of West Who |
Does Your Micronation Need a Judicial System? What Are the Benefits? Judges and courts are vital to the strength of a micronation, providing legitimacy, stability, and a structured process for handling conflicts. Even a small nation needs a Supreme Court or High Court to guarantee that laws are applied consistently, safeguard freedoms, and support the peaceful growth of its society. A justice system lends credibility to the government and strengthens a nation’s claim to sovereignty. A well-functioning judiciary helps to demonstrate that even the smallest of nations are committed to protecting the rights of their people through fair and orderly processes. This short presentation will include a one-and-a-half-minute video explaining how the West Who Supreme Court operates. It will discuss how the Supreme Court interprets the nation’s constitution, resolves actual disputes, and protects individual rights, playing a crucial role in maintaining order and justice. |
| Mary Yar Bir Tawil |
Bir Tawil: The Terra That’s Not So "Nullius" Bir Tawil is a small, diamond-shaped piece of land between Egypt and Sudan with one of the most curious stories in modern geography. Its origins trace back to the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement of January 19, 1899, which set the border between Egypt and Sudan along the 22nd parallel north. When the British redrew the boundary in 1902 along ethnic and administrative lines, two conflicting borders emerged. After Egypt's independence in 1922 and Sudan’s in 1956, each claimed the border that granted them the Halayeb Triangle—leaving Bir Tawil unclaimed by either nation. Long described as “uninhabited,” Bir Tawil is, in reality, home to a small but steadily growing community. Expeditions in 2019 revealed active gold mines, settlements, and even a modest town. Driven by Sudan’s booming gold industry, miners from regions such as Darfur have joined the Ababda tribesmen who call the area home—now estimated at around 4,000 residents. My presentation parallels Bir Tawil and my own micronation, The Principality of Bir Tawil, to the story of Seborga in Italy—another small territory that embraced its peculiar status to build a sense of identity and attract visitors. While my micronation is not a serious political project. I created it because I believe Bir Tawil has the potential to follow a similar path—using its unique story to draw interest and visitors, foster pride, and share its growing identity with the world. |
| Eric Czuleger Nolandia |
Nolandia This presentation was given and filmed as part of a forthcoming documentary. |
| Animated by Jordan Farmer Commonwealth de Dracul |
10 Years of MicroCon: The Show Must Go Wrong In this hilarious panel, hosts from all prior MicroCons sat down together and discuss what went right and what went gloriously wrong during the process of hosting. All hosts reflected on the same theme: hosting MicroCon was a wonderful and challenging opportunity and none of them would ever want to do it again. Panel: President Kevin Baugh & Adrianne Baugh, Republic of Molossia Grand Duchess Juliana, Kingdom of Ruritania King George 2.0, Slabovia Grand Duke Travis, Grand Duchy of Westarctica |
To close MicroCon 2025, attendees were invited to bowling at Quilles G plus Rose Bowl, a popular Montreal hangout. Although most of MicroCon attendees had to leave Montreal too early to attend (or else had tired themselves out too much partying the night before!), about a dozen people joined in the fun.
The Menus
Trivia Night:
Prosciutto and mozzarella focaccia
Grilled vegetables with feta focaccia
Chef’s salad and deluxe Caesar salad
Pulled chicken and rotini
Conference lunch:
Green salad with house vinaigrette
Coleslaw
Couscous tabbouleh
Mediterranean chicken
Atlantic salmon with cream of dill
Vegetarian stuffed zucchini
Assorted desserts with fruits
Gala dinner:
Cavatelli in mushroom sauce
Greek salad with sundried tomatoes and Caesar salad
Butter chicken
Atlantic salmon with cream of dill
Baked potatoes
Fresh vegetables
Crème brûlée with Fruit salad