THE MINISTRY OF STEAMPUNK
About the Steampunk Weekend in Lincoln
If you are local to Lincoln this page is for you
What is 'Steampunk'?
Every generation imagines what the future will be like. Back in Victorian times, science fiction writers imagined a world with marvellous machines powered by steam, travelling to the bottom of the seas, the centre of the earth and out into space. The origins of Steampunk came from that imagined future, with elaborately dressed people carrying fantastical gadgets and doing exciting things.
Over time Steampunk has become a thriving social scene combining all the 'best bits' of Victorian England (charm, elegance, style, long frocks, politeness) with imagination, invention and humour. It is inclusive and strives to be accessible, open and welcoming. There are steampunk fashions, literature, music, events and more.​​​​​​​
What is the Steampunk event that happens in Lincoln?​
Back in 2009 a group of Steampunks arranged to spend a weekend together at The Lawn, a former mental Asylum in Lincoln. Because it was a Weekend at a former Asylum, the event was named 'Weekend at the Asylum'. That is still the official name of the event, even though most Steampunks just call it 'The Asylum' and many Lincoln locals refer to it simply as the 'Steampunk event'.
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Will the event be held in Lincoln in 2026?
Yes, 'Weekend at the Asylum' will be returning to Lincoln over the Bank Holiday weekend 25-28 August 2026. This will be the sixteenth time the event has been held (we missed a couple of years due to the pandemic) so it is Asylum 16. We have exciting plans for Asylum 16 which you can find out about on other pages of this website.​​​​​​​​​​
Is there a special theme this year?
Yes, this will be the 'Year of the Dragon' - hence the picture of a dragon on this year's Asylum medal. Lucy and Norman (the castle's resident dragons) have been a popular with visitors for many years, so we thought we would link into the dragon theme for this year's Staempunk event. The picture above is the artwork sent to the manufacturers. When we receive stock of the medals we will add a picture of the 'real thing'.
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If you would like your own dragon medal, incidentally, they will be available to pre-order from the Ministry of Steampunk webpage - see the merchandise link at the bottom of this page. If there are any left over when the event starts on Friday 28 August they will be available for sale from Event Control in Castle Square, but they tend to sell out within an hour or two, so if you would like one it is best to pre-order it.
How is the event funded?
Weekend at the Asylum is first and foremost a Steampunk Convention, meaning an event where Steampunks come together to celebrate their social scene, meet up with friends, listen to music, attend talks, take part in workshops and competitions and so on. The majority of steampunks who come to the event buy an event wristband from the organisers who are called the Ministry of Steampunk. This is the ONLY source of income that the event receives. The event does not receive any grant income from any national or local bodies. The Lincoln City and Lincolnshire Councils, Castle and Lincoln BIG do help with some infrastructure costs but do not make any financial contribution to the entertainments that are provided for and by those attending the convention.
How can Lincoln locals become involved?
​There are several ways that you can become involved in Weekend at the Asylum. To enjoy the best possible experience you can buy an event wristband from the Ministry of Steampunk, either in advance through their website or at Event Control in Castle Square. A wristband gives you access to all of the Steampunk content in the castle (some areas are accessible only to wristband holders) but you can also go into the County Assembly Rooms where lots more is happening and into the Westgate Academy too. By buying either a weekend or a single day wristband you are contributing to the costs of running the event, which is both the biggest and longest running Steampunk event in the world and now the biggest event in the Lincoln calendar. You don't have to be dressed up to buy a wristband and have a fabulous experience.
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Another way of experiencing part of what the festival is about is to buy a castle entry ticket at the castle gate instead (see prices below). Although a castle entry ticket gives you access to some, but not all, of the Steampunk content in the castle, it does not give you access to the County Assembly Rooms or Westgate Academy where lots of other exciting things will be happening. If you buy a castle entry ticket you can see some of the Steampunk features inside the castle, but importantly none of the money you pay to enter goes towards paying for the steammpunk content.​
​You don't have to dress up to buy an event wristband and we encourage visitors to buy a wristband whether or not they are in costume. But please be warned - even if you come along just planning to take a peek at the event from a distance, there is a real risk that you will have started to put an outfit together from some of our fabulous Steampunk traders before you go home. Maybe just a hat, or a pair of goggles, or a corset. But by buying a wristband you will have made a real tangible contribution to the event costs and that will help us make the event bigger and better year on year.
A third option is to just turn up in the streets where there are free to access markets, some musical and dance performances, an enormous number of fabulously dressed steampunks and the magnificent Grand Promenade through the streets on Monday morning (setting off from the castle West gate at 11AM). A huge number of people are drawn to the streets of Lincoln during the Asylum weekend. It is a fabulous experience just being in the historic quarter of Lincoln during Weekend at the Asylum, but it doesn't quite compare to buying a wristband, accessing the whole of the event, and contributing to the joy and spectacle.
​How much does it cost to buy a wristband?
Weekend wristbands (valid all four days from Friday to Monday) cost £47 and are available now (just follow the wristbands link at the bottom of the page). Single day adult wristbands will be available closer to the event. Wristbands are free to Children aged 16 and under accompanied by an adult.
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In 2026, single day castle entry ticket prices will be £18.00 per adult, £17.00 concessions and £9.50 per child age 5-16.​​​​​
What are the blue plaques I have seen in shop windows?
Steampunks love crazy ideas. The Ministry of Steampunk came up with the idea of making spoof 'Blue Plaques' to spread a bit of madness and humour out into the streets.
If you are in the upper part of the city over the Asylum weekend, do make a point to look out for them in various shop and cafe windows, on hotel walls and so on.
Businesses which have a blue plaque in their window offer a 'little something' such as a modest discount to anyone wearing an event wristband during Weekend at the Asylum. ​
​Are there things going on in the evenings too?
Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes!
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There will be a series of evening events running at The County Assembly Rooms (Thursday to Monday nights), The Engine Shed (Friday and Sunday nights) and Lincoln Arts Centre (Saturday night). Full details of these events will be revealed in March.
​Tickets to the evening shows are sold separately from the daytime wristbands so you only pay to attend the events you want to attend.
Did I hear something about medals?
Every year we make a collectable Steampunk medal and usually one or two pins, patches or T-shirts. Most of these are sold in advance for collection at the event, but if we have any left when the event starts they are on sale from Event Control. Once of the pins is a Charity Pin and 100% of the proceeds go to charity. Elsewhere on the website you will find out more about how to buy the official 'merch' if you are interested. ​​​​
​​Is this the year to take the plunge and buy a wristband?
Yes! We are working to make Asylum 16 the biggest and the best yet. We love bringing our crazy creativity to Lincoln which provides a fabulous backdrop for the event and where almost everyone makes us feel so welcome. But events as big as this have substantial costs, and without the financial support from people buying wristbands, there would be no event. ​​​
Will the event be back in Lincoln in 2027?
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Many locals think of it as the "Lincoln Steampunk Weekend" but it does not belong to Lincoln, it belongs to the Steampunks and the Ministry of Steampunk. There is no guarantee it will be back in Lincoln in 2027, indeed we almost didn't come back in 2025.
You can demonstrate your support for the event and make us all feel welcome in your fabulous city by buying an event wristband and supporting the event, even if only for a single day. Every little helps.​​​​​​
