The 48th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as ConFiction, was held 23–27 August 1990 at the Netherlands Congress Centre in The Hague, Netherlands.

The organising committee was chaired by Kees van Toorn.

Attendance was 3,580, despite the preparations for the Gulf war which deterred many Americans from traveling.

The World Science Fiction Society administers and presents the Hugo Awards,^[1] the oldest and most noteworthy award for science fiction. Selection of the recipients is by vote of the Worldcon members. Categories include novels and short fiction, artwork, dramatic presentations, and various professional and fandom activities.^[1][2]

Other awards may be presented at Worldcon at the discretion of the individual convention committee. This has often included the national SF awards of the host country, such as the Japanese Seiun Awards as part of Nippon 2007,^[3] and the Prix Aurora Awards as part of Anticipation in 2009. The Astounding Award for Best New Writer and the Sidewise Award, though not sponsored by the Worldcon, are usually presented, as well as the Chesley Awards, the Prometheus Award, and others.^[3][4]

The convention was opened by the then Minister of Cultural Affairs of the Netherlands, and the Hugos were presented by the U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands.

This was the first Worldcon after the fall of the Berlin Wall, so was the first convention which many fans, writers and editors from Eastern European countries were able to attend.

• Hugo Award
• Science fiction
• Speculative fiction
• World Science Fiction Society
• Worldcon