Volunteering

Would you like to contribute to making the longest running My Little Pony convention a great success? We’re looking for some extra sets of hooves to make this happen. UK PonyCon 2026 is run by a team of volunteers who generously share their time to create a fun and welcoming event. Whether you’re a returning attendee or if this is your first year at our convention, everypony is welcome. Please read this page to learn more about volunteering. If you want to sign up, you can do so below.

All Committee members and volunteers are bound by our Volunteer Agreement, setting out what we expect from you, and what you can expect from us.

Benefits

Of course, there are many great benefits to joining our volunteer team!

• Help create a fantastic event: First and foremost, you will be helping to create wonderful experiences for many My Little Pony fans, young and old, from the UK and around the globe. It is very rewarding to be one of the people helping set this up, and your help will be greatly appreciated.

• Staff Ticket: You will get free entry to the convention the entire weekend, and are free to enjoy the convention as normal on your time off. We will take into consideration your event preferences and will try to fit your schedule around these events where possible. For Bronze-level sponsor tickets only, you can alternatively get a discount equal to the entry price (sorry, we don’t offer volunteer discounts on higher levels of sponsor tickets)

• Staff Break Room snacks & drinks: You will have access to the Staff Break Room at the venue, where you get to recharge. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

• Fun & Friends: Volunteering is an amazing way to work in a team and meet more people. If you’re looking to connect with people, this is a great way to get to know people!

What we expect from you

• Age: You must be 18 years old or older to apply to volunteer.

• Communication: You will need to be able to speak English. As long as you are able to communicate and understand instructions, you will be fine. We welcome neurodivergent people, we can discuss the possibilities so you’re still comfortable in your area. Once you are accepted, you will need to join our Discord Volunteer server. All further communication will be provided there.

• Volunteering hours and days: As a guideline, volunteers will be expected to volunteer for around six hours on Saturday and around four hours on Sunday. While volunteering on these two days is mandatory, any help on Friday would also be greatly appreciated. Showing up for set-up on Friday is especially helpful for new volunteers.

• Responsibility: We will expect you to show up in time for your shifts, and to be helpful and respectful while you represent UK PonyCon. You will be wearing your volunteer shirt so people can identify you when they need help. If something comes up and you can’t make it to the event or your shift, you will need to let the Volunteer Leads know as soon as possible.

• Accommodation & Transportation: UK PonyCon cannot provide accommodation, transportation or meals, or reimbursement for these. Please make sure you have got a place to stay overnight. We expect you to have a plan for this before you apply as a volunteer.

• Volunteer Agreement: All volunteers are bound by our Volunteer Agreement. Once you’ve applied as a volunteer and have been accepted, you will be asked to sign this agreement. Please give it a good read!

Roles & departments

There are several departments that will need help during the weekend. You can read about the different jobs below and see what would fit your quality and skills:

Britannia Buddy

Our Britannia Buddies are the friendly faces that help our more introverted guests feel at ease, be they shy, nervous or first-time visitors. They will welcome them at several low-pressure events to make them feel more at home. If you’re good at making people feel comfortable and like helping them out, this is a great job for you!

Event Guard

There’s always something to do at UK PonyCon. Our Event Guards make sure the many events that we host are run without issues. Their work is as varied as the events that we have, including but not limited to helping vet questions at Q&As, supporting any panel hosts, overseeing the karaoke & crafts rooms, and registering people for the cosplay competition. If you like a varied job where you can also experience panels, and if you’re not afraid of supporting an event on your own, make sure to apply as an Event Guard!

Merchandise Table

At UK PonyCon, we have many plushies, posters, buttons and other merch items looking for a new home. The staff at the Merchandise Table makes sure that our visitors leave with the goodies they want, and they play an important role in the continuity of the convention. If you’re a sales-pony nonpareil who is comfortable with retail, money, and calculations, you can sign up for the Merchandise Table!

Operations & Stewards

UK PonyCon is held at a big venue, and we want to make sure that everything runs smoothly at all places. Enter the Operations & Stewards team, the ever-present guides who stay in the background and oversee specific areas. They make sure that the place is kept tidy and organized, and help out visitors who have questions. If you’re a watchful eye with a friendly demeanor, that likes to walk around your designated area, this is the team for you!

Photography & Videography

When the convention is over, we will happily look back at the photos and videos and remember the fun days we had. But for that, we will need Photographers and Videographers to record the convention. They will both roam freely and record specific events to make sure all the good moments are saved. Do you have what it takes to capture ze magic, and do you have your own equipment to bring to the convention? Then enlist for the Photography & Videography team!

Registration & Info Desk

After the exciting wait in the queue, our visitors will be greeted by our volunteers at the Registration & Info Desk. They check everyone’s tickets, provide access to the rest of the convention, and help out with any questions people may have. If you are good at quickly and efficiently processing tickets and keeping your head cool during a rush, you will have a great time at the Registration & Info Desk!

Special Guest Team

We don’t yet know who, but tradition dictates there will be special guests attending this year’s UK PonyCon. Many visitors will be looking forward to receiving their autograph. The Special Guest Team runs these signing sessions, including managing queues, handling payments and supporting the guests. If you’re confident to help at these things and you’re not easily star-struck, the Special Guest Team is looking for you!

Tech

A lot of events at UK PonyCon make use of tech, like lights, speakers, microphones etc. The tech wizards from the Tech team make sure that all those components work together without issues. They are guided by experienced tech staff, so this is also a great opportunity to learn about how this works. If you’re good at tech, or eager to learn about it, join our Tech team!

Interested? Apply now

You can sign up as a volunteer by filling out the UK PonyCon 2026 Volunteer Application Form.

We will get back to your application as soon as possible through email. This may take a couple of weeks, so we have time to process all applications first. Make sure to check your spam folder to ensure your response hasn’t ended up there. Please include required information and experiences, so we’ve got a good idea about who you are. We may request a voice/video call beforehand to get to know you and get some insight in which team would work best for you. If you don’t receive an email from us within 6 weeks of submitting your application, please send us an email at volunteer@ukponycon.co.uk and we’ll reply to your email.

What’s the differences between being a committee member and a volunteer?