2026 Local Pelikan Hub Explainer

by Alicia, Casey, and Susan

It’s that time of year again!

Pelikan Hub registration is open now through August 7!

If you’d like to volunteer to host a hub, applications are open until August 14.

This year’s Pelikan Hubs will take place on Friday, September 25 at 6:30pm. As always, this is a free event!

What is Pelikan Hub?

Every year, Pelikan (the pen and ink maker) hosts a free event held around the world on the same date (September 25 this year). Any city that garners at least five registrants may host an official event (i.e., hub). This event is basically a Pelikan (not Seattle) pen club meeting organized by volunteers and featuring free goodie bags from Pelikan. 

The 2025 Pelikan Hub on Bainbridge Island, one of several hubs that took place in the area.

Hubs are hosted by volunteer "hub masters." Any potential additional features outside of the goodie bags (e.g., raffle prizes, the presence of vendors, planned activities, extra freebies) vary by location and are solely up to the energy and resources of the volunteer organizer(s). Each hub is unique but you only get to attend one each year! 

Pelikan summarizes it this way: "Basically, this is an event by fans for fans, with Pelikan providing support."

Pelikan explains more about their annual event on their FAQ page.

Please note that these hubs are Pelikan events and not Seattle Pen Club events. Many SPC members volunteer their time to organize and staff the hubs, but they are volunteering for Pelikan and not SPC. Sometimes hub masters aren’t aware that SPC exists. One benefit of this is that you get to meet new local pen friends who might join SPC!

Information specific to the greater King County area

Known hubs in the area include Bainbridge Island, Bothell, SeaTac, and Seattle. (If you know of more, please tell us!) There are options in addition to Seattle!

Last year’s Seattle hub master moved out of the area, so it’s not currently known who will be organizing that hub. If you know who is applying to be hub master or who is selected please tell us! Or if you are interested in organizing the event, please apply to volunteer!

SeaTac/South King County currently does not have a hub master. Casey volunteered last year and will be happy to support anyone who would like to host this year. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to get in touch with Casey, but you don’t need her permission to apply to be hub master!

Pelikan will officially announce volunteer hub masters and hub locations closer to the event. The most important thing right now is to register for the locations that you are interested in. 

But I don't live in the locations that usually have hubs...

If you are looking for a hub location outside of the previously established ones, you are more than welcome to volunteer as a hub master, choose a location, and campaign for registrants via your own social network, our Facebook group, our Discord server, or whatever platform works! Again, these events are NOT officially affiliated with Seattle Pen Club, so you don't need anyone's permission (except Pelikan and your chosen venue) to host. Build your community in your own backyard!

Additional helpful information

• If you’re not sure that you are interested/can make it to a hub, but want to go, do sign up! It’s helpful to planners (who may or may not allow late and/or unregistered attendees), and the event is free and lots of fun if you can go.

• You do not need to own or bring any Pelikan products to attend.

• The hub locations will not be confirmed until sometime after the registration period closes—their locations depend on whoever volunteers as a hub master and where they are able to find an affordable gathering space. Pelikan does not provide any financial support for these gatherings; any hosting costs are covered by the hub master, donations from attendees, and/or solicited sponsors.

• If you don’t see a hub location near you when you register, then either sign up for the one you are willing to travel to or consider hosting a hub of your own. Again, Pelikan only requires five confirmed guests for a hub. Ask your friends to register and have a hub at your favorite pub!

• Please register if you wish to attend and do not bring unregistered guests. Your hub master is putting in many volunteer hours to create a successful event for everyone who attends; help them plan by registering online prior to your local event. Many venues have strict capacity limits and Pelikan sends goodie bags according to the number of registered attendants, so unexpected guests cause stress for everyone.

• Please consider volunteering in whatever capacity you are able to to support your volunteer hub master and help make your local hub the biggest, happiest, and inkiest event it can be.

See you in September!