Conventions

AireCon founder Mark Cooke is swapping Harrogate for Birmingham as he joins UK Games Expo as its new Operations Director.

From board gaming in Welsh fields and RPGs around woodland campfires to fantasy markets in pubs and trading cards in Bermondsey market, Britian’s tabletop event scene is getting considerably more varied and harder to define.

AireCon has grown from 28 to almost 5000 people since it's first gathering in 2015, but 2027 will see the popular shows final event.

Dragonmeet returns to London for one of the biggest one-day gaming conventions in the UK.

New Zealand is a long way to travel for most of us when it comes to trying out new conventions, but it’s also home to a vibrant tabletop role-playing gaming community that can, by the wonders of the internet, be enjoyed by all. For the fifth year running, the online convention showcasing all things Kiwi and creative - KiwiRPG Week 2026 - will bring livestreams of many different games to us all for an entire week starting on Saturday July 4th.

New Zealand’s games community is opening its doors and welcoming all of us to join them for a week-long showcase of Kiwi creativity across the table role-play field, for the fifth KiwiRPG Week - an online convention full of great livestreams starting on Saturday July 4th.

Returning for its 21st annual event, Furnace is back at the Garrison Hotel in Sheffield this October. There will be five gaming slots allocated and filled by the organisers across the weekend but you can choose which games you’d like to be included in as part of the registration process prior to the event. Registration is open now, just click on the link!

UK Games Expo took over the NEC in Birmingham this last weekend, breaking records, blistering feet, and making the national news in several outlets including the BBC. Tabletop Sentinel were in attendance throughout the show and had an absolutely fantastic time.

Berlin Brettspiel Con is looking to be absolutely huge. More than 100 exhibitors will be showing their wares at the Estrel Convention Center in Berlin alongside tournaments, live stage events, the Prototype Gallery, food vendors, a free gaming library and a bring & buy flea market.

Paris est Ludique! Is “far more than a festival": It’s a space for meeting, sharing and creativity, where play becomes a truly universal language - organised by a non-profit, 100% volunteer-run association”.

Austria’s largest games event returns to the Austria Center in Vienna for 2026! Gaming tables (around 1500 of them!), meet and greets with games authors and developers, numerous vendors, exhibitors, workshops, tournaments and even Austria’s largest selection of board games that can be borrowed and played for no additional fee.

Returning this year is AmberCon - for their 29th year - the convention dedicated to the Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game. Players of all levels of experience are welcomed to play in four official gaming sessions spread across Friday evening through to Sunday morning, with new character auctions, stand-alone scenarios, new and continuing mini-campaigns and freeform games all waiting to be played.

Fighting Fantasy Fest, the convention of Firetop Mountain, returns for its sixth year this September and will feature a special guest appearance from Games Workshop Co-Founder and Co-Creator of the Fighting Fantasy Series, Sir Ian Livingstone.

Spiel Essen is the world’s largest public convention dedicated to board games and brings players from all over the globe together to discover new titles, buy the best gear and most importantly, play loads of games. Last year it was attended by 220,000 visitors from more than 80 different nations, and 948 exhibitors from over 50 different countries. Seven halls, four days and thousands of new releases to discover.

The oldest independent gaming convention in Ireland - now in its 38th year - Gaelcon, held by The Irish Games Association CLG, takes place from 23rd - 26th October at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport Hotel.

SALUTE 53, Europe’s largest independen wargames show, took place at the London ExCel on Saturday 11th April, hosted by the South London Warlords. Originating back in 1972 the first SALUTE was held at the Surrey tavern at the Oval Cricket Ground, just south of the Thames. It’s fair to say that it’s come a long way in the last 53 years.

“Another board game convention organised by a guy called Aaron” is being held at Lancaster University early next year. There will be 82 hours of non-stop gaming, along with bingo, hangman, find a meeple, bring and buy, a bar and street food. Onsite accommodation will also be available should you wish to spend a few of those 82 hours sleeping. This year the organisers are utilising the GoGo App for arranging games and players wanted white boards so make sure you check this out nearer the time.

This coming Saturday, 18th April, sees the second Dragonmeet Call to Adventure take place at Kensington Town Hall in London. The convention, which is free to all attendees, is designed for those just getting in to gaming and younger audiences - although all are welcome.

The British Historical Games Society brings Britcon - The Historical Wargaming Convention - appropriately held at The Venue at Leicester’s De Montfort University, which started life as a Spitfire Factory. Completely refurbished, it is now a modern, dedicated event space large enough to accommodate the complex setups these games often involve.

Dice & Destiny are bringing you Kent’s premiere gaming event - Canterbury Gaming Convention. This year it’s at a bigger venue so that means more gaming, more exhibitors and more special guests.