UK (and Ireland) RPG Convention Calendar

2026: | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | 2027: | FEBRUARY | JUNE | Regular Events and Megagames

Introduction

This is a list of conventions and events, taking place in the British Isles, with at least some significant role-playing games element. (I try to cover Irish as well as UK cons, but I don't always get hold of as much information about those.) I try to keep it current, but I make absolutely no guarantees about anything I mention. I reserve the right not to include events that appear to be only very marginally relevant to RPG'ing, and I have a bias in favour of "tabletop" RPGs.

Calendar File Form: Roger Bell_West has set up a site which converts this page to standard calendar file format, and updates that file periodically. See http://firedrake.org/infobot/ics/conventions.ics for this. Or - I'm told that by using webcal://firedrake.org/infobot/ics/conventions.ics instead, you should be able to "subscribe" to this calendar. Note that I haven't looked at this since this page changed URL.

Organisers Note:

Mail If you want your convention listed here, e-mail me with a date, URL, and any information that you want mentioned here, up to a couple of short paragraphs' worth.

Advice on Organising Conventions:

I once, long ago, saved the text of a Usenet discussion on the art of UK RPG convention organisation; it's on this site as ConOrganising.txt. It's doubtless largely out of date these days, but it might still have its uses. Anyone interested in the subject might also do very well to look at the notes on the subject published by the organisers of Concrete Cow.

Linking to this Page:

This page was created as a public service, and I'm happy for it to be used as widely as possible (so long as I don't get blamed for anything). Anyone creating or maintaining another RPG-related page is welcome to include a link to this URL.

Donations

This is a completely voluntary, non-profit project which I perform for its own sweet sake. Still, if anyone wants to encourage me in this, please feel free to use the tip jar:

Alternatively, you can buy a copy of my mini-book, A Dozen Castle Images, which is priced at "Pay What You Like", and pay me something for it.

The Events


July 2026


24th-27th July: Continuum 2026, at Cranfield Management Development Centre, Wharley End Cranfield, Cranfield, Wharley End, Bedford MK43 0HG. A long-running RPG event, with tabletop RPGs, freeforms, and board games. Registration is available at a range of prices, and accommodation is available on site; see the Web site at https://continuumconvention.co.uk/ for prices and details of what'll be on at the con.


August 2026


15th-16th August: Canterbury Gaming Convention 2026, at The University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7SR, from 10:00-22:00 Saturday, 10:00-17:00 Sunday. Promises RPGs as well as board games, CCGs, special guests, trade stands, etc. For details and pre-booking, see https://canterburygamingconvention.co.uk/.


29th-30th August: ShadowCon XX 2026, at Northfields Community Centre, Northfields, London, W13 9SS. For details, watch http://www.shadowwarriors.co.uk/; to sign up in due course, try https://warhorn.net/events/shadowcon-uk-2026.


September 2026


4th-6th September: Tabletop Scotland, at The Highland Hall, The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. Running 12:00-23:00 Friday, 10:00-23:00 Saturday, 10:00-19:00 Sunday (trade hall closes 17:00 each day). Ticket prices vary by number of days and so on. "Tabletop Scotland is a board game, card game and roleplaying game convention. Our convention is open to everyone, whether you are exploring the worlds of tabletop gaming for the first time or you are a long term tabletop gamer looking to celebrate your hobby at our convention." See https://tabletopscotland.co.uk/ for more details and tickets.


19th September: Concrete Cow 26.5, at The Old Bath House, Wolverton, Milton Keynes. This twice-yearly one-day RPG convention has been running for 20 years now, with three game slots in the day, and usually a couple of trade stands. I can't see membership prices on the page, but it's usually a fiver. See https://www.concrete-cow.org.uk/ for more details.


25th-27th September: AmberCon UK 2026, at the Premier Suites, Minster Court, Minster Street, Reading, RG1 2JF. "AmberCon UK 2026 will be our twenty-ninth annual roleplaying convention devoted to the Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game ... This year's Ambercon UK is following the pattern created in 2025 - as such it is being held in apartments rather than a hotel setting and con goers will need to find their own accommodation. A list of variously priced options will be posted in the New Year.

"AmberCon UK 26 will feature events for players of all levels of experience, including new character auctions, stand-alone scenarios, new and continuing mini-campaigns, freeform games and the chance to meet, relax with, and plot hideously against your fellow Amber players in comfort." Membership is £30. For details, including contact and online sign-up, see https://acuk.home.blog/ambercon-uk-2026/.


October 2026


10th-11th October: Furnace Games Convention XXI, at The Garrison Hotel Sheffield. To quote their Web site, "Furnace is an annual tabletop roleplaying game convention that takes place in Sheffield UK, held at the Garrison Hotel. If you love tabletop RPGs then you'll love Furnace. Over our award winning gaming weekend there will be a schedule of five gaming slots, packed with high quality games run by some of the best Gamemasters in the country (because we say so)." Registration is now open; members have to book accommodation separately at the hotel. See https://furnace.org.uk/ for more details and memberships.


23rd-26th October: Gaelcon 38, at Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport, Northwood Park, Santry Demesne, Dublin 9, Ireland. "Gaelcon is Ireland's oldest independent gaming convention, running every year since 1989, and is hosted by The Irish Games Association (IGA). We focus on tabletop roleplaying games, board games, card games, LARPs and wargames. ... The hotel is the same location as 2025." There's games, a trade hall, and all the other usual large con stuff; membership seems to start at £40, and there's a special convention room rate from the hotel. See https://iga.ie/gaelcon/ for more details and to purchase tickets.


November 2026


28th November: Dragonmeet, at London Excel, London Docklands, from 09:00 to 22:00. (AKA Dragonmeet Prime, to distinguish it from Dragonmeet: Call to Adventure in April). London's long-running leading RPG convention, with demo games, lots of trade stands, and seminars. Information is starting to come in about this, and tickets are now available (£20, or £10 for children aged 11-17); see https://dragonmeet.co.uk/ for more information.


February 2027


20th-21st February: Tabletop Gaming Live 2027, at Doncaster Racecourse. On past form, this will mostly be a boardgames event, but there'll likely be some RPG presence. Not much more information yet, but advance bookings will apparently open soon; watch https://www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/tabletop-gaming-live-2027/ for announcements.


27th-28th February: Dudley Bug Ball 2027 - Duggley and the 9 Brummies, at No.4 Banqueting & Events, Castle Hill, Dudley. "Table top games convention with RPGs, board games and miniatures along with traders of goodies." Watch the Web site at https://dudleybugball.cjromer.com/ for details as they emerge.


June 2027


4th-6th June: UK Games Expo 2027, at The NEC (exactly which halls TBD) and the Hilton Metropole Hotel, Birmingham. Britain's biggest general games convention, with lots of RPG sessions (mostly run in the Hilton) among other features. Prices depend on ages, number of days, etc., and aside from the Hilton, there are several convenient hotels for accommodation (though those fill up quite fast). See the Web site at https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/ for details as they emerge; ticket sales will open in December.


Regular Events

The London Indie RPG Meetup Minicon ("Play small press/indie RPGs") runs one Saturday a month. For location and other details, see http://www.meetup.com/London-Indie-RPG-Meetup-Group or e-mail londonindierpg@gmail.com.

Megagames

These are giant wargame/simulation games, taking most of a day or more, often with some element of role-playing. Many are run in London, others elsewhere. For more explanation, see https://www.megagameassembly.com/; there's a calendar of upcoming megagames in the UK (and elsewhere in Europe) at https://www.megagameassembly.com/uk-europe-megagames.

2026: | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | 2027: | FEBRUARY | JUNE | Regular Events and Megagames

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