After selling out last year, the York Board Games Convention is coming back with bigger plans for 2026 - and organisers are clearly expecting another busy weekend.
The tabletop event will return to St Peter’s School in York from October 23–25, bringing together board games, tournaments, demos, and family-friendly activities across three days.
Bigger Plans
Following a packed convention in 2025, organisers have confirmed they’re expanding this year’s event to accommodate more visitors and activities.
The York Board Games Convention, often shortened to YBGC, has steadily grown since launching and now seems to be settling into the UK tabletop calendar as a regular autumn event.
Founder Ryan Willis said last year’s full-capacity turnout highlighted just how strong the local gaming community has become.
For 2026, the focus appears to be on opening the doors to even more players while keeping the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere the convention has built a reputation around.
Family Focus
One thing organisers are continuing to push is accessibility for families and newer players.
Children aged 16 and under can attend free of charge, which is a pretty refreshing approach at a time when convention costs can add up quickly. Personal assistants will also be able to attend for free.
That broader community feel has always been a big part of tabletop gaming events outside the massive expo circuit, and YBGC seems keen to lean into that side of things rather than becoming overly commercial.
Alongside dedicated gaming spaces, visitors can expect casual play areas, organised tournaments, and opportunities to try out new games across the weekend.
Ticket Details
Tickets officially go on sale at midday on June 4 for people signed up to the event’s early access list.
Anyone booking within the first 24 hours will also receive a 20 per cent discount, giving returning attendees a decent incentive to lock plans in early.
With last year’s event reaching capacity, there’s a fair chance tickets could move fairly quickly again this time around - especially now that awareness of the convention seems to be spreading further beyond York itself.
Growing Scene
The continued growth of smaller tabletop conventions like YBGC says quite a lot about where the hobby is at right now.
While massive conventions still dominate headlines, regional events have quietly become some of the best places for casual players, families, and local gaming groups to meet up without the overwhelming scale of larger expos.
York’s event seems to fit neatly into that category: big enough to offer plenty to do, but still community-focused at its core.
And with tabletop gaming continuing to pull in new players year after year, it’s not too surprising to see events like this steadily expanding alongside the hobby itself.
