UK RPG Convention Calendar

2024: | JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | 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 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 It's doubtless largely out of date these days, but it might still have its uses.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


January 2024


5th-7th January: Stabcon 2024, at The Guildhall, 169-171 Wellington Rd South, Stockport, SK1 3UA. A long-running, informal tabletop games convention, which always features some roleplaying. As it is no longer residential, members have to sort out their own accommodation. ("There are several hotels in the area plus various AirBnBs and other options.") Full weekend membership is £20; single-day membership is £10. Contact bookings@stabcon.org.uk for a membership form.


26th-28th January: Warpcon XXXIV, at University College Cork. "Join us for a weekend of RPGs, LARPs, wargaming, CCGs and much more at our 34th annual Warpcon! Events include our award-winning charity auction, panels, all-ages workshops, pub quiz, craft corner and re-enactments!" See www.warpcon.ie for more information.


February 2024


24th-25th February: Dudley Bug Ball 2024, at The Station Hotel & Banqueting, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 4RA. "A Two-day games convention for tabletop role-playing games, board games, and miniature wargames, working to raise money for charity. ... Under 12s free with an accompanying adult, attendees with disabilities - carers go free (email us with details of carer when booking) ... Times - Saturday 9.30 am to 11pm / Sunday 10 am to 5pm." See https://warhorn.net/events/dudley-bug-ball-2024-the-bug-hits-a-six-howzat for more details; entrance tickets are available from https://www.tickettailor.com/events/dudleybugball/920669; e-mail is Dudleybugball@gmail.com .


March 2024


16th March: Concrete Cow 24, at The Old Bath House, Wolverton, Milton Keynes. "As usual we'll be opening the doors at 9am and will have morning, afternoon and evening gaming slots. ... Keep an eye out for further announcements when we open game submission." Watch https://www.concrete-cow.org.uk/ for those further announcements.


16th-17th March: RPGaming Faversham, at Faversham Assembly Rooms, 63-64 Preston Street, Faversham, ME13 8PG. "RPGaming Faversham is back for 2024 on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th March! Taking place in Kent, historical Faversham is an hour from London by train and on the M2. We're a small convention priding ourselves on being friendly, chilled and welcoming. We have all kinds of games running, from the biggies to quirky indies over our three 3 hour sessions on Saturday. On the Sunday we're running a Megagame - Frontier Lands - a space western (think Firefly) game with crews competing for fame, money and resources in a backwater system. Come along for a day or stay for two with a range of hotels and convenient eateries/pubs!"

£15 for a day, £25 for both. £5 off for GMs; book through https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rpgaming-faversham-2024-tickets-731322765077. Facebook updates are at https://www.facebook.com/groups/362711546184061, or e-mail boysfromthebalticstar@outlook.com for more info.


30th-31st March: Conpulsion 2024, at The Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9TJ. A well-established university-based convention; day tickets for either Saturday or Sunday are £10 and a weekend ticket is £20. See https://conpulsion.org/ for more details (including game details as they're announced) and ticket options.


May 2024


31st May-2nd June: UK Games Expo 2024, at The NEC (Halls 1,2, & 3) and the Hilton Metropole Hotel, Birmingham. Britain's biggest general games convention, with lots of RPG sessions (generally run in the Hilton) among other features. Prices depends on ages, number of days, etc., and aside from the Hilton, there are several convenient hotels for accommodation (though those fill up quite fast). Bookings have now opened on the Web site at https://www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk/, and so ticket prices have been announced, from £18 for a one person for one day to £110 for a three-day family membership. E-mail enquiries go to richard@ukgamesexpo.co.uk.


June 2024



July 2024


26th-29th July: Continuum 2024, at Cranfield University CMDC, Wharley End, Cranfield, MK43 0AW. (Note: this location has changed due to an unexpected cancellation by the usual venue.) This long-running, previously biannual convention has now gone annual. So far,just the dates and venue have been announced for 2024; "Registrations will open Early 2024.". Watch https://continuumconvention.co.uk/ for more information.


August 2024


9th-11th August: Grand Tribunal, in Cheltenham (I believe that they use a couple of sites around the town.) "Grand Tribunal is the European convention for Atlas Games' Ars Magica role-playing game. ... Grand Tribunal is a roleplaying, freeform and boardgame convention dedicated to the games and settings of Atlas Games. The convention is of especial interest to fans of Ars Magica, and also Unknown Armies, Over the Edge, Rune and other Atlas Games rpgs. We also have some freeform larp games, but a large Ars Magica themed game suitable for everyone, and some smaller freeforms (in fact the first 'Nordic style' larp run in the UK took place at Grand Tribunal in 2007). ... Grand Tribunal is a small, intimate and friendly event, and while it attracts a number of Ars Magica and RPG authors, it is very accessible to even casual gamers." Tickets are £20 waged, £10 unwaged, with some group and other discounts available. See http://www.grandtribunal.org/wiki/Main_Page for more information.


September 2024


6th-8th September: Tabletop Scotland, at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. All I've got for this so far is what's on the Web page: https://www.tabletopscotland.co.uk; tickets aren't on sale yet, but there are a range of prices quoted. It's a general tabletop games event, but that includes 170+ RPG sessions, plus stuff like a bring & buy.


October 2024


25th-27th September: ConVocation 2024: Digital Phoenix, Online. (Okay, I don't automatically feature online events - but this one is distinctly UK-oriented.) "While 2023 saw the conclusion of Yog-Sothoth's in-person games days ("ConVocations") after a decade of Mythos merriment, machinations and play, this year (2024) sees us moving ConVocation into the digital realm; expanding our reach and our plans. ... ConVocation 2024 will not simply be a set of discrete games run online, we plan to make it as full a digital event as we can. Items currently in plan include Games, Seminars, Quizzes, Chat Room hangout, Horror film watch-along (with optional commentary), ConVocation TV throughout the weekend (video live streaming from the Oneiric Studio) ... Tickets will go on sale later in the second half of the year with a variety of options, from single game tickets to full weekend packages." For now, I suggest watching https://www.yog-sothoth.com/topic/35508-convocation-2024-digital-phoenix-25th-27th-october/ for more information as it's released.

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.

2024: | JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH | MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | Regular Events and Megagames

RPGs Go to my RPGs page.