If you paint Warhammer miniatures, clear a weekend in October. Games Workshop has confirmed that Golden Demon, its most prestigious painting competition, returns to SPIEL Essen 2026, and the updated entry guidelines are already live so painters can start planning which pieces to bring.
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Set up your group for freeGolden Demon is the big one. It is Games Workshop's flagship Warhammer painting competition, and the top prize, the coveted Slayer Sword, is about as close to a world title as the hobby gets. Essen is the second stop of 2026 after the US leg at AdeptiCon, where David Arroba took the trophy with a Prince Vhordrai. At last year's Essen show, Albert Moreto Font won his third Slayer Sword, so anyone entering this October has a high bar to clear.
The practical details: SPIEL Essen runs from 22 to 25 October 2026, the entry guidelines (categories, registration times, the usual Diorama-versus-Duel head-scratchers) are up now at paint.warhammer.com, and pre-registration opens alongside ticket sales later this year. It is part of a wider arts push at the show, which has also named the acclaimed fantasy artist Peter Mohrbacher, known for his Angelarium series and his Magic: The Gathering illustrations, as its 2026 ambassador.
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Find events near youEssen is a long-standing pilgrimage for UK painters and gamers alike, and Golden Demon gives the trip an extra hook beyond the new releases. The entry guidelines are live now, so there is time to settle on your categories before pre-registration opens, and if you are making the journey it is worth seeing who else is heading out.
Sources: Warhammer Community | SPIEL Essen
