If you are in the East Midlands and after a low-key weekend of gaming that will not cost the earth, the Northants Board Game Convention is back. The community-run event takes over Kettering Arts Centre on Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August 2026, with hundreds of games to borrow and play for £7 a session, or £6 if you grab an early-bird ticket. Under-5s and carers go free.
Got a regular group? Create a private community, poll for the best date, vote on games, and let your friends RSVP in one place.
Set up your group for freeNow in its third year, the convention is run by Boards of Kettering CIC, a not-for-profit community group. The first one sold out back in August 2024, and it has run every summer since. Each day splits into two five-hour sessions (10am to 3pm and 3:30pm to 8:30pm), so you can dip in for an afternoon or settle in for the long haul.
The draw is the huge library you can pull from, topped up by whatever games attendees bring along. There is a Bring and Buy for offloading or rescuing pre-owned games, plus vendor stalls, demos, tournaments and a raffle, with a licensed bar and food on site. Handily for a busy hall, there are quiet, low-sensory rooms if you need to step away from the noise.
Stop juggling Meetup, WhatsApp, and spreadsheets. One platform for your gaming group's events, RSVPs, and member management.
See how it worksSmaller, library-led conventions like this one are the backbone of the UK hobby, and they are the easiest possible way to meet a local group. If a weekend in Kettering sparks something, keep the momentum going: start a community for your area, or list your own game night so the people you met can find you again.
Sources: Boards of Kettering
