If your idea of a perfect weekend is three days of open gaming with no agenda beyond "what shall we play next," Summer Stabcon has you covered. The convention runs from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 July 2026 at Stockport Masonic Hall, and it is one of the longest-running board game events in Greater Manchester, with editions going back to at least 2008.
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 freeStabcon is deliberately low-key. There is no sprawling trade hall or celebrity guest circuit here, just a big room, a lot of tables, and a games library to raid when you fancy trying something new. That stripped-back format is exactly why it has lasted: it runs twice a year, in January and July, and has quietly outlived plenty of flashier events by giving people the one thing they actually turn up for, which is time to play. You can pre-book a weekend or day pass through the organisers' online form or pay on the door, though booking ahead helps them plan the space.
This is the kind of event that is easy to fall in love with and, crucially, easy to copy. You do not need a masonic hall to run one. A church hall, a pub function room or a community centre and a shelf of games is enough to give your local group a proper gaming day. If Stabcon has you thinking about organising something closer to home, you can set one up and invite people on Backseat Gamer in a few minutes.
Run game nights? Backseat Gamer handles RSVPs, waitlists, date polling, and game voting so you can focus on playing.
Start organising for freeFor anyone within striking distance of Stockport, though, the easiest option is just to turn up. Bring a game you love, bring one you have never managed to get to the table, and see what the weekend throws at you.
Sources: AllEvents | Summer Stabcon (Facebook)
