Tabletop Scotland is making a bold trade for its September 2026 show. Panels and live shows are out, five to seven extra RPG tables per slot are in. Returning to the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September, the convention is doubling down on the thing its attendees keep asking for, which is more roleplaying.
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Find events near youThe numbers from last year explain the pivot. Tabletop Scotland drew 4,259 unique attendees in 2025, a 9% jump on 2024, and it already hosts more D&D sessions than any other UK convention, including UK Games Expo. Reclaiming the panel space for RPG tables means organisers can schedule a serious uptick in slots without bumping up against the venue's 8,500m² Highland Hall capacity. Panels are expected to return in 2027 once venue negotiations land.
The other big change is for families. Under-16s now get in free for the whole weekend, up from under-10s in 2025, which makes Tabletop Scotland one of the friendliest UK conventions for parents who want to bring their kids along to a proper hobby weekend. Ticket prices are otherwise held flat from last year.
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Start organising for freeThe convention runs Friday noon to 11pm, Saturday 10am to 11pm, and Sunday 10am to 5pm in the main hall. With panels off the schedule, the open play library, Bring & Buy, playtest zone and beginner-friendly Gateway area are doing more of the heavy lifting this year.
Heading to Edinburgh in September? See who else is going and organise a meetup on Backseat Gamer. A few extra games in the hotel bar after the show is half the reason people travel for these things.
Sources: Tabletop Scotland | Tabletop Scotland Blog | EN World
