The UK's biggest tabletop convention is gearing up for its 20th anniversary, and the awards machinery is already in motion. UK Games Expo 2026 runs 29-31 May at the NEC in Birmingham, and the Judges Choice Awards span 20 categories covering everything from best abstract game to best miniatures range and rules.
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Set up your group for freeThe judges' work has been rolling for months, with shortlists drawn from a panel of expert reviewers. Trophies for the Judges Choice winners are presented at 5pm on Thursday at the Toute Suite venue inside the NEC, before the show even opens to the public. The People's Choice Awards run alongside in four broader categories (Strategy, Family, Role-Playing and General) with attendees voting throughout the weekend and winners announced at 3pm on Sunday in Hall 2. Anyone who casts a vote enters a prize draw for award-winning games.
UKGE has grown into one of Europe's largest tabletop events. Last year's show pulled around 72,000 total attendances across the weekend, and exhibitors range from major publishers down to first-time independent designers showing prototypes in the indie zone. The 20-category Judges Choice slate reflects how much the hobby has expanded, with dedicated awards for accessories, gaming novelties, expansions and variant rules sitting alongside the classic categories.
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See how it worksThe Judges Choice trophies tend to drive serious sales in the days that follow, so the shortlists are worth watching once they go public. If you are heading to Birmingham for the 20th anniversary show, find your tribe at UKGE before the doors open.
Sources: UK Games Expo Awards | UK Games Expo | BoardGameWire
