Steamforged is bringing Lock & Load to Europe for the first time, and the venue could not be more on-brand: the Magna Centre, a converted Templeborough steelworks in Rotherham that produced shells in WWI and tank components in WWII. The three-day Warmachine festival runs 15-17 May 2026, fifteen minutes from M1 Junction 33 (south) or 34 (north).
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 freeFor UK Warmachine players, this is a big moment. Lock & Load has been Steamforged's annual flagship in the States, but the 2026 EU edition puts the Iron Gauntlet Europe Finals and a Last Chance Qualifier within reach without a transatlantic flight. Across three days you can mix Steamroller competitive play, narrative Frontlines events, the Iron Arena pick-up scene, painting clinics, and live Warmachine keynote reveals, all rolled into one badge with no per-event fees.
VIP weekend bundles include an exclusive variant Fane Stalker mini, a P3 paint colour, and a limited Lock & Load objective set. Magna also throws in £10 off entry to the venue's exhibits, plus a swag bag if you grabbed early-bird pricing before 31 March. The Magna tram-train station opened on 9 April, so Sheffield, Rotherham, and Meadowhall are now straightforward jumping-off points; Leeds Bradford and East Midlands airports are both about an hour by car.
Looking for board gamers near you? Browse local communities and find your next game night.
Find events near youIf you run a UK Warmachine club, the timing is ideal. The Magna programme leaves room for sub-events and pick-up tournaments, and Steamforged has been pushing community events alongside the official schedule. UK gaming clubs and FLGS owners can list a community gathering on Backseat Gamer so other UK players can find you and form crews ahead of the show.
Steamforged took stewardship of Warmachine in 2024 and has grown its global stockists from around 40 stores to over 100 since, so an EU Lock & Load tracks the brand's resurgence. Tickets and the full programme are on the official Steamforged blog and Eventbrite.
Sources: Steamforged: Lock & Load EU | Eventbrite Listing | Magna Centre History
