If you are in the north of England and looking for a weekend of gaming this autumn, York Board Games Convention is back for its third year, running 23 to 25 October 2026 at St Peter's School in York. Early-bird tickets are on sale now, and the organisers expect more than 600 people through the doors.
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Start organising for freeThe format is the kind of thing that makes a good weekend away with your group. There is a large board games library to borrow from, plenty of open gaming space, a bring-and-buy for offloading shelf-of-shame purchases, and independent traders if you would rather add to the pile. Roleplayers get their own area, The Forge, and there are giant games, a convention-wide treasure hunt, and organised games of the social-deduction hit Blood on the Clocktower for anyone who fancies pointing fingers at their friends.
It is a friendly, family-leaning show too. Under-16s get in free, which makes it an easy sell for parents trying to convert the next generation. Early-bird pricing runs until 7 July, after which single-day tickets are £30.
Looking for board gamers near you? Browse local communities and find your next game night.
Find events near youYork joins a packed UK convention calendar this year, alongside the likes of Tabletop Scotland and the Leeds and Manchester festivals, proof that the hobby is in rude health well beyond the giant halls of UK Games Expo.
Honestly, a convention is the perfect excuse to get your group together. If you are planning a trip up to York, you can set up an event and see who else is going, or find a local gaming community to carpool and share a table with.
Sources: York Board Games Convention | Geek Native
