The four-day event will also feature a Saturday night drone show and expand into new venues, including Victory Field and the Indiana Repertory Theater.

 

INDIANAPOLIS (July 28, 2026) — Gen Con, the largest and longest-running tabletop gaming convention in North America, returns to Indianapolis on July 30 – August 2 for a sold-out convention with no additional badges on sale.

 

The annual event, held in Indianapolis since 2003, attracts tens of thousands of gamers and fans from around the world to the Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, and downtown hotels. For four days, attendees enjoy gaming, shopping, cosplaying, and savoring the best local food, beverages, and Hoosier hospitality.

 

“We’re thrilled to be back in Indy for another sold-out edition of Gen Con,” said David Hoppe, President of Gen Con. “This year features new games, new event spaces including Victory Field, and new spectacle with a drone light show over downtown Indy. But above all, Gen Con 2026 means tens of thousands of gamers and fans having a great time in Indianapolis.”

 

This year, attendees can shop and browse the Exhibit Hall, Makers Market, and sponsored spaces featuring nearly 800 vendors selling new and popular games, merchandise, costumes, art, books, and more. Attendees can participate in nearly 28,000 unique ticketed events, including gaming sessions and tournaments, comedy, film, entertainment, writing and crafting workshops, and the fan-favorite annual costume contest and parade.

 

For the first time, Gen Con will expand into Victory Field, holding both industry and fan-focused events at the ballpark, including a 2,000-person Dungeon Crawler Carl meetup featuring bestselling writer Matt Dinniman. The author will also be attending the convention all weekend long to play games with fans, livestream a full play of the new Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG from Renegade Games Studios, and more.

 

Additional marquee events at this year’s convention include a 1,000-drone light show over downtown Indy on Saturday at 10 pm hosted by Wizards of the Coast, a Dungeons & Dragons takeover of the Indiana Repertory Theater transforming the historic establishment into “D&D Tower,” and a Lord of the Rings-themed “Hobbiton Summer Festival” Magic: The Gathering activation in Lucas Oil Stadium.

 

Gen Con attendees can also enjoy local food and drinks from an expanded Block Party celebration on South Street during the four-day convention. This outdoor, open-to-the-public festival features over 40 local food trucks and eateries, including Sun King Brewery, HotBox Pizza, Daniels’ Vineyard, Helm Coffee, Island Noodles, and Prime 47.

 

Make-A-Wish^® and Gen Con are partnering to grant the wish of Eleanor, a teen who dreams of attending Gen Con 2026. Eleanor will attend the convention in Indy this year with her parents and sister, where the family will be treated to four days of unforgettable memories and extra-special amenities and perks for the ultimate wish come true for a young storyteller and tabletop gaming fan born with a critical heart condition.

 

“We’re honored that Eleanor chose Gen Con for her wish,” said Jackie Martin, Director of Marketing at Gen Con. “Our community is built around imagination, friendship, and the joy of playing games together. We look forward to welcoming Eleanor and her family for four unforgettable days of adventure.”

 

For Gen Con’s annual charity program, the convention has partnered with two nonprofit organizations that will split the proceeds of fundraising programs held during the convention: Super Heroines, Etc., a nonprofit organization that uses the power of fandom to fight for equity and representation, and Immigrant Welcome Center, a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive immigrant support, community integration, and advocacy based in Indianapolis.

About Gen Con

Gen Con is North America’s largest and longest-running annual event devoted to tabletop gaming culture. The convention, which began in 1968 in Lake Geneva, WI, takes place each summer in Indianapolis, IN. During the convention, attendees shop and demo games from hundreds of exhibiting companies and choose from thousands of ticketed events representing a wide array of board games, card games, roleplaying games, seminars, entertainment events, and more.