Gen Con 2026

Gen Con is the largest tabletop gaming convention in North America, running four days every summer in Indianapolis. 70,000+ attendees, 60,000+ scheduled events, and the concentrated presence of the tabletop gaming industry make it unlike any other event in the hobby. This guide covers what you need to know before your first Gen Con — the things that aren't obvious from the outside and the decisions that determine whether you have an extraordinary weekend or an exhausting one.

2026 Key Dates and Numbers

• Convention dates: July 30 – August 2, 2026
• Venue: Indiana Convention Center + Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
• Badge registration opened: February 8, 2026
• Housing block opened: February 22, 2026
• Event registration opened: May 17, 2026
• Refund deadline: June 12, 2026
• Badge prices (2026): 4-day badge $164 • Single-day $41 (Thursday) to $112 (Saturday)
• Children's badges: Age 10 and under free with a free children's wristband; age 11+ require a paid badge

Badges and Registration

Gen Con badges sell out annually. The 4-day badge is the most economical option if you're attending more than two days. Single-day badges provide flexibility but at higher per-day cost. Badge registration in 2026 opened February 8 — if you're planning Gen Con 2027, set a calendar alert for early February and purchase the moment registration opens. Badges are transferable through the official system (name changes cost a small fee); reselling badges is prohibited.

Housing: The Critical Variable

Getting a good hotel at Gen Con requires strategy. The housing block — rooms at negotiated rates in downtown Indianapolis hotels — opened February 22, 2026. Access was randomized based on badge purchase timing: badges purchased before 11:59pm February 20 were in the randomized queue; later purchases went to the back.

Skywalk-connected hotels (JW Marriott, Westin, Marriott Downtown, Hyatt Regency) sell out within an hour of housing opening. They require 4-night minimums (some require 5). If you missed the opening: check the housing portal periodically for cancellations, consider suburban hotels with shuttle service, or use VRBO/Airbnb with careful verification.

Event Registration

Event registration for Gen Con 2026 opened May 17. Events range from 30-minute demos to 8-hour campaign sessions and everything between. Most events require tickets purchased through the Gen Con event system; generic tickets provide flexibility for events with remaining space at the event itself.

Strategy: know your priorities before registration opens. The most popular events — seminars by major designers, flagship RPG campaigns, limited-edition game demos — fill in minutes. Registration is a real-time system; be logged in and ready before the registration window opens. Plan three to five backup options for every event that might fill.

The Exhibit Hall

Gen Con's Exhibit Hall is where the industry shows its work. Publishers debut games, run demos, sell convention exclusives, and make industry announcements. The Hall is enormous — plan multiple passes over multiple days rather than trying to see everything in one go. Convention exclusives sell out; if there's a specific product you want, go there first on Thursday morning.

What to Bring

The Gen Con packing list: comfortable shoes (you will walk 5-10 miles per day on concrete), a bag large enough for purchases, a portable phone charger, cash for the dealer's room (some vendors don't take cards), a water bottle (staying hydrated in a convention center is easy to forget), and light layers (the convention center is aggressively air-conditioned).

Indianapolis During Gen Con

Gen Con week transforms downtown Indianapolis. Restaurants are packed — plan dinner reservations in advance or eat early/late. The Indiana Convention Center's connection to Circle Centre Mall and multiple hotels via skywalks means you can navigate much of the downtown core without going outside. Local game shops (Good Games, two blocks from the convention center; Family Time Games and Valkyrie's Vault in the suburbs) run Gen Con-week events worth including in your visit.

Gen Con 2026 details based on official Gen Con LLC announcements and event data. Information accurate as of May 2026. Verify current status at gencon.com.