The video game convention scene has admittedly been a bit inconsistent over the past couple of years, due to reasons that we probably don’t need to get into. However, we’re looking at some semblance of normal once again, as 2023’s games convention schedule is filled with a variety of events dedicated to gaming of all forms, whether that’s video games, board games, TTRPGs and more.
With that in mind, we’re letting you know of some of the biggest gaming events, markets and conventions happening in the UK during 2023 that you should be aware of. While you might not be able to travel to every single one in the UK, it’s great to know which events are local to you or are worth making the trip for.
UK Video Game Events 2023
The Video Game Market | Various Times (Doncaster)
Venue: Doncaster Dome
Price(s): £5 for early entry, £3 on the door
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Retro game collections are big business right now, with mint condition versions of older games being worth exponentially more than the original game was at launch. If that’s an aspect of the hobby that you’re looking to get involved in, or you’re just looking to blow some money on a bit of video game related merch, The Video Game Market is a solid bet.
While The Video Game Market’s already held an event this year on February 5th, 2023, with no new event announced yet, they have been known in some years to host multiple events in one year, so it’s possible that we could see The Video Game Market once again before the end of 2023. However, if that’s a bit too uncertain for you, there’s another market to keep an eye out for.
London Gaming Market | March 19th, 2023
Venue: Royal National Hotel, London
Price(s): £6 for early entry
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Also hosted by Replay Events, the London Gaming Market is a retro games fair based in the capital, meaning it’s almost always one of the busiest events in the country. Like The Video Game Market, the London Gaming Market allows patrons to check out the stalls of a variety of vendors, selling retro games, board games and other memorabilia.
While the next London Gaming Market is scheduled for March, it’s also worth noting that Replay Events try to hold London Gaming Market events every four months, so if you can’t make the next one, there’s usually another one right around the corner for you. Just make sure you save up your pennies before going, as these events can be very expensive.
W.A.S.D. 2023 | March 30th, 2023 to April 1st, 2023
Venue: The Truman Brewery, London
Price(s): £12.50-£15.00 per day, up to £50 for a all-weekend Super Pass
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The first big “all-purpose” gaming event of the year for the UK, W.A.S.D. 2023 will have a bit of something for everyone, making it a near unmissable event to attend. Whether you’re looking to sample some of the next great upcoming games, play some tabletop games with your friends, or make some new ones, or you just want to meet some of your favourite content creators, W.A.S.D. 2023 is definitely one of the best events of the year.
On top of that, W.A.S.D. also features a W.A.S.D. Careers sections aimed at helping students and young people find their way into the industry, putting them into contact with developers or one of several universities present at the event. Who says you can’t mix business and pleasure, hey?
Insomnia #70 | April 7th, 2023 to April 10th, 2023
Venue: Birmingham NEC
Price(s): £28-£40 per day, £81-£107 for the weekend, £113+ for BYOC
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One of the longest running gaming festivals in the country, Insomnia has been an institution as part of the UK gaming event schedule for years now, and shows no signs of slowing down. If you’re looking to sample a little bit of everything, Insomnia is the place to be. Heck, you can even bring your tent for a bit of indoor camping, just to maximise your time there (camping does cost extra though).
Like most gaming events, Insomnia features a lot of upcoming games, particularly indie games, along with plenty of current titles too. There’s eSports events to watch or even participate in, and content creators/special guests to meet. Or, you could just ignore all of that and hang out in the LAN Section instead, bringing your own computer to play Rocket League all day. It’s just like being at home.
Warhammer Fest 2023 | April 29th, 2023 to May 1st, 2023
Venue: Manchester Central
Price(s): £20 per day, £40+ for the 3 day event, tickets for tournaments and other events also required, children and carers go free
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Warhammer is an undeniable cultural juggernaut, and has been for decades now, so it’s no surprise that the brand is able to sustain an event by itself. The whole of hobby gaming is built by its community, and there’s no better chance to ingratiate yourself with the community than by attending Warhammer Fest 2023, which includes a range of events for all Warhammer fans.
While the opportunity to play Warhammer with your friends, or your soon-to-be-friends, is one reason to attend, there’s even more to do away from the table, including free miniature painting sessions, the chance to show off your massive collection of figures, or the Kill Team-themed Laser Tag event. Of course, some upcoming Warhammer video games will also be present if you’re looking to play those before launch.
MCM London Comic-Con | May 26th, 2023 to May 28th, 2023
Venue: ExCeL London
Price(s): £21-£36 for day entry, £75 for the weekend, kids 10 and under go free when accompanied by an adult ticket holder
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When it comes to celebrations of pop culture, Comic-Cons are always some of the best events to attend, and the MCM London Comic-Con is the biggest in the UK. There’s always something to do at a Comic-Con, whether it’s cosplay competitions, attending a panel, playing some video games or looking for some new merch to buy, and MCM London Comic-Con has all of that in spades.
Still, getting to London can be a bit of a nightmare for some, so it’s worth mentioning that no matter where you are in the country, there’s usually some kind of Comic-Con event happening nearby throughout the year. While they might not have the biggest gaming sections compared to other events we’ve mentioned, these local Comic-Con events are still a wonderful chance to find some cool merch, show off your gaming cosplays, or meet some new friends.
UK Games Expo | June 2nd, 2023 to June 4th, 2023
Venue: Birmingham NEC
Price(s): £18 for one day, £34 for two, £46 for three, young adult and family tickets also available
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While we don’t traditionally cover hobby gaming, there’s no denying that it’s an aspect of gaming that’s a huge part of the UK gaming event landscape. Again, it’s built by its community, and the best way to spend time with a community is by having a big event, the biggest of which is the UK Games Expo.
Entering its 16th year in 2023, the UK Games Expo is the premier tabletop/hobby gaming event in the UK. Whether your thing is board games or massive LARPs, the UK Games Expo has a little bit of something for everyone. Between cosplay competitions, tournaments or the chance to play some new board games, the UK Games Expo is undoubtedly worth your time.
EGX London 2023 | October 12th, 2023 to October 15th, 2023
Venue: ExCeL London
Price(s): TBD for 2023, 2022’s prices were £15-£24 per day, £75 for the weekend
As far as video games are concerned, EGX is the biggest event in the UK by a mile. Four days of access to a host of upcoming games, from indie devs to some of the biggest companies in the world, all for quite a reasonable price too. Sure, the queues can be a bit of a pain, but it’s all worth it if you get to play a new game months before launch, right?
While exhibiting new games is the main focus of EGX, there’s plenty of other reasons to attend, whether that’s because of the brilliant retro section, the various eSports events on display or the variety of vendors looking to sell merchandise. EGX is a massive event, and there’s so much to see and do that you might as well get the weekend ticket to give yourself the best chance.
Retro Games Fair | TBD
Venue: Leeds
Price: TBD, £2 for the day in 2022
A Ronseal job of an event, the Retro Games Fair is exactly what it sounds like. If you’re in the market for buying some retro games, the Fair has a wide variety of sellers offering goods from every single console known to man. If you can think of a device that plays video games of some kind, the chances are that the Retro Games Fair has someone there selling something related to it.
What makes the Retro Games Fair stand out from the other events in the UK is the sheer range of products on offer, along with the fact that there’s a gaming zone filled to the brim with retro titles ready to play. If you’re unsure about putting your money down on a classic game, you could head to the gaming zone, give it a try and decide if it’s worth your money. It’s like a real life demo.
PlayExpo Blackpool | TBD
Venue: Norcalympia Exhibition Centre. Blackpool
Price(s): TBD, 2022’s prices were £18 for an adult
The longest running retro game expo in the UK, PlayExpo is the place to be for retro gaming, with a massive trader hall filled with old games, collectibles and other memorabilia just waiting to be bought. For collectors or people just on the hunt for rare curios, PlayExpo is one of the best places to be throughout the year, but if you just want to play games, PlayExpo has that covered too.
Each PlayExpo event has a massive retro gaming area, filled with old consoles, arcade cabinets and more, but if you’re more into modern titles, PlayExpo also has plenty on offer in that regard too. In that sense, PlayExpo could be a great family day out. Parents can show their kids their favourite old games, while the younger ones can try and convince their elders to hit the griddy in Fortnite.
READ MORE: How Many People Play Fortnite In 2023?
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