Gen Con 2027

Gen Con returns to the Indiana Convention Center from August 5 to 8, 2027, bringing the largest tabletop gaming convention in North America back to downtown Indianapolis. It's a big one: board gamers, RPG players, miniature painters, and cosplayers all converge here for four days. The convention started in 1968 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and has called Indy home since 2003.

Everything centers on the Dealer's Hall, the massive exhibit floor that spans both the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium. Beyond the hall, the convention runs thousands of ticketed events across downtown venues and hotels, with Saturday usually being the biggest day. Badges come as wristbands you wear all four days, and you can choose between a 4-Day Badge or Single-Day options. There are also discounted Young Gamer Badges for anyone under 17. To build your schedule, you'll use Event Horizon, the online registration system.

When you're not in a game, the Georgia Street Block Party turns the street south of the Convention Center into an outdoor commons of food trucks, art installations, and cosplayers. True Dungeon adds an immersive dungeon-crawl experience to the mix. Local dining fits in too: Kilroy's Bar & Grill is the unofficial after-hours hangout, and St. Elmo Steak House, an Indianapolis institution since 1902, is a popular destination for a proper meal between sessions.

One practical warning: hotel rooms in the housing block tend to sell out within hours of opening, so if you're coming from out of town, you'll want to move fast on your lodging. The convention runs August 5 through 8, 2027, at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium.