York Board Games Convention expands its opening hours and its free board games library in its third year
The York Board Games Convention (YBGC) returns for its third year this autumn, from the 23rd-25th of October 2026 at St Peter’s School, with this year’s event promising to be the biggest yet. The annual event was founded to celebrate and grow the tabletop community in North Yorkshire, bringing three days of tabletop gaming, tournaments and family-friendly fun to the heart of the city.
Following a maxed-out event in 2025, organisers have expanded the convention to accommodate even more tabletop enthusiasts. Tickets go on sale at midday on the 4th of June 2026 and if you sign up to the YBGC early access list, there’s an exclusive 20 per cent discount available for those who book within the first 24 hours.
In a bid to make the weekend an affordable option for families, children aged 16 and under can attend the convention entirely for free. Complimentary tickets are also available for Personal Assistants.
“Last year was a phenomenal success,” says Ryan Willis, YBGC’s Founder. “Seeing our gaming space reach full capacity was proof of just how vibrant the gaming community is here.”
Ryan says his team is focused on making the event even bigger, better and more accessible this year: “Tabletop gaming is for everyone, and it is incredibly important to us that the convention is a welcoming, inclusive space where families, casual players and veteran gamers can all come together to share their passion.”
“We’re excited to be able to grow and welcome new people to tabletop gaming each year” adds Co-Director Matt Coward-Gibbs. “Being able to co-create spaces that welcome everyone and are free from as many barriers as possible is central to what we do. Alongside this, it is fantastic to be able to support independent traders from across the city and beyond.”
Friday 23rd October 2026: 9am to 11pm
Saturday 24th October 2026: 9am to 11pm
Sunday 25th October 2026: 9am to 5pm
The 2026 convention will feature significantly more gaming space, an expanded board games library, a wider variety of traders and longer opening hours. Food and drink options will also be available on-site throughout the weekend to keep players fuelled.
Attendees can look forward to a massive, free-to-use board games library, expert-led roleplaying games (RPGs) such as Dungeons & Dragons, tournaments, and a convention-wide treasure hunt for the coveted golden ticket! For more information and schedule announcements, visit the official YBGC website.