Summer is here, and you know what that means: Gen Con is right around the corner! Founded in 1968 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin by Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax, Gen Con is the largest annual event dedicated to tabletop gaming and culture in North America. From tournaments to live music, exhibit hall booths to electronic games, workshops, seminars, anime, art shows, auctions, and countless other activities, there’s something for everyone at this annual celebration of gaming!
Attending Gen Con
Gen Con takes place August 1-4 in the Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, and surrounding downtown hotels. 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.
4-Day and single-day badges are available for purchase now! Educators, librarians, mental health professionals, and retailers are invited to attend Trade Day the Wednesday before Gen Con (July 31, 2024). This program provides hands-on training, research sharing, networking opportunities, and professional development opportunities throughout the day for those in these professions.
Gen Con Events
Events are a major part of Gen Con, with over 20,000 unique sessions hosted by individuals, gaming groups, and companies scheduled 24 hours a day at various locations around the city. Explore All Events to plan your ultimate gaming getaway; make sure to register in advance!
Here is a selection of recommended events hosted by five of our publishing partners:
Wizards of the Coast
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, Gen Con and Wizards of the Coast have teamed up to provide a dozen FREE seminars with a dedicated focus on individual editions, comics, fiction, and more.
Whether you played the original game in the 1970s, are committed to Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, or appreciate the modern 5E, you’ll find a session focused on the history and design of each, in addition to a special focus on some of the most iconic settings and storylines in the franchise.
Gen Con TV is hosting a series of live-streaming events focusing on each edition of D&D. Watch the latest episode:
Paizo
Paizo will be hosting over 200 events, featuring a variety of sessions of Pathfinder and Starfinder organized play, special scenarios, and exclusive adventures for beginners and seasoned players. There are also workshops, panels, and Q&A sessions with staff, providing insights into game design, lore, and upcoming releases.
Plus, Starfinder is launching the playtest for its brand-new edition at Gen Con 2024! Be among the first to venture into the stars with six brand-new classes and dozens of alien ancestries!
Chaosium
Fans of Call of Cthulhu, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to participate in an original game from the maddened minds at Good Time Society!
Keeper Becca Scott is hosting an interactive, hidden-identity, Call of Cthulhu-style mega-game event! In this exclusive, first-of-its-kind original interactive game, play with your tablemates to defend your “city” from the invasion of cultists! Only a few tickets remain, so act fast if you want to join!
R. Talsorian Games
Curious about Cyberpunk? Learn all about the flagship roleplaying system of the dark future and its new mission add-on kit: Edgerunner.
R. Talsorian’s experienced GMs will present a basic understanding of the Cyberpunk RED system and utilizing the Edgerunner Mission Kit, including characters, fundamental mechanics and an introduction to the world of Cyberpunk.
Kobold Press
Ever wondered what it takes to make a TTRPG? Join Kobold Press and the minds behind Tales of the Valiant as they demystify the process.
Sign up for over 20 dedicated game sessions for either Tales of the Valiant or Dungeons & Dragon 5E, or hear from the company’s Art Director and other talented artists to share their experiences creating art for TTRPGs and talking about best practices for being an artist in the industry.
Don’t want to bog your schedule down with events? Check out over 540 companies that will have booths set up offering shopping, demos, and more in the Exhibit Hall.
Food at Gen Con
Hungry from all the gaming? Don’t forget to stop by the Gen Con Block Party located on South Street (between the convention center and Lucas Oil Stadium). Try out one of the Official foods of Gen Con, or grab something from one of the dozens of food trucks.
You won’t want to miss the Pickled Goblin, the Official Burger of Gen Con or Critical Chip, the Official Pizza of Gen Con.
Style at Gen Con
You’ve got your badges, you’ve made your schedule, now it’s time to look the part. Shop the spring collection from Rollacrit today. And don’t forget to stop by the Rollacrit store onsite to see what they have cooking for Gen Con 2024.
After Gen Con
Just because the convention is over, doesn’t mean the fun stops! Follow Gen Con across socials. Join their Twitch community for “The Best Four Days All Year Long!” with weekly shows featuring RPGs, Art, News, Video Games, and so much more.