UK Games Expo

UK Games Expo
Genre
FrequencyAnnually
Venue
Coordinates52°27′12″N 1°43′10″W / 52.45333°N 1.71944°W / 52.45333; -1.71944
Founded2007
Founder
Next event29 May - 31 May 2026
Attendance72,000[2]
Organised byUK Games Expo Ltd
WebsiteUK Games Expo
Hall 1 at the NEC Birmingham during UK Games Expo 2023

UK Games Expo (UKGE) is a tabletop-game convention and trade fair held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.[3]

UK Games Expo (UKGE) is the largest Hobby Games Convention in the UK [4] First held in 2007, the event is now held annually at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham[5] and currently hosts over 42,000 guests.[6]

UKGE features a range of exhibitors, events, open games, demos, and tournaments including the UK Carcassonne Championship, and the UK Agricola Championship.[7]

All forms of tabletop games are represented at the event including board games, role-playing games, card games and war games. Organisers each year also hold the UKGE Awards with two categories, the People's Choice Awards as voted on by attendees of the event and the Judges Choice Awards.[8]

History

The UK Games Expo was first held in 2007,[9] organised by Richard J. Denning and Tony Hyams. Apart from 2020 the event has grown year on year and in 2024 had over 65,000 daily participations, making it the largest tabletop games event in the UK and the third largest in the world.[4] In 2020 the event was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10][11] The event returned in person in 2021 with additional COVID-19 guidelines.[10] In 2022 the event removed the COVID-19 guidelines introduced the prior year.[12] In 2024 it broke exhibitor and attendance records from 2023.[13]

In 2008, the expo hosted the official launch of Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition in the UK.[14]

Show features at UK Games Expo:

  • “One of” the world's largest bring & buys.[15]
  • More than 685 exhibitors.[16]
  • Live entertainment.[17]
  • Tournaments and national events in a variety of game systems.[7][17]
  • Seminars.[17]
  • 2500+ Open gaming seats.
  • Cosplay and living history village.[18][19]
  • Dedicated family zone.[20]

Special Guests at previous UK Games Expo include:[21]

Attendance

Annual attendance 2007–2024

Attendance figures released by the organizers are published each year in their exhibitor pack.[27]

Year Uniques Attendance
2007 900 1,200
2008 1,200 2,000
2009 1,800 2,500
2010 2,000 2,700
2011 2,455 3,585
2012 2,879 4,046
2013 3,538 5,805
2014 5,805 9,919
2015 7,162 13,971
2016 12,636 25,149
2017 16,500 30,698
2018 21,700 39,000
2019 25,704 45,097
2020 (online) N/A N/A
2021 10,671 18,430
2022 23,163 39,527
2023 31,117 52,888
2024 39,306 65,281
2025 42,000 72,000

UK Games Expo Awards

Each year the show awards the UKGE Awards which are split into two broad categories: The People’s Choice, which are voted on by expo attendees, and the Judge’s Choice, which are voted on by invited judges or delegates.[5][28] UKGE rewards different game styles, including abstract games, strategic games, party games and more, as well as expansions, accessories, role-playing games, novelties, etc.[29][30][31]

People’s Choice Award

Year Best Board Game (Euro) Best Board Game (Strategic) Best Card Game Best Strategic Card Game Best Roleplaying Game
2023[30] Earth - Inside Up Games Frostpunk: The Board Game - Glass Cannon Unplugged Viking Raiders - Neowulf Games Isle of Trains: All Aboard - Dranda Games Be Like a Crow - Critical Kit
2022[31] Lost Ruins of Arnak - Czech Games Edition Get On Board - iello Dungeon Decorators - Slugfest Lord Of The Rings LCG Revised Core - Fantasy Flight Games Shiver Core - Parable Games
2021[32] Excavation Earth - Might Boards Undaunted: North Africa - Osprey Games A Game of Pretty Gardens - Osprey Games Imperium Classics - Osprey Games Vaesen - Free League Publishing
2020 (online)[29] Tapestry - Stonemaier Games Dune - Game Force Nine Solar Storm - Dranda Games Marvel Champions - Fantasy Flight Games The Alien RPG - Free League Publishing
2019 [33] Quacks of Quedlinberg Root The Mind Arboretum Forbidden Lands
2018[34] Photosynthesis - Blue Orange Warhammer Underworlds - Games Workshop Legend of the Five Rings - Fantasy Flight Games category began in 2019 SINS - First Falling Leaf
2017[28][nb 1] SubTerra - Inside the Box Board Games The Colonists Statecraft - Inside the Box Board Games Category began in 2019 Adventures in Middle Earth
  1. ^ Before 2018 the awards only existed in one category, voted on by attendees.[35]

See also

Judges Choice Award

Year Best Board Game (Euro) Best Board Game (Strategic) Best Card Game Best Strategic Card Game Best Roleplaying Game
2023[30] Earth - Inside Up Games New Eden - Schmidt Viking Raiders - Neowulf Games Vita Mors - Play With Us Design Critical Foundation - Gigamic
2022[31] Bitoku - Devir The Thing - Ares Games CULTivate - Pops & Bejou Lord Of The Rings LCG Revised Core - Fantasy Flight Games Twilight: 2000 - Free League Publishing
2021[32] Excavation Earth - Might Boards Prisma Arena - Hub Games A Game of Pretty Gardens - Osprey Games Schotten Totten 2 - Iello The Dee Sanction - All Rolled Up
2020 (online)[29] Tapestry - Stonemaier Games Ishtar - Iello Solar Storm - Dranda Games Origlamme - Studio H Paladin - Chaosium
2019[36] Architects of the West Kingdom Root The Mind Ruthless Forbidden Lands
2018[34] Great Western Trail - Stronghold Civilisation - Gibsons Pikoko - Brain Games N/A - category began in 2019 Adventures in an Age Undreamed - Modiphius

References

  1. ^ Young, Graham (3 June 2016). "Tenth anniversary UK Games Expo opens at NEC". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  2. ^ @ukgamesexpo; (1 June 2025). "UKGE instagram update" – via Instagram.
  3. ^ "UK Games Expo | NEC, Birmingham". 18 January 2025. Archived from the original on 18 January 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  4. ^ a b WGP (5 June 2017). "UK Games Expo is now bigger than Origins, making it the third largest tabletop show in the world". Tabletop Gaming. Warners Group Publications Plc. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b "UKGE Awards". UK Games Expo. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  6. ^ @ukgamesexpo; (1 June 2025). "UKGE instagram update" – via Instagram.
  7. ^ a b "National Catan, Carcassonne, Pandemic, Splendor and 7 Wonders Duel tournaments to be held at UK Games Expo". Tabletop Gaming. Warners Group Publications Plc. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  8. ^ "The UK Games Expo 2024: Highlights From the Weekend - KeenGamer". 11 June 2024. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  9. ^ Griffin, Mary (29 May 2015). "UK Games Expo launches in Birmingham". BirminghamLive. Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b Carter, Chase (27 January 2021). "UK Games Expo 2021 announces summer dates for return of in-person convention". Dicebreaker. Gamer Network Limited. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  11. ^ "UK Games Expo is Back, and now it's Virtual". Tabletop Gaming. Warners Group Publications Plc. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  12. ^ Editor-in-Chief, Matt Jarvis Former (11 May 2022). "UK Games Expo 2022 drops COVID-19 guidelines again, will not require vaccination or face masks". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 27 March 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  13. ^ True, Mike Didymus- (6 June 2024). "Record-breaking UK Games Expo preps for even bigger future after being outbid for its main hall next year -". Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  14. ^ "D&D 4E - UK 4E Launch Event at The London Dungeon". EN World D&D & Tabletop RPG News & Reviews. 6 May 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  15. ^ "UK Games Expo | UK Exhibition Calendar 2025". www.xldisplays.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  16. ^ "Exhibit". UK Games Expo. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  17. ^ a b c "Events". UK Games Expo. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  18. ^ "Cosplay Groups". UK Games Expo. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Living History Village". UK Games Expo. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  20. ^ "The Family Zone". UK Games Expo. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
  21. ^ "Special Guests". UK Games Expo. Archived from the original on 2 February 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  22. ^ Girdwood, Andrew (2 June 2024). "UK Games Expo Awards 2024 winners". Geek Native. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  23. ^ "Choose Your Own Adventure: Ian Livingstone Talks of His Own Adventure Choices in His Iconic Books". Tabletop Gaming. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  24. ^ Jaen, Paco G. (23 July 2013). "Dr Who stars at the UK Games Expo". GMS Magazine. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  25. ^ O'Brien, Michael (18 May 2023). "Rivers of London creator Ben Aaronovitch is our special guest at UK Games Expo, Friday June 2nd". Chaosium Inc. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  26. ^ Jaen, Paco G. (11 August 2014). "Video Seminar Red Dwarf's Chris Barrie at the UK Games Expo". GMS Magazine. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  27. ^ "Exhibitor information". UK Games Expo. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  28. ^ a b "UK Games Expo Award". UK Games Exp. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  29. ^ a b c "UK games expo awards 2020 winners". Geek Native. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  30. ^ a b c "UKGE 2023 awards". UK Games Expo. Archived from the original on 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  31. ^ a b c "UKGE 2022 Awards". Geek Native. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  32. ^ a b "Award winners 2021". UK Games Expo. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  33. ^ "Expo 2019". UK Games Expo. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  34. ^ a b "2018 UK Games Expo Awards". File 770. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  35. ^ A reference for the footnote.
  36. ^ "UKGE Awards". UK Games Expo. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
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