Manchester Board Game Festival, December 2026: dates, tickets and what to expect
Manchester Board Game Festival (MBGF) is a weekend of board gaming in the city centre, run by Dungeons & Flagons Events. It happens several times a year: in 2026 the festival ran in February, June, August and at Halloween, and the December edition is a Festive Special that includes the MBGF Awards. The organisers say it brings together more than 500 gamers, with a 700-plus game library, bookable sessions and traders.
These details come from the organiser's own website, but they can change and mistakes can slip through. Please confirm everything on the official site before you go.
Quick facts
- Dates
- Friday 18 to Sunday 20 December 2026
- Times
- Friday 3pm to midnight, Saturday 10am to midnight, Sunday 10am to 8pm. Some areas close earlier.
- Venue
- Sachas Hotel, 12 Back Piccadilly, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1SH
- Adult tickets
- Tier 1 prices until 22 November 2026: Friday £12, Saturday £15, Sunday £13, weekend £25, full event £34, each plus a 10% booking fee. Buy tickets.
- Children
- Under-12s need their own ticket (Friday £8.50, Saturday £10.50, Sunday £9, weekend £17.50, full event £24, plus booking fee), bought with and attending with an adult.
- Carers
- Free carer ticket with at least one paid ticket. Bring evidence such as a Blue Badge, an Access Card or proof of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance.
What to expect
From the festival's own site:
- Games library: over 700 games, from party games to heavy strategy, with hosts on hand to recommend something. It closes at 6pm on Sunday.
- Bookable sessions: role-playing games, games and seminars across the weekend.
- Play to Win shelf: play a game from this shelf and you are entered into a draw to win a copy. The draw is at 5pm on Sunday.
- Playtest tables and demo zone: try new games with their designers. Anyone who playtests can enter a draw for a ticket to the next festival.
- Charity games: a board game pub quiz at 3pm on Saturday and board game bingo at 3pm on Sunday, with a minimum £1 donation to take part.
- Geek Fayre: independent traders selling games, art and handmade goods, open 12pm to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, free with your festival lanyard.
- Bring and buy: put a note on each game with your contact details and price, and buyers deal with you directly. Unsold games left at the end are donated or disposed of.
Getting there
- By tram: Market Street Metrolink stop is about a minute's walk.
- By train: Manchester Piccadilly station is about 8 minutes' walk.
- By bus: Piccadilly Gardens bus stops are about 3 minutes' walk.
- Parking: Car Park Manchester Northern Quarter is the closest (2 minutes' walk), and Port Street car park (9 minutes) is cheaper. The hotel has 2 disabled bays outside.
Food and access
The event floor has free Wi-Fi and a bar with light snacks, soft drinks, hot drinks and alcohol, but the venue doesn't serve meals. You can bring your own food or buy from the many places nearby in the Northern Quarter. There is step-free access by a stair lift in the lobby and lifts to all floors. Two small open gaming areas on the lower levels have steps, so no scheduled activities are held there.
Places to play board games nearby
Want to keep playing after Manchester Board Game Festival? See our guides to board game cafés, clubs and game nights nearby:
More board game conventions
See every upcoming event in our board game conventions calendar, with dates checked on each organiser's site.
Last checked 12 November 2026, from the official Manchester Board Game Festival website.