UK Games Expo 2027: dates, tickets and what to expect
UK Games Expo (UKGE) is the largest hobby games convention in the UK, and the organisers say it is one of the largest in the world. It started in 2007 in Birmingham with around 1,200 visitors. For its 20th show in 2026, the organisers report more than 900 exhibitors and a record 87,837 attendees over the weekend. In 2027 it returns to five halls of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham and the Hilton Metropole hotel next door.
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 4 to Sunday 6 June 2027
- Trade halls
- Friday and Saturday 9am to 6pm, Sunday 9am to 4pm
- Gaming halls
- NEC gaming and tournament halls: Thursday 3 June 6pm to 11pm, Friday and Saturday 9am to midnight, Sunday 9am to 6pm. Hilton gaming also runs to midnight on Friday and Saturday.
- Venue
- NEC, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT, and the NEC Hilton Metropole, Pendigo Way, Birmingham B40 1PP
- Tickets
- 2027 tickets go on sale in December 2026. The official ticket page lists £21 for a one-day adult ticket, £40 for two days and £57 for all three days, with prices including Value Added Tax (VAT). You can also buy entry tickets at the show.
- Ages
- Children aged 10 and under go free. Young adult (11 to 16) tickets are listed at £14 to £15 a day, and family tickets (2 adults and 2 young adults) at £66 a day.
What to expect
The organisers say playing games is at the heart of the show. With an entry ticket you get into the trade halls, demo games, open gaming, the Family Zone, the Playtest Zone and seminars. Highlights listed on the official site include:
- Trade halls: over 900 exhibitors, many running demos of new and upcoming games on their stands.
- Open gaming: about 4,000 seats and a large board game library to borrow from, in Hall 1 at the NEC and at the Hilton.
- Tournaments and role-playing: card game, board game and wargame tournaments, plus 500 or more role-playing games. These need an event ticket on top of your entry ticket, and event tickets go live in early 2027.
- Bring and buy in Hall 5, plus Shop and Drop and Pack and Post services for your purchases.
- Family Zone, Playtest Zone, live shows, cosplay and a Living History Village by Pendigo Lake.
Getting there
- By train: the NEC is next to Birmingham International station, and you can walk into the halls without going outside.
- By car: use the postcode B40 1NT and follow the NEC signs. For 2027 the show uses the NEC East car parks, with a free shuttle bus to Hall 1. The organisers say the parking link and prices will be published nearer the show, and pre-booking gets the best prices.
- By coach or air: Birmingham Airport has coach services and a light rail link to the NEC.
Tips from the organisers
Tickets are not posted or emailed. You collect them at a ticket desk using the QR code in your account. Ticket desks open on Thursday 3 June from 4pm to 8pm in Hall 5, so if you are nearby the evening before, you can collect early and skip the queues. First-time visitors can download the show app and pick up a programme and map pack on arrival. Volunteers in blue shirts are there to help.
Places to play board games nearby
Want to keep playing after UK Games Expo? 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 UK Games Expo website.