A BOARD game convention in York has celebrated its biggest and most successful year to date.
The second annual York Board Games Convention was held last weekend (October 24 to 26) at St Peter’s School in York and welcomed more than four times last year’s attendance.
447 unique visitors attended the event with a total footfall of 972 people taking part over the course of the weekend.
Guests travelled from across the UK and as far as Norway to enjoy the three-day event, which featured a board games library, role-playing games led by experienced game masters, and appearances by special guests from BBC’s The Traitors stars Wilfred Webster and Ivan Brett.
Organisers said: "We’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm and warmth of the community.
"York has such a strong board gaming scene, and it’s been amazing to see families, friends, and newcomers come together to play and connect. We can’t wait to make next year even bigger and better."
One of the standout attractions was the Bring & Buy sale, where hundreds of pre-owned games changed hands, and there were also a range of exhibitors who sold everything from handcrafted gaming accessories to original artwork, indie titles, and unique gifts for board game lovers
This included Dungeon Tokens, The Moonshine Adventure Company, Ferngaile, Wayfarer Games, and other artists and traders.
Hachette Games UK, the event’s major sponsor, also helped broaden the convention’s selection with modern board games and family-friendly experiences.
Accessibility improvements included a quiet room, a fully wheelchair-accessible venue, and wheelchair-friendly gaming tables to ensure the event was suitable for all.
A ticket hunt added to the fun, with five silver ticket winners earning free entry to the 2026 convention and one golden ticket winner receiving lifetime access.
Speaking at the launch of the festival last year, the organisers said: “There are great tabletop gaming events nationwide, including AireCon, UK Games Expo, and Tabletop Scotland. It’s time for York, a UNESCO city for Media Arts, to shine a light on a growing and vibrant industry.
“This is York’s first major board game convention, and it’s incredibly exciting to celebrate the growth of the hobby in our city."
Plans are already underway for next year’s event with hopes to include more tables, games, 'and even more ways for everyone to play.'
For more information, please visit www.ybgc.co.uk
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