Overview of UK Games Expo 2018
Outline of some of the plans

We have been busy planning the UK's biggest and best hobby games convention.
It has been four months since UK Games Expo 2017. It was the largest Hobby Games Convention ever held in the UK with 16300 of you coming to visit and attendances of 32000+ over the three days. Over 325 individual exhibitors showed a huge variety of exciting games and we hosted some of the world's largest tournaments.
We have spent the time since the show reviewing everything that went on, talking to our sponsors and partners and thinking how to make the UK's biggest and best Hobby Games convention (and one of the largest worldwide) even better. Here is an outline of the event.
Our 12th show will be held on 1st to 3rd June 2018 and is held in the NEC and Hilton Hotel, Birmingham. Get the date in your diary!
The NEC
We are making use of both Halls 1 and Hall 2 of the NEC as well as the Toute Suite and Piazza rooms. Hall 1 will again be our Trade Hall and Hall 2 will be the Tournament Hall and part of our Open Gaming Space.
The Trade Hall
The UKGE trade hall is one of the largest in hobby games shows around the world. Early indications of interest from exhibitors already tell us that there is going to be even more and even larger stands in 2018.
The biggest names in the hobby games world will be attending and bringing a range of the big hit games to show you. At the same time UKGE prides itself on making it possible for the indie publisher and smaller retailer to attend and bring their own flavour and uniqueness to the mix. This will include new releases, a first chance to play prototypes of many of the summer and autumn hits and play tests of games of the future.
The UK Games Expo Family Zone (run by Imagination Gaming) returns and will provide entertainement for the whole family. The UK Games Expo Cosplay Zone will entertain you with characters from TV, Comicbook and Film. In 2018, this area will be moved to a more accesible spot in the hall.
Our exhibitor guide for 2018 is now online and we are just about ready to take orders, starting with our trip to Essen Spiel in a few weeks.
Exhibitors can email Hayley to arrange an appointment to visit our stand at Hall 6 - 106 and talk about your Expo plans.
Alternatively email Richard if you won't be at Essen and want to discuss your requirements.
The Tournament and Gaming Hall
In 2018 we are using Hall 2 for tournaments and open gaming. This means the two halls of UK Games Expo are adjacent to each other, allowing easier travel between the areas.
Hall 2 will house many large tournaments including the FFG Europeans, the UK Catan Championship, the UK Agricola Championship and the UK Carcassonne Championship, Hawk Wargames events, the British Historical Games Society Tournaments, Magic the Gathering and many others.
The Open Gaming and Board Game Library (run by Thirsty Meeples again this year) will move to Hall 2. This allows us to increase the seating and also means that the open gaming will remain open late into the evening. The Hall 2 Board Game Library will also remain open into the evening.
Toute Suite and Piazza Rooms
These rooms will again host seminars and panels on games, game designs, art in games and writing.
The Lakefront
The Viking camp will return and we have plans for an expanded area with other activities to entertain the family alongside the lake.
The Hilton Hotel
The heart of the UK Games Expo in the evening is the Hilton Hotel.
This will host the UK's largest roleplaying game schedule with hundreds of game on offer on dozens of tables over 8 sessions on 3 days. Wih a huge variety of gaming genres to choose from, we have got a game for you.
The UK Games Expo Live entertainment schedule runs here with shows like The Dark Room, Live Pandemic and Knightmare Live. This coming year we are adding new shows into the mix.
The Hilton will host an evening Board Game Library as well as more open gaming space.
Open Gaming
We know one of the reasons many of you visit UKGE is that we provide ever increasing ammounts of open gaming space. We all enjoy the chance to get some gaming in with old friends and new ones. The demand for this space is ever greater each year but we are keen to maintain this key feature.To help match that demand we have a cunning plan! Not only will we use space for around 1200 in the Hilton but we have moved the NEC Open Gaming space from Hall 1 to Hall 2. This means that even after we close the trade hall in the evening we will be able to keep that space open and seat hundreds more who can game into the evening.
Food and drink
Chow Street has confirmed they are back in the Hilton Carpark and continuing to offer Gaming Gourmet Goodness! Other food options are on offer in the NEC and lakeside Cook Street.
How do I find out more?
We are glad you asked.
Don't miss any news. Sign up to follow our socia media:
and use #UKGamesExpo to keep up with our posts.
Watch the news on on the website:
and don't forget the newsletter:
We will be back with more news soon after we get back from Essen. If you are heading to Essen don't forget to come say hello and give us feedback on the Expo. Our stand is Hall 6 E106.
OTHER LINKS
Archive
23/04/18
20/04/18
Bring and Buy is Open for registration
Bring and Buy is Open for registration
19/04/18
Vikings and Orcs at the Lakeside
17/04/18
12/04/18
UK GAMES EXPO 2018 DICE BAGS AND TRAYS
08/04/18
06/04/18
05/04/18
04/04/18
03/04/18
Save your place at the UK National Championship of Ice Cool!
01/04/18
31/03/18
30/03/18
Blood on the Clocktower – Make New Friends. Accuse Them of Murder
29/03/18
UK Games Expo 2018 Hall Plans released
28/03/18
The Magic of Irish Faerie Folk brought to life in a boardgame
21/03/18
16/03/18
The 2018 UKGE Show App is released
07/03/18
THE WASTELAND IS CALLING - ARE YOU READY TO RIDE?
05/03/18
Flicky Spaceships on Kickstarter
02/03/18
UK Games Expo Seminar Schedule Released
26/02/18
Cthulhu Masters - Presented by Chaosium Inc.
25/02/18
Ian Livingstone our guest at UKGE
23/02/18
21/02/18
14/02/18
Puzzle Card to launch new card at UKGE
12/02/18
11/02/18
A musical look at the UK Games Expo
07/02/18
28/01/18
22/01/18
19/01/18
05/01/18
Live Entertainment Events at UKGE
23/12/17
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas
12/12/17
Games Quest to Sponsor the Shop & Drop
30/11/17
UK Games Expo announce Print Partner
21/11/17
Beasts of War return as UKGE Media Partner
UKGE Entry Tickets go live 1st December
16/11/17
15/11/17
14/11/17
10/10/17
Gangs of Britannia has launched on Kickstarter
09/10/17
UK Games Expo to host Grand Kotei
06/10/17
Frozen Skies now on Kickstarter
03/10/17
Overview of UK Games Expo 2018
19/09/17
From prototype to publication: a success story
15/09/17
31/08/17
Darien Apocalypse Kickstarter Live
13/06/17
1066, Tears to Many Mothers - a card game of War & History
08/06/17
UK Games Expo 2017 Attendance Figures
07/06/17
30/05/17
Jump into the world of Tantos with Lightseekers at UKGE 2017
28/05/17
LUDORATI CAFÉ TO LAUNCH NATIONAL UK FRANCHISE
Cosplay props and Security checks
27/05/17
26/05/17
Immerse yourself in the world of Wild West Exodus
25/05/17
Hawk Wargames at UK Games Expo 2017
24/05/17
IDEAL games for the whole family
23/05/17
Dized: the ultimate companion app for learning board games.
Indie game publisher, Quality Beast, to demo dual deck-builder, Seize the Bean
22/05/17
21/05/17
Exclusive Tabletop Gaming offers
20/05/17
The UKGE Periodic Table of Games
19/05/17
Century: Spice Road from Plan B to debut at UK Games Expo
18/05/17
2018 Child Ticket design winner announced
16/05/17
PAIZO ANNOUNCES UK GAMES EXPO LINEUP
15/05/17
Escape the Dark Castle Kickstarter date announced
14/05/17
13/05/17
Take to the skies with Medusa Games
12/05/17
11/05/17
10/05/17
Dance of the Fireflies premiere exclusively at UKGE
09/05/17
08/05/17
Fighting Fantasy is getting a new video game adaptation!
05/05/17
Upper Deck to launch UK National at UK Games expo
04/05/17
02/05/17
Play test ThunderVaults debut game Defection.
01/05/17
3D board game "The Knight, the dragon and the Chess Kingdom”
28/04/17
27/04/17
OMINOES 2nd Edition hits the shops.
26/04/17
25/04/17
News about debut game: Everdark
24/04/17
22/04/17
Mantic Games Terrain Crate kickstarter
Tinkerbot Games Announce Ghostel Reprint
21/04/17
19/04/17
Chaos Cards open physical shop
17/04/17
RPG PLUS ALL-STAR GAMING EVENT
15/04/17
14/04/17
12/04/17
09/04/17
07/04/17
An Easter Art challenge for children
06/04/17
05/04/17
We can support your convention
04/04/17
Epic struggle for Imperial succession
03/04/17
02/04/17
Prepare for atmospheric adventure…
30/03/17
The City of Kings now live on Kickstarter!
29/03/17
Colour Chess + Lure – Live on Kickstarter
26/03/17
Flip the Script - unleash your creative streak
24/03/17
Raid - a new tabletop RPG where the story never ends
22/03/17
Blood, Roses and Alien Shamans
18/03/17
15/03/17
Bring and Buy submissions are now open
14/03/17
The Cthulhu Masters Tournament
10/03/17
09/03/17
05/03/17
UKGE Publisher-Designer Events
24/02/17
21/02/17
Games Workshop are coming to Expo
20/02/17
UKGE 2017 T-shirts on pre-order
18/02/17
AireCon 4 - less than 3 weeks to go
17/02/17
15/02/17
ORE-SOME launched on kickstarter
12/02/17
CORKS … it’s a corker of a game!
09/02/17
08/02/17
Climb on board for National and Galactic level tournaments at UKGE
06/02/17
Paizo release details of UKGE event
04/02/17
31/01/17
21/01/17
Gloom of Kilforth coming to UKGE
17/01/17
Tabletop Gaming Magazine UKGE Print Media Partner
13/01/17
FFG European Championship Tickets sales go live
11/01/17
03/01/17
29/12/16
17/12/16
Knightmare Live stage adaption of TV Classic at UKGE
11/12/16
Pokemon Regional Championships at Expo
06/12/16
01/12/16
29/11/16
25/11/16
A game of faeries, trolls and cheese
23/11/16
22/11/16
Paizo join as UKGE Associate Sponsors
21/11/16
Fantasy Flight European Championships Come to UKGE
14/11/16
08/11/16
Take to the trails in Backpacks and Blisters
01/11/16
26/10/16
Announcing the Sponsors for 2017
22/10/16
Top Hats and Treachery Kickstarter Launches
08/10/16
07/10/16
04/10/16
Beasts of War on board for 2017!
Original Content London launch debut game
27/09/16
The Football Board Game - Football's coming home!
25/09/16
UK Tabletop Creators Networking Jam!
12/09/16
18/08/16
07/07/16
30/06/16
13/06/16
27/05/16
Innovative Flicking Game ICE COOL to Be Launched at UKGE
26/05/16
25/05/16
Come and conquer the Nine Worlds
24/05/16
Madbeard Games announces its debut game Wasteland Justice
WinGo Games: The Game Manufacturing Expert in China Since 1992
23/05/16
22/05/16
Hip Hops Cards: THE Beer Card Game
21/05/16
Ivory Cards launch board game maker service
20/05/16
Everdark game at UK Games Expo
19/05/16
New Earth Game on Pre-release at UKGE
18/05/16
First chance to get your hands on two new Modiphius games at UK Games Expo
17/05/16
Midlands start-up to put tabletop in the spotlight and unleash Ancient Rome in brand new game!
16/05/16
15/05/16
Second Thunder Demo Open Combat
12/05/16
TALISMAN: THE HORUS HERESY MARCHES ON TO THE APP STORE
11/05/16
10/05/16
WINTER IS COMING AND SO IS CHRISTIAN PETERSEN!
08/05/16
05/05/16
29/04/16
28/04/16
22/04/16
Two budding game designers succeed with the help of the UK Games Expo
20/04/16
OMINOES Deluxe Edition will be available at UK Games Expo.
19/04/16
Experience “The Blight” Pathfinder setting
17/04/16
Ian Livingstone board game news
14/04/16
12/04/16
Roleplaying Games for Children
11/04/16
UKGE Guild Ball Open Announced
08/04/16
05/04/16
04/04/16
Win a Trip to the USA in the UK Catan Final
30/03/16
19/03/16
Cthulhu Masters goes live this weekend
17/03/16
15/03/16
Seminar Schedule coming Together
12/03/16
09/03/16
Decade of Retail Success reaches Epidemic Proportions
08/03/16
Netrunner Uruboros Cup is live
06/03/16
Call for Games for Wyvern's Lair
05/03/16
03/03/16
African nosh from Savanah Grill
02/03/16
01/03/16
26/02/16
D&D Adventurers League ‘Epic' at UKGE
21/02/16
20/02/16
16/02/16
Get your sonic screwdriver here
14/02/16
13/02/16
11/02/16
07/02/16
Dark Room 2.0 Tickets on Sale Wednesday
06/02/16
05/02/16
Yavin Birmingham Open Tickets on Sale today
30/01/16
28/01/16
XWING OPEN at UK Games Expo 2016
24/01/16
13/01/16
We are go for Event Submissions
12/01/16
09/12/15
The Fuel Their Imagination Family Zone
15/11/15
12/11/15
Colin Baker UKGE Special Guest
07/11/15
10 Years of Everything about Games
31/10/15
29/10/15
Battlefield Hobbies Sponsor Expo
20/10/15
17/10/15
Shop and Drop with Leisure Games
16/10/15
Fantasy Flight Games Sponsor UKGE
03/10/15
18/09/15
Hilton Explain their Room Rate
Hilton Explain their Room Rate
04/06/15
UK Games Expo Supporting Charity
26/05/15
Joyride Games Kickstarter launches Expo Weekend
25/05/15
New games from Czech Games Edition!
24/05/15
The UKGE Cosplay Parade 2.30 PM Sunday, Main Foyer
Tinker Tailor - on release at UKGE
23/05/15
Death Spiral Games Launch Sleeper
Pedion launch Kickstarter Expo Week
22/05/15
How to Design a Scenario for Star Wars™: X-Wing™
20/05/15
North & South games announce new Terrain expansion
19/05/15
18/05/15
First Chance to Play: Mysterium
Board Game Redesign Competition
16/05/15
Coiledspring Games Pre-show Sneakpeak
You awake to find yourself in a dark room!
15/05/15
How can boardgames change your life?
14/05/15
Stuff your face with Halfling Feast!
New game from TAG: King of Thieves
13/05/15
12/05/15
11/05/15
10/05/15
09/05/15
STRANGE PLACES, STRANGE STORIES
05/05/15
Pegasus Spiel at UK Games Expo
04/05/15
Ergo Sum Games (ESG) announce new games
28/04/15
UK Games Expo Supporting Charity
23/04/15
21/04/15
19/04/15
The Big Pathfinder Multi-table Special
The Timely Temple of Annihilation
16/04/15
PATHFINDER SOCIETY AND SYRINSCAPE JOIN FORCES FOR EPIC GAMING EVENTS AT UK GAMES EXPO
07/04/15
Play a 1000 year old abstract strategy game at UKGE 2015
04/04/15
Board Game Redesign Competition 2016
27/03/15
Thirsty Meeples announced as Official Board Game Library Provider.
22/03/15
19/03/15
Star Trek Attack Wing National
14/03/15
02/03/15
A-MUSE-MENT announces 2nd Ed release of The Front Nine card game
01/03/15
15/02/15
Miniatures Event Tickets go live
27/01/15
Sleeper: Orphans of the Cold War
22/01/15
14/01/15
BEWARE - UNAUTHORISED HOTEL PROVIDERS
14/11/14
News of our Associate Sponsors
21/10/14
26/08/14
Bring and Buy gets radical make over
24/05/14
Tournament for Camelot - The Build
18/05/14
16/05/14
07/05/14
Jackson and Livingstone Book Signing
02/05/14
29/04/14
28/04/14
27/04/14
2nd Edition of Great Fire of London 1666
25/04/14
First appearance of Esteren Miniatures
24/04/14
23/04/14
UKGE Family Zone 2014 - with Imagination Gaming
21/04/14
14/04/14
09/04/14
08/04/14
06/04/14
05/04/14
Heroclix UK National Championship
04/04/14
02/04/14
Board Game Redesign Finalists revealed
29/03/14
Konami announce plans for UKGE
26/03/14
Win the Settlers of Catan Tournament and see the world
23/03/14
19/03/14
Cosplay Awards ready for submission
18/03/14
The Dragons are Ready: are you?
14/03/14
13/03/14
International Flavour to Exhibitors
12/03/14
11/03/14
09/03/14
Tripods: Humans against Martians
08/03/14
07/03/14
05/03/14
02/03/14
01/03/14
Join the Intergalactic Protection Agency
25/02/14
Esdevium announce Regional Tournaments
19/02/14
15/02/14
UKGE 2014 Plans are in the open
13/02/14
12/02/14
When you play a game of thrones you win or you die.
10/02/14
Warmachines and Hordes 2 day events
09/02/14
Chance to win a Ticket to Ride to Paris
Netrunner Open and National Tournaments
08/02/14
Jackson and Livingstone return to Expo
Full speed ahead: Dystophian Naval Wars
06/02/14
05/02/14
X-Wing 2015 UK Nationals at the Expo
04/02/14
Get ready: tickets available 16th March.
29/01/14
24/01/14
19/01/14
Call for UK Games Expo Awards Entries
16/01/14
14/01/14
Gms and Umpires: Expo Needs you!
Discover the Science behind Board Games