What should I pack for a gaming convention?

A battery bank, comfortable shoes, snacks, and a repair kit if you are cosplaying. If you are bringing PC gear, add a surge protector, ethernet cable, and headset. Use the convention packing checklist for the full list.

Which gaming conventions are biggest in 2026?

PAX events, Gen Con, and DreamHack are among the largest. Filter the list by region to compare gaming cons near you by date and size.

How early should I plan for a gaming convention?

Book hotels and badges as soon as they open. If you are building a cosplay, give yourself 8 to 12 weeks. Track it on a build timeline template .

How do I budget for a gaming convention?

Badge, hotel, travel, food, and merch add up fast. Estimate your weekend with the convention budget calculator before you go.

All conventions

Gaming Convention Calendar

gaming conventions 2026

Every gaming convention on Costumary, from esports arenas to tabletop halls and LAN parties. Browse 2026 dates and locations, filter by region to find gaming cons near you, and plan your cosplay or booth setup around each show.

Find cons near you All conventions

Searching gaming conventions near me? Filter by region to see gaming cons closest to you. Whether you compete, cosplay game characters, or just want to hit the vendor floor, each convention links to dates, venue, and a packing checklist.

5 days

San Diego Comic-Con 2026

Jul 23-26, 2026

San Diego, CA

LegendaryArtist Alley

6 days

GalaxyCon Raleigh 2026

Jul 24-26, 2026

Raleigh, NC

First-Timer Friendly

12 days

GenCon 2026

Jul 30 - Aug 2, 2026

Indianapolis, IN

Gaming-FocusedLegendary

33 days

Fan Expo Canada 2026

Aug 20-23, 2026

Toronto, CA

Cosplay-HeavyInternational

40 days

NOVA Open 2026

Aug 27-30, 2026

Arlington, VA

Gaming-Focused

47 days

Dragon Con 2026

Sep 3-7, 2026

Atlanta, GA

Cosplay-HeavyLegendary

48 days

PAX West 2026

Sep 4-7, 2026

Seattle, WA

Gaming-Focused

68 days

FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention 2026

Sep 24-26, 2026

Salt Lake City, UT

Cosplay-Heavy

76 days

Smoky Mountain Anime Fest 2026

Oct 2-3, 2026

Gatlinburg, TN

82 days

New York Comic Con 2026

Oct 8-11, 2026

New York, NY

Cosplay-HeavyArtist Alley

102 days

Lucca Comics and Games 2026

Oct 28 - Nov 1, 2026

Lucca, IT

InternationalLegendary

139 days

GalaxyCon Columbus 2026

Dec 4-6, 2026

Columbus, OH

First-Timer Friendly

What makes prepping for a gaming con different

Gaming cons blend esports, tabletop, cosplay, and merch under one roof. The schedule is packed and the venues are huge. Planning which days and halls to prioritize saves you from burning out on day one.

Esports tournaments and tabletop events run on tight schedules. Check the bracket or session times before you arrive so you do not miss your slot.
If you are cosplaying a game character, check prop rules early. Some gaming cons have stricter weapon policies than anime cons because of the venue layout.
LAN parties and bring-your-own-PC events need gear logistics. Plan how you are transporting your setup and confirm power and table space.
Vendor halls and demo booths have long lines for new releases. Prioritize your must-play list and hit those booths first thing in the morning.

Plan your gaming build

Tools and guides to get ready before con crunch.

Convention packing checklist

A checklist that adapts to your build and the show. Check off items as you pack.

Convention budget calculator

Estimate badge, hotel, travel, food, and artist alley before the weekend sneaks up.

Cosplay on Costumary

References, materials, budgets, and build logs built for cosplay makers.

Convention calendar

Browse every upcoming convention by month and subscribe to the ICS feed.

Gaming convention FAQ

Frequently
asked questions.

Track your builds. Crush your crunch.

Plan materials, timelines, and budgets for every gaming con build in one workspace. Stop scrambling the week before.

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