The North East has always had a passionate tabletop gaming community. From local board game cafés and friendly gaming clubs to miniature wargaming groups and thriving roleplaying circles, the region has long been home to players eager to roll dice, paint miniatures and discover new worlds. This October, that community gains a new focal point with the arrival of the Tyneside Games Expo.
Taking place on 17–18 October 2026 at Gateshead International Stadium, the inaugural event promises an exciting weekend packed with games, creativity and community. Whether you’re an experienced hobby veteran or someone curious about picking up your very first board game, the Expo aims to offer something for everyone.
Building on a Strong Foundation
The Tyneside Games Expo doesn’t appear out of nowhere. It follows the success of the North East Tabletop Expo, organised by Farplace in 2024 and 2025. When Farplace announced it would no longer be running the event, many feared the region might lose one of its biggest tabletop celebrations.
Instead, the opposite happened.
Recognising the importance of having a flagship event for tabletop gaming in the North East, a new organising committee came together with a shared vision: to ensure the community continued to have a place to gather, play and grow.
Made up of board gamers, card gamers, miniature enthusiasts, roleplaying game masters and tabletop creators, the volunteer-led committee brings together decades of combined experience across every corner of the hobby.
More Than Just a Convention
While exhibitors and exciting new games are an important part of any gaming event, the organisers are keen to stress that community sits at the heart of everything they do.
Their ambition is to create a welcoming, inclusive environment where experienced hobbyists can introduce newcomers to their favourite games, families can spend quality time together, and local designers can showcase the next generation of tabletop experiences.
It’s a vision that reflects the unique appeal of tabletop gaming itself. Around every table, strangers become teammates, stories emerge from a handful of dice, and lifelong friendships often begin with a simple question: “Would you like to join our game?”
The organisers hope the Expo will become the North East’s premier annual tabletop event, one that celebrates creativity, imagination and the people who make the hobby so special.
What Visitors Can Expect
The first Tyneside Games Expo will offer far more than rows of exhibitors.
Visitors can enjoy a spacious open gaming area complete with a well-stocked games library, making it easy to sit down and try something new throughout the weekend. Local independent designers and creators will be demonstrating their latest projects, giving attendees the opportunity to discover games before they reach a wider audience.
The Expo will also shine a spotlight on the North East’s growing playtest community, providing designers with valuable feedback while giving players the chance to experience brand-new games in development.
Alongside this will be organised play and RPG events designed to bring people together through friendly competition and shared adventures, ensuring there’s always a table waiting for newcomers and returning players alike.
Looking Ahead
Although this is the first chapter in the story of the Tyneside Games Expo, the organisers see it as the beginning of something much bigger.
Their goal is to establish an annual event that not only showcases the very best of tabletop gaming but also strengthens the region’s gaming community year after year. By bringing together clubs, creators, publishers, retailers and players under one roof, the Expo hopes to become a cornerstone of the North East’s gaming calendar.
For anyone with even the slightest curiosity about tabletop gaming, October offers the perfect opportunity to discover what makes the hobby so engaging. Whether you’re searching for your next favourite board game, looking to meet fellow gamers, or simply want to experience the welcoming atmosphere that tabletop communities are known for, the Tyneside Games Expo is shaping up to be a weekend well worth marking in the diary.
Tyneside Games Expo takes place on 17–18 October 2026 at Gateshead International Stadium.
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