A Major Gathering for Tabletop Gaming
Organizers ReedPop and Penny Arcade have officially unveiled the exhibitor and programming lineup for PAX Unplugged 2026, the East Coast’s premier tabletop gaming festival. The event is scheduled to take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia from Friday, December 4, through Sunday, December 6, 2026. This year’s expo hall is set to feature over 370 exhibitors, marking a significant convergence of major industry stakeholders and independent developers.
The confirmed roster includes some of the most influential names in the tabletop sector, such as Wizards of the Coast, known for Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, and Asmodee, which manages titles such as Star Wars: Legion and Marvel: Crisis Protocol. Other prominent participants include Games Workshop, developers of the Warhammer franchise, and Cephalofair Games, the studio behind the popular Gloomhaven series. UVS Games is also confirmed to attend, highlighting their Riftbound: A League of Legends Trading Card Game. Additionally, the event will host other notable exhibitors, including Simon and Schuster and IDW Publishing, broadening the scope of the expo hall beyond traditional gaming hardware and card manufacturers.
Expanding the Gaming Experience
Beyond the expo hall, the event will host a variety of high-profile tournaments and community-focused gaming sessions. Attendees can look forward to the Magic: The Gathering | Star Trek PAX Championship and the Disney Lorcana Challenge Championship Qualifiers. Additionally, the event will feature a special playable celebration commemorating the 10th anniversary of the board game Clank!.
Reflecting on the growth of the event, Jerry Holkins, co-founder of Penny Arcade, Child’s Play, and PAX, noted, “A few years ago, Ryan Hartman said we should do a tabletop version of the show. A few short years later, it seems like basically everybody agrees with him.” The festival, which began in 2017, has grown to become a cornerstone event for the tabletop industry, connecting publishers with influential fans and hobbyists. Additional programming, including panels and special events, is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The organizers have also confirmed that 2027 will mark the future expansion of the PAX brand with the debut of PAX Unplugged Houston.
Ticketing and Logistics
Badges for the three-day event are currently on sale. A full three-day pass is priced at $112.34, while single-day options are available for $52.50 on Friday and Sunday, and $55.65 for Saturday. The organizers have also introduced discounted pricing for younger attendees, with single-day Kids badges priced at $21 and three-day Kids badges at $47.25. Registration for media and content creators remains open through the official event channels. PAX Unplugged continues to serve as a key venue for ReedPop, a boutique group within RX, which manages a global portfolio of pop culture events including New York Comic Con, PAX West, and various international iterations of the PAX brand.