AireCon Analog Gaming Festival 2027

What AireCon is and who goes

AireCon is a tabletop gaming festival held in the exhibition halls of Harrogate Convention Centre. It covers board games, role-playing games, miniatures and wargames, with exhibitors, demonstrations, tournaments and a Bring n Buy second-hand sale. A free-to-borrow library of more than 500 games is run with Travelling Man. The 2027 show is billed as the last AireCon, and the organisers have named it Airemageddon.

It is a public event, not a trade show. People come alone, in groups or as families. The organisers aim it at newcomers as well as regulars, and there is a Gameseekers area for solo visitors who want a table to join. The organisers project about 5,500 unique visitors, with a larger footfall count across the four days.

Dates and opening times

The festival runs from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 March 2027.

Thursday is an evening session, 4pm to 11pm. Friday and Saturday open at 10am and the halls stay open until 1.30am, although only Halls A, B and C are open after 11pm. Sunday runs from 10am to 6pm, with open gaming only from 4pm. Pre-booked ticket holders can go in 30 minutes before the Friday to Sunday start times. Bring n Buy drop-off is on Thursday from 4pm to 7pm.

Exhibitors and traders

Hall M is the dedicated exhibitor hall, and it is also the main route into the rest of the show. Stand space is sold by the square metre, and the organisers expect to sell out. Exhibitors and volunteers working across Thursday to Sunday often want a base close to the halls. Our apartments suit that, with a kitchen, space to store stock and room for a team to share.

For visitors

Tickets are sold through the AireCon website. Under-18s go free, and the organisers also offer free carer tickets with a purchase. The venue takes card and contactless payments only, though the Bring n Buy is cash only. The Family Zone is in Hall C, and there is a quiet gaming area in the Queen's Suite for anyone who wants a calmer space.

Getting to Harrogate

Harrogate station is about a 10-minute walk from the Convention Centre. LNER runs direct trains to London King's Cross roughly hourly, and Leeds is about 35 minutes away by rail. Leeds Bradford Airport is about 30 minutes by taxi. By car, the venue has more than 1,200 parking spaces in the town centre, but they fill up on busy weekends.

Book early

This is expected to be a busy weekend, and the final edition may draw people who would otherwise skip a year. Central apartments and townhouses go first, so it is worth booking as soon as you have your tickets. We have one- and two-bedroom apartments and larger townhouses, many within a short walk of the Convention Centre and the Royal Hall. They suit groups who want to leave games out on a table overnight.

After the halls close

Harrogate has plenty of choice for dinner, from independent restaurants to fish and chips, and the town centre bars are close by. On Sunday morning, the Turkish Baths are a good way to rest after a long weekend of gaming. Staying with us means you can cook a late breakfast, store your purchases and walk back to the show without worrying about parking.