History of UK Games Expo in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 10, 2026

UK Games Expo (UKGE) is a large tabletop game convention and trade fair. It is held annually at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and the Hilton Birmingham Metropole in the United Kingdom. The expo features a wide range of tabletop games, including board games, card games, role-playing games, and miniature wargaming. It includes exhibitors, vendors, tournaments, demonstrations, and opportunities for attendees to play games and meet industry professionals.

2007: First UK Games Expo

In 2007, Richard J. Denning and Tony Hyams organized the first UK Games Expo.

2008: Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Official Launch

In 2008, the UK Games Expo hosted the official UK launch of Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition.

2020: UK Games Expo held online due to COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK Games Expo was held online in 2020.

2021: UK Games Expo returns in person

The UK Games Expo returned in person in 2021, with additional COVID-19 guidelines in place.

2022: UK Games Expo removes COVID-19 guidelines

In 2022, the UK Games Expo removed the COVID-19 guidelines that had been introduced the prior year.

2023: UK Games Expo attendance records

In 2023 the UK Games Expo set new attendance records which it then broke in 2024.

2024: UK Games Expo breaks records

In 2024, the UK Games Expo broke exhibitor and attendance records from 2023 and had over 65,000 daily participations, making it the largest tabletop games event in the UK and the third largest in the world.