Tabletop Scotland breaks 5,000 unique attendee record in Edinburgh

Tabletop Scotland surpassed 5,000 unique visitors for the first time during its run from Friday 4th to Sunday 6th September 2026 at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, Edinburgh. Official figures confirm 5,078 unique attendees and 7,950 total turnstile visits across the three-day convention, representing a 19% rise in unique visitors and a 16% increase in turnstile throughput compared to 2025.

The volunteer-run event, which relocated from Perth to Edinburgh in 2024 to accommodate growing audience numbers, recorded sustained growth across every operating day. Friday and Saturday gate numbers each rose by 17%, while Sunday increased by 15%. Beyond headline gate figures, the demographic balance shifted: attendees aged under 16 accounted for 13.4% of total visitors, rising from 11–12% in previous years.

Metric	2025	2026	Growth
Friday Attendance	1,513	1,764	+17%
Saturday Attendance	3,141	3,686	+17%
Sunday Attendance	2,180	2,500	+15%
Unique Attendees	4,259	5,078	+19%
Turnstile Footfall	6,834	7,950	+16%

On social media, Tabletop Scotland said in a post:

For the first time we’ve exceed 5,000 unique attendees and almost hit 5,100 unique attendees. Not bad for a bunch of volunteer organisers!”

The sustained attendance across the weekend yielded an average of 1.56 visits per unique ticket holder, driven in part by expanded dedicated programming. Family-focused initiatives helped boost attendance among those under 16, encouraging multi-generational tables across the open gaming areas and board game library.

Transport logistics also supported the surge. The event ran smoothly just days after Edinburgh’s Princes Street tram lines reopened, restoring direct light-rail connections between Edinburgh’s north and the Ingliston park-and-ride adjacent to the Highland Hall.

The 2026 convention also hosted significant industry developments and charitable campaigns:

The UK Games Union brought tabletop worker advocacy to the show floor for the first time, addressing dispute resolutions and fair pay standards.
Scottish crafter ChaosCurios ran an independent charity drive raising funds for LGBT Youth Scotland alongside the convention’s official charity partner.
Scottish publisher Handiwork Games revealed plans to bring Cold City and Hot War to retail distribution, alongside an upcoming open game licence for independent creators.
Accessories manufacturer Mythical Realms previewed an exclusive range of 3D dungeon doors and flip-trap tiles.

Tabletop Scotland has confirmed it will return to the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston from Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th September 2027. Full convention reporting and archive updates are available on Geek Native’s Tabletop Scotland hub.