Tabletop Scotland targets growth and charity fundraising in Edinburgh return

Tabletop Scotland has entered its final 30-day countdown before returning to the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, Edinburgh, from Friday 4 September to Sunday 6 September 2026. Organised entirely by volunteers, the event brings together fans of board games, roleplaying games, card games, and miniatures for a three-day celebration of screen-free hobby gaming.

Following an attendance of over 4,250 visitors in 2025, reflecting a 9% year-on-year increase, the event continues its upward trajectory. While moving the convention to the Royal Highland Centre on the outer edge of Edinburgh created logistical hurdles for some attendees travelling from the city centre, the venue provides the physical space necessary to host over 130 exhibitors and the UK’s largest block of scheduled Dungeons & Dragons events. This expansion aligns with broader industry data showing sustained public search interest in tabletop gatherings compared to mainstream expos.

The 2026 convention introduces a revised floor layout featuring a dedicated Family Zone designed alongside play specialists HABA and Imagination Gaming. This area showcases how non-digital gaming supports core literacy, numeracy, and logic skills in young people, with under-16s receiving free entry alongside a paying adult. Additionally, Tabletop Scotland has named the Scottish Huntington’s Association as its official charity partner for 2026, aiming to build upon the £36,000 raised for good causes since the convention launched in 2018.

Dave Wright, Lead Organiser at Tabletop Scotland, said in a statement,

While our event at the Royal Highland Centre has scaled over the last 3 years to meet demand, our core focus will always remain on building an inclusive, accessible community space. This year’s event is bringing a stronger and expert-led offering to our family and educator audience, giving them access to some of the best in the business at how board games can be a fantastic alternative to digital screens.”

While Dungeons & Dragons takes up a significant footprint, the event spans the full spectrum of non-digital gaming. Sponsors and publishers such as Hachette Boardgames UK, Coiledspring Games, and local retail provider Thistle Tavern bring extensive libraries of board games, family strategy titles, and trading card games to the trade hall floor. Dedicated spaces also showcase independent roleplaying games, card games, and tabletop skirmish systems, ensuring attendees can explore diverse genres beyond traditional dungeon crawlers.

The onsite presence of the Scottish Huntington’s Association will offer attendees direct ways to support the organisation during the show, bringing high-profile political visibility to a charity widely backed in the Scottish Parliament. Combined with an open-play board game library, scheduled tournaments, and independent publisher booths, the festival aims to solidify its position as a central gathering