Game & Geek Expo 2026 Recap — What Went Down at the Raleigh Convention Center

Game & Geek Expo 2026 wrapped up September 5–6 at the Raleigh Convention Center and it was a significant step up from year one. Here’s what happened.

The Highlights

GGE year two drew a significantly larger crowd than the inaugural event, which welcomed nearly 3,000 fans in 2025. The expanded footprint at the Raleigh Convention Center accommodated more than 150 vendors, more programming space, and dedicated areas for every major hobby category.

Celebrity guests this year included WWE Hall of Famers Ted DiBiase (The Million Dollar Man) and D-Von Dudley of the Dudley Boyz — a draw that brought in fans well outside the typical gaming convention demographic and contributed to the expanded attendance.

TCG and Tabletop at GGE 2026

The Pokémon zone was one of the most active areas of the floor, running special events and tournaments throughout both days. The dedicated tabletop and board game area gave players a consistent space to sit down and play across the full weekend.

For TCG players specifically, the vendor floor was strong — 150+ tables meant solid selection for singles hunters, sealed product, and accessories. The timing also aligned with the BT-26 EN and Magnificent Monsters launches from the same week, so there was fresh product on the floor.

Esports and Scholarships

GGE 2026 featured esports competitions with over $500,000 in scholarships available to Barton College, Louisburg College, North Carolina Wesleyan University, and University of South Carolina Upstate — both for general education and esports-specific programs. This is the kind of community investment that separates GGE from a standard vendor hall convention.

What to Expect at GGE 2027

If year two follows year one’s trajectory, GGE 2027 will be larger again. Produced by Raleigh Retro Gamers and presented by Hidden Block Games, the event is clearly building toward becoming the premier gaming and geek culture convention in the Triangle.

Follow GHF NC for updates on the 2027 dates when they’re announced. And if you went and found any great NC game stores through our directory while you were in Raleigh — we’d love to hear about it.

Author: ghfeditor