UK Games Expo 2026 is officially in the books.
The numbers tell part of the story:
833 miles travelled
16 hours behind the wheel
11 hours spent setting up and breaking down the stand
25 hours of trading
What the numbers don't show is just how hot, exhausting, chaotic, and enjoyable the whole thing was.
This year again felt particularly intense. Coming straight off the back of MCM London Comic Con, there wasn't much time to catch a breath before everything needed packed, loaded, driven to Birmingham, unpacked, built, stocked, and somehow made to look like there had been a plan all along.
As always, UK Games Expo delivered. Thousands of gamers, hobbyists, collectors, roleplayers, painters, dice goblins, board game enthusiasts, and wonderfully enthusiastic people all gathered under one roof. It remains one of the highlights of the year and one of the few events where you can spend an entire weekend talking about games without anyone looking at you strangely.
A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by the BlueCyborg stand. Whether you bought something, picked up a business card, signed up for the newsletter, showed me photos of your latest project, or simply stopped for a chat, every conversation helps make these events worthwhile.
Special thanks also go to Gareth from Farplace Games and Frog Hall Games, who repeatedly appeared with much-needed water and snacks at exactly the moments they were needed most.
Thanks as well to the folks from Bucket List Board Games for doing a water run when the heat was starting to take its toll on me. Small acts of kindness go a long way during long convention weekends.
The tabletop community continues to be one of the best parts of this job. Events like UKGE are exhausting, but they are also a reminder of why I keep doing this after more than twenty years. Seeing people discover a new game, find the perfect set of dice, laugh at a ridiculous product, or return year after year to say hello makes all the effort worthwhile.
Of course, now comes the less glamorous part.
The van is unpacked. Stock needs counted. The workshop needs reorganised. Online orders need attention. New products need prepared. Ideas gathered over the weekend need turned into reality.
The event may be over, but the work certainly isn't.
Still, for a few minutes at least, I'm going to sit down, enjoy having four walls that don't belong to an exhibition hall, and appreciate the fact that UK Games Expo 2026 is complete.
Thank you all.
Now, where did I put that coffee?