Pyrkon 2026 returns to Poznań on 19–21 June 2026, once again taking over the grounds of the Poznań International Fair. For three days, the city becomes one of the biggest meeting points for fantasy, science fiction, comics, games, cosplay and fandom culture in Europe. The official site describes Pyrkon as a festival with 52 hours of continuous attractions, more than 2,000 programme items, and over 300 exhibitors. It’s a scale that makes it much more than a “walk around the halls” convention. The programme is divided into themed zones, including the Board, Wargames and Card Games Zone.
Wargaming at Pyrkon: demos, tables, miniatures and painting
The Board, Wargames and Card Games Zone looks like the natural first stop for miniature gamers. Pyrkon’s own description of the zone puts board games, card games and wargames side by side, with staff on hand to explain rules, recommend titles and help players find opponents. The zone is described as suitable both for beginners and experienced players, with tournaments also taking place there.
For wargamers specifically, the official zone page gives a clear picture of what to expect: miniature battles played on mats, units represented by models, alternating moves, orders, shooting, charges and victory conditions ranging from holding objectives to destroying the enemy army. Importantly, the site also emphasizes intro games, where visitors can approach demonstration tables where experienced teachers explain the basics and run a first game.
That matters because Pyrkon is likely to be especially good for two kinds of wargamers. The first are curious beginners who have seen painted armies online but have never pushed a unit across the table. A convention demo removes the biggest barrier: you do not need an army, terrain collection or rulebook to try the hobby. The second group are veteran players who enjoy the community side of miniature gaming — seeing tables, talking systems, meeting painters, checking vendors and discovering what local clubs or publishers are doing.
There is also a hobby angle beyond the battlefield. Pyrkon advertises a miniature painting station in the Board, Wargames and Card Games Zone, with brushes, figures and paints available on site. That makes it a useful stop not only for players, but also for hobbyists who care more about building, painting and collecting than competitive play.
RPG players get their own strong reason to attend
Pyrkon 2026 also looks promising for RPG fans. The RPG zone is presented as a place where visitors can join tabletop role-playing sessions, explore different worlds and meet people interested in storytelling, mechanics and worldbuilding. The general Pyrkon overview also highlights a 24-hour RPG zone with sessions run by duty Game Masters.
The 2026 guest list gives the RPG side extra weight. Pyrkon has announced representatives of Rowan, Rook and Decard — including Grant Howitt, Chris Taylor and others associated with games such as Heart: The City Beneath, Spire: The City Must Fall, Honey Heist, DIE RPG, Eat the Reich and Hollows. The same announcement also confirms Chris Birch of Modiphius Entertainment, with references to lines such as Achtung! Cthulhu, Dune, Fallout, Homeworld: Fleet Command and The Elder Scrolls Skyrim.
Another RPG announcement adds Jon Peterson, known for his work on the history of role-playing games, alongside Jessica Lee Patterson, Felix Isaacs and Ray Chou. For anyone interested not only in playing RPGs but also in how the hobby developed, how worlds are built and how systems become culture, that is a strong reason to watch the RPG schedule closely.
Board games, card games and the wider tabletop ecosystem
Pyrkon’s tabletop offering is not limited to wargames and RPGs. The official Board, Wargames and Card Games Zone also includes card-game activities for both newcomers and veterans, board-game borrowing, a prototype zone for people interested in design, and a general “sit down and play” atmosphere.
There are also notable guests for board-game fans. Robert J. Harris, creator of Talisman, is announced for the Board, Wargames and Card Games Zone, alongside fantasy artist Paul Bonner, whose portfolio includes work for Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer 40,000.
The exhibitor list should also interest tabletop collectors. The 2026 vendor page includes categories for board/card games and RPG, with exhibitors such as Q Workshop, Rebel, Copernicus Corporation, Black Monk Games and Archon Studio appearing in the list. Copernicus, for example, advertises Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Warhammer 40,000 role-playing lines, Age of Sigmar: Soulbound, Conan and The Witcher RPG; Archon Studio is listed as a Polish producer of board games and miniatures.
How to plan the visit
The official programme page is already built around filters, which should be useful for tabletop visitors trying to avoid being overwhelmed.
That means the best strategy for wargamers and RPG players is to treat Pyrkon like a campaign weekend. Pick a few priority events, then leave space for wandering. The strongest parts of a convention like this are often not the headline panels, but the unexpected demo table, the painting stand conversation, the publisher booth with a new book, or the moment someone says, “We need one more player.”
Join it Now
Pyrkon 2026 looks like a broad fantasy festival, but tabletop players should not dismiss it as “just cosplay and pop culture.” Between the Board, Wargames and Card Games Zone, intro wargame tables, miniature painting, major RPG guests, board-game designers and a large exhibitor area, there is enough here to fill an entire weekend without leaving the analogue gaming side of the convention.
For wargamers, the big draw is accessibility: demonstration games, painted miniatures, painting support and a chance to meet people around the table. For RPG fans, it is the combination of sessions, designers, publishers and worldbuilding talk. And for anyone who sits somewhere between the two, the kind of player who likes campaign systems, narrative battles, skirmish games, RPG sourcebooks and beautiful dice, Pyrkon 2026 is one of the most interesting European events on the calendar.
Tickets for Pyrkon 2026 are already available, so if Poznań is within your travel range and your hobby shelf has room for another convention badge, now is the time to plan the trip. Whether you are coming to try a new wargame, join an RPG session, browse miniatures and books, or simply spend a weekend among people who speak the same language of dice, templates and character sheets, Pyrkon looks like a strong pick for June 2026. Mark 19–21 June 2026 in your calendar, and secure your entry through the official Pyrkon website before the weekend campaign begins.
