Gen Con Indianapolis 2026: Complete First-Timer's Attendee Guide
Updated March 7, 2026
Everything you need to know before your first Gen Con — from badge pickup to surviving the Exhibit Hall.
Gen Con 2026: July 30–August 2 · Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium · Full event info
Gen Con by the numbers: 70,000+ attendees. 600+ exhibitors. 17,000+ events. The largest tabletop gaming convention in North America has called Indianapolis home since 2003. For four days every August, downtown Indy transforms into the best four days in gaming — and if you've never been, you are not prepared for the scale of it. This guide will help.
Dates
July 30 – Aug 2, 2026
Venue
Indiana Convention Center
Attendance
70,000+
Getting There
Skywalk from downtown hotels
Crowd Level
Extremely high — book early
Weather
Hot & humid — skywalk is key
Badge Registration & Pickup
Gen Con badges sell out. Not eventually — fast. Badge registration opens in late winter (typically January or February) and four-day badges can sell out within hours. If you are planning to attend, set a calendar reminder for the registration opening date and be at your computer when it opens.
Badge Types
4-Day Badge
The standard Gen Con badge. Covers Thursday through Sunday. Gives you access to the Exhibit Hall, free events, and the ability to register for ticketed events through Event Horizon. This is what most attendees buy.
The standard Gen Con badge. Covers Thursday through Sunday. Gives you access to the Exhibit Hall, free events, and the ability to register for ticketed events through Event Horizon. This is what most attendees buy.
Single-Day Badges
Available for individual days (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday). Good if you're local and only want one or two days. Saturday is the biggest day — expect the Exhibit Hall and event spaces to be at peak capacity.
Available for individual days (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday). Good if you're local and only want one or two days. Saturday is the biggest day — expect the Exhibit Hall and event spaces to be at peak capacity.
Young Gamer Badges
Discounted badges for attendees under 17. Children under a certain age may attend free with a paying adult. Check the Gen Con website for current age thresholds and policies.
Discounted badges for attendees under 17. Children under a certain age may attend free with a paying adult. Check the Gen Con website for current age thresholds and policies.
Picking Up Your Badge
Badge pickup is at the Indiana Convention Center. Gen Con has two ways to get your badge: pick it up on-site, or have it mailed in advance if you registered early enough. Mail delivery is available to U.S. addresses for a small fee — it saves significant time on arrival day and is well worth it.
The Thursday morning badge line is legendary — and not in a good way. If you did not get your badge mailed, arrive at badge pickup before the doors open on Thursday. Lines at badge pickup on Thursday morning stretch long and move slowly. Veterans arrive at 7 AM or earlier. If you pick up Wednesday evening (Gen Con opens badge pickup Wednesday afternoon before the main con), you skip the Thursday chaos entirely. Check the official schedule — Wednesday pickup availability is one of the most useful things Gen Con offers.
Get your badge mailed if you can
U.S. attendees who register early enough can have their badge mailed. The mail fee is small and completely worth it. You walk in on Thursday and go straight to gaming, no lines.
U.S. attendees who register early enough can have their badge mailed. The mail fee is small and completely worth it. You walk in on Thursday and go straight to gaming, no lines.
Wednesday badge pickup
Gen Con typically opens badge pickup on Wednesday afternoon at the ICC. If you're arriving Wednesday anyway (which you should, given hotel costs and travel), grabbing your badge Wednesday evening takes 10 minutes instead of 90.
Gen Con typically opens badge pickup on Wednesday afternoon at the ICC. If you're arriving Wednesday anyway (which you should, given hotel costs and travel), grabbing your badge Wednesday evening takes 10 minutes instead of 90.
Your badge is your wristband
Gen Con badges include a lanyard and are worn all four days. Keep it visible — staff check badges at event entrances and exhibit hall doors. Lost badges can be replaced at the registration desk for a fee.
Gen Con badges include a lanyard and are worn all four days. Keep it visible — staff check badges at event entrances and exhibit hall doors. Lost badges can be replaced at the registration desk for a fee.
Event Horizon: The Event Catalog
Event Horizon is Gen Con's online event registration system — the place where you browse the 17,000+ scheduled events and register for the ones you want to attend. Understanding how Event Horizon works is the difference between playing in the events you wanted and spending four days on the general admission waiting list.
Event Horizon fills up months before the con. Popular RPG sessions, limited workshops, and celebrity-run events can sell out within minutes of registration opening. The Event Horizon registration window opens in the spring — typically May or June. Mark your calendar. When it opens, have a prioritized list ready and register immediately for your must-do events.
How Event Horizon Works
Ticketed Events
Most events have a small ticket cost (typically $2–8 per event). You buy tickets through Event Horizon when you register. Your badge gives you access to the con; event tickets get you into specific sessions. Budget $20–50 in event tickets on top of your badge cost.
Most events have a small ticket cost (typically $2–8 per event). You buy tickets through Event Horizon when you register. Your badge gives you access to the con; event tickets get you into specific sessions. Budget $20–50 in event tickets on top of your badge cost.
True Dungeon and Premium Events
Some events (particularly True Dungeon, an immersive dungeon crawl experience) cost significantly more and sell out extremely fast. If True Dungeon is on your list, treat it as your highest priority during Event Horizon registration.
Some events (particularly True Dungeon, an immersive dungeon crawl experience) cost significantly more and sell out extremely fast. If True Dungeon is on your list, treat it as your highest priority during Event Horizon registration.
Generic Tickets and Walk-Up Events
Not everything requires pre-registration. Generic tickets (bought in bulk) can be used at many events that have open seats. Many events also accept walk-ups if they're not full. You can have a great Gen Con without pre-registering for a single event — but you'll miss the most popular ones.
Not everything requires pre-registration. Generic tickets (bought in bulk) can be used at many events that have open seats. Many events also accept walk-ups if they're not full. You can have a great Gen Con without pre-registering for a single event — but you'll miss the most popular ones.
Building your schedule
Event Horizon lets you search by game system, event type (RPG, board game, miniatures, LARP, seminar, etc.), day, and time slot. Build a schedule with backup options — popular first choices often sell out, and having a list of alternatives for each time slot keeps the weekend productive.
Event Horizon lets you search by game system, event type (RPG, board game, miniatures, LARP, seminar, etc.), day, and time slot. Build a schedule with backup options — popular first choices often sell out, and having a list of alternatives for each time slot keeps the weekend productive.
What to Prioritize
Gen Con event types span everything from scheduled board game sessions to full theatrical LARPs. For first-timers, here is where to start:
RPG one-shots — The heart of Gen Con. Run by professional GMs and designers. Great way to try a new system in a 4-hour session with strangers who become friends.
Board game demos — Publishers demo unreleased games. First look at games that won't hit stores for months or years. Most are free with your badge.
Seminars and panels — Game designers, authors, and publishers discuss their work. Often free or cheap. A good option when your ticketed events are sold out.
True Dungeon — Register immediately when Event Horizon opens if this is on your list. It sells out in minutes every year.
Exhibit Hall Survival Guide
The Gen Con Exhibit Hall — officially called the Dealer's Hall — is one of the largest retail spaces you will ever walk through at a gaming event. It spans the Indiana Convention Center and connects into Lucas Oil Stadium for the largest publishers and exhibitors. Walking the whole thing is multiple miles. You need a strategy.
Go in with a list, not a vibe. The Exhibit Hall is overwhelming in the best way. Without a plan, you will spend four hours in there, buy something you didn't intend to, and miss the three things you actually wanted. Look up the exhibitor map before Thursday and mark your must-visit booths. Hit those first, then browse freely.
Exhibit Hall Strategy
Thursday morning: crowds and new releases
The hall opens Thursday at 10 AM and the first hour is chaotic. If you want a specific new release (publishers drop major titles at Gen Con), line up early. Some booths have limited copies and sell out before noon. For everything else, come back Friday when the crowds thin slightly.
The hall opens Thursday at 10 AM and the first hour is chaotic. If you want a specific new release (publishers drop major titles at Gen Con), line up early. Some booths have limited copies and sell out before noon. For everything else, come back Friday when the crowds thin slightly.
Sunday: clearance deals
Publishers do not want to ship unsold inventory home. Sunday afternoon, many booths discount heavily. If you're not chasing a specific new release, Sunday is the best day to buy — 20–40% off is common in the final hours.
Publishers do not want to ship unsold inventory home. Sunday afternoon, many booths discount heavily. If you're not chasing a specific new release, Sunday is the best day to buy — 20–40% off is common in the final hours.
Shipping service
Gen Con offers a shipping service so you don't have to carry boxes back to your hotel. If you're flying, use it. If you're driving, bring a box in your car trunk and visit the hall on Sunday afternoon after you've seen everything.
Gen Con offers a shipping service so you don't have to carry boxes back to your hotel. If you're flying, use it. If you're driving, bring a box in your car trunk and visit the hall on Sunday afternoon after you've seen everything.
Budget before you walk in
The Exhibit Hall will test your willpower. Set a hard budget before you enter. Many first-timers walk out having spent significantly more than planned. The games are good. The deals are real. The temptation is everywhere.
The Exhibit Hall will test your willpower. Set a hard budget before you enter. Many first-timers walk out having spent significantly more than planned. The games are good. The deals are real. The temptation is everywhere.
Wear your most comfortable shoes
This cannot be overstated. The hall is massive. You will stand in lines. You will walk miles of concrete floor. Foot pain on Day 1 makes Days 2–4 miserable. Wear the shoes you would wear to a theme park, not the ones that look good.
This cannot be overstated. The hall is massive. You will stand in lines. You will walk miles of concrete floor. Foot pain on Day 1 makes Days 2–4 miserable. Wear the shoes you would wear to a theme park, not the ones that look good.
Getting Around: The Skywalk System
For Gen Con, understanding the Indianapolis skywalk system is not optional — it is essential. August in Indianapolis means heat, humidity, and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. With 70,000 people moving between hotels and the Convention Center all day, the skywalk is the difference between arriving dry and comfortable and arriving soaked and miserable.
The skywalk is your best friend at Gen Con. August afternoons in Indianapolis regularly bring heavy rain, sometimes lasting hours. The skywalk system connects the Indiana Convention Center to multiple major hotels without stepping outside. Learn the route from your hotel before Thursday morning so you're not figuring it out in a crowd.
Hotels with Skywalk Access
These hotels connect directly to the Indiana Convention Center via the enclosed skywalk system — no outdoor walking required:
JW Marriott Indianapolis — The flagship hotel for Gen Con. Large block of Gen Con housing rooms here every year. Direct skywalk to ICC. Sells out first — book the moment Gen Con housing opens.
Indianapolis Marriott Downtown — Skywalk connected, slightly more affordable than the JW. Also part of the Gen Con housing block. Books extremely fast.
Westin Indianapolis — Skywalk access, popular with Gen Con attendees, comfortable rooms. Part of the housing block.
Hyatt Regency Indianapolis — Skywalk connected, good location directly adjacent to Monument Circle. Quality hotel at a slightly higher price point.
Conrad Indianapolis — Luxury option with skywalk access. Quieter than the main convention hotels — good if you want to escape the crowd at the end of the day.
For the full skywalk map and hotel connection guide: Indianapolis Skywalk Guide.
The Rest of Getting Around
Walk — everything is close
The Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, and all the major Gen Con hotels are in a compact downtown grid. Even hotels without skywalk access are typically a 5–10 minute walk from the ICC. Downtown Indianapolis is flat and easy to navigate.
The Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, and all the major Gen Con hotels are in a compact downtown grid. Even hotels without skywalk access are typically a 5–10 minute walk from the ICC. Downtown Indianapolis is flat and easy to navigate.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft work well downtown. Expect surge pricing during peak hours (Thursday morning badge pickup, when events let out at 10 PM, etc.). Walk a block from the main entrance for better pickup availability.
Uber and Lyft work well downtown. Expect surge pricing during peak hours (Thursday morning badge pickup, when events let out at 10 PM, etc.). Walk a block from the main entrance for better pickup availability.
From the airport
Indianapolis International Airport is 20 minutes from downtown by rideshare (typically $25–35). No direct rail link exists. Book your rideshare before you land — the queue at the airport can move slowly during convention arrival days (Wednesday and Thursday morning).
Indianapolis International Airport is 20 minutes from downtown by rideshare (typically $25–35). No direct rail link exists. Book your rideshare before you land — the queue at the airport can move slowly during convention arrival days (Wednesday and Thursday morning).
Georgia Street is the outdoor hub
Georgia Street runs along the south side of the Convention Center and transforms into Gen Con's outdoor commons. Food trucks, art installations, impromptu gaming setups, and thousands of cosplayers fill it all weekend. It connects the ICC to Lucas Oil Stadium at street level — the skywalk is better in rain, but Georgia Street is more fun when it's nice out.
Georgia Street runs along the south side of the Convention Center and transforms into Gen Con's outdoor commons. Food trucks, art installations, impromptu gaming setups, and thousands of cosplayers fill it all weekend. It connects the ICC to Lucas Oil Stadium at street level — the skywalk is better in rain, but Georgia Street is more fun when it's nice out.
Where to Eat During Gen Con
70,000 people, four days, downtown Indianapolis. The dining situation is actually manageable — Indianapolis has a lot of restaurants, and the city has been hosting major conventions for decades. But you need to know where to go and when to avoid the worst lines.
We have a full Gen Con restaurant guide. The best places near the Convention Center, what to order, which spots are cosplay-friendly, and where to find food at 11 PM when the evening events let out. Read the Gen Con Restaurant Guide →
Quick Strategy by Meal
Breakfast
Hotel restaurants are packed 8–9 AM before events start. If your hotel has a grab-and-go option, use it. Otherwise, eat before 7:30 AM or after 9:30 AM to avoid the rush. CVS and Walgreens near the ICC are underrated for quick breakfast items.
Hotel restaurants are packed 8–9 AM before events start. If your hotel has a grab-and-go option, use it. Otherwise, eat before 7:30 AM or after 9:30 AM to avoid the rush. CVS and Walgreens near the ICC are underrated for quick breakfast items.
Lunch
Avoid 12–1 PM everywhere near the Convention Center — it's the peak rush of the day. Eat at 11 AM before events break, or wait until 2 PM. The food trucks on Georgia Street are the fastest option for a midday meal without leaving the action.
Avoid 12–1 PM everywhere near the Convention Center — it's the peak rush of the day. Eat at 11 AM before events break, or wait until 2 PM. The food trucks on Georgia Street are the fastest option for a midday meal without leaving the action.
Dinner
Make reservations before you arrive for any sit-down restaurant you care about. Gen Con week is one of the busiest restaurant weeks in Indianapolis — St. Elmo's, Harry & Izzy's, and other downtown spots book out weeks in advance. Walk-up options exist but require patience.
Make reservations before you arrive for any sit-down restaurant you care about. Gen Con week is one of the busiest restaurant weeks in Indianapolis — St. Elmo's, Harry & Izzy's, and other downtown spots book out weeks in advance. Walk-up options exist but require patience.
Late night
Events run until 10 PM (sometimes later). Late-night options matter. Kilroy's Bar & Grill is the unofficial Gen Con after-hours hangout. Tin Roof serves food until 3 AM. Old Spaghetti Factory, Yard House, and Bakersfield on Mass Ave are all good options for the 10 PM crowd.
Events run until 10 PM (sometimes later). Late-night options matter. Kilroy's Bar & Grill is the unofficial Gen Con after-hours hangout. Tin Roof serves food until 3 AM. Old Spaghetti Factory, Yard House, and Bakersfield on Mass Ave are all good options for the 10 PM crowd.
Restaurants to Know
Kilroy's Bar & Grill — $$ · 5 min walk
The Gen Con after-hours institution. No reservations. Put your name in, get a drink at the bar, wait. Massive menu, good burgers, great beer list. Open late every night of Gen Con. Every RPG player in the city is here between 10 PM and midnight.
The Gen Con after-hours institution. No reservations. Put your name in, get a drink at the bar, wait. Massive menu, good burgers, great beer list. Open late every night of Gen Con. Every RPG player in the city is here between 10 PM and midnight.
St. Elmo Steak House — $$$$ · 3 min walk
The Indianapolis dining institution since 1902. The shrimp cocktail with its searingly spicy horseradish is a rite of passage. Book weeks ahead for Gen Con week. If you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just want one great meal — this is it.
The Indianapolis dining institution since 1902. The shrimp cocktail with its searingly spicy horseradish is a rite of passage. Book weeks ahead for Gen Con week. If you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just want one great meal — this is it.
Old Spaghetti Factory — $$ · 10 min walk
A Gen Con institution in its own right. Cheap, filling, takes groups, cosplay welcome. The wait can be long but moves fast. Go later in the evening (after 8 PM) for shorter waits. The mizithra pasta is the move.
A Gen Con institution in its own right. Cheap, filling, takes groups, cosplay welcome. The wait can be long but moves fast. Go later in the evening (after 8 PM) for shorter waits. The mizithra pasta is the move.
Bakersfield Mass Ave — $$ · 15 min walk
Best tacos near downtown. Walk down Mass Ave to escape the main con crowd, great cocktails, lively atmosphere. Cosplay is completely at home here.
Best tacos near downtown. Walk down Mass Ave to escape the main con crowd, great cocktails, lively atmosphere. Cosplay is completely at home here.
Yard House — $$ · 8 min walk
Good for groups with different preferences. Extensive menu, great draft beer list, takes large parties. Consistently manages Gen Con crowds well.
Good for groups with different preferences. Extensive menu, great draft beer list, takes large parties. Consistently manages Gen Con crowds well.
Tin Roof — $$ · 5 min walk
Live music, late-night food. The kitchen is open until 3 AM, which makes this the go-to when everything else has closed.
Live music, late-night food. The kitchen is open until 3 AM, which makes this the go-to when everything else has closed.
For the full breakdown including food trucks, coffee shops, quick bites, and cosplay-friendly ratings: Gen Con Restaurant Guide.
Hotels: Book Early — We Mean It
"Gen Con housing" is its own phenomenon. The convention negotiates a dedicated housing block with downtown hotels, and those rooms go on sale months before the event — often selling out within minutes of the housing portal opening. This is not marketing language. It is accurate.
Book 12 months out if you can. Gen Con housing typically opens in the winter for the following summer. The best skywalk-connected hotels — JW Marriott, Marriott Downtown, Westin, Hyatt Regency — can sell out their Gen Con housing block within an hour of opening. Set a calendar alert for the housing portal open date and treat it with the same urgency as badge registration.
Your Hotel Options
Gen Con Official Housing Block (first choice)
Gen Con's housing portal lists all participating hotels with negotiated rates. Rates are often better than booking direct or through third-party sites. Hotels in the block are vetted to be walking distance or skywalk-connected. Check gencon.com for the housing portal link and opening date.
Gen Con's housing portal lists all participating hotels with negotiated rates. Rates are often better than booking direct or through third-party sites. Hotels in the block are vetted to be walking distance or skywalk-connected. Check gencon.com for the housing portal link and opening date.
Skywalk hotels (book first)
JW Marriott, Marriott Downtown, Westin, Hyatt Regency, and Conrad Indianapolis all connect to the Convention Center without going outside. In August, when afternoon thunderstorms are common, this is worth a premium. See the Skywalk Guide for the full map.
JW Marriott, Marriott Downtown, Westin, Hyatt Regency, and Conrad Indianapolis all connect to the Convention Center without going outside. In August, when afternoon thunderstorms are common, this is worth a premium. See the Skywalk Guide for the full map.
Close-but-not-skywalk hotels
Hilton Garden Inn, Embassy Suites, Omni Severin, and others are within a 5–8 minute walk of the ICC. Slightly more affordable, but you're walking outside in August heat and potential rain. Worth it if the skywalk hotels are sold out.
Hilton Garden Inn, Embassy Suites, Omni Severin, and others are within a 5–8 minute walk of the ICC. Slightly more affordable, but you're walking outside in August heat and potential rain. Worth it if the skywalk hotels are sold out.
If downtown is sold out
Broad Ripple (20 min by rideshare) and the North Meridian corridor have hotels that are significantly cheaper. You'll Uber in each morning, which adds cost and time but is workable. Midtown properties like Crowne Plaza Airport and hotels near I-465 are also options.
Broad Ripple (20 min by rideshare) and the North Meridian corridor have hotels that are significantly cheaper. You'll Uber in each morning, which adds cost and time but is workable. Midtown properties like Crowne Plaza Airport and hotels near I-465 are also options.
Check cancellation policies
Many Gen Con attendees book multiple hotels during housing registration (skywalk hotel plus backup) and cancel the extras when plans solidify. Hotels know this happens. Cancellation policies vary — read them before booking.
Many Gen Con attendees book multiple hotels during housing registration (skywalk hotel plus backup) and cancel the extras when plans solidify. Hotels know this happens. Cancellation policies vary — read them before booking.
For rates, amenities, and walking distances for all major downtown Indianapolis hotels: Hotels Near the Convention Center Guide.
Parking
If you are driving to Gen Con, know this: parking is available, but it costs money and fills up. Downtown Indianapolis has extensive parking infrastructure — hundreds of thousands of square feet of garages — but 70,000 attendees in a compact downtown creates pressure on the nearest lots.
Pan Am Plaza Garage
Directly attached to the Convention Center. Expect it to be full by 9 AM Thursday. If you're planning to drive daily, get there before 8 AM or use another garage.
Directly attached to the Convention Center. Expect it to be full by 9 AM Thursday. If you're planning to drive daily, get there before 8 AM or use another garage.
Circle Centre Mall Garage
One block from the Convention Center, large capacity. Fills up but usually has space even on peak days. A reliable backup if Pan Am is full.
One block from the Convention Center, large capacity. Fills up but usually has space even on peak days. A reliable backup if Pan Am is full.
SpotHero and ParkWhiz
Book a parking spot in advance through these apps. Pre-booking a week ahead often locks in rates $10–20/day cheaper than showing up and paying drive-up pricing during the event.
Book a parking spot in advance through these apps. Pre-booking a week ahead often locks in rates $10–20/day cheaper than showing up and paying drive-up pricing during the event.
Drive once, stay the whole con
If you can park Thursday and leave your car until Sunday, do it. Driving in and out daily during Gen Con is stressful. Walk, use rideshare, or use the skywalk for daily movement — the car stays in the garage.
If you can park Thursday and leave your car until Sunday, do it. Driving in and out daily during Gen Con is stressful. Walk, use rideshare, or use the skywalk for daily movement — the car stays in the garage.
Street parking is very limited
Washington Street, Illinois Street, and Capitol Avenue near the Convention Center will have restricted parking and event infrastructure. Meter parking near the ICC is not a reliable option for Gen Con week. Use a garage.
Washington Street, Illinois Street, and Capitol Avenue near the Convention Center will have restricted parking and event infrastructure. Meter parking near the ICC is not a reliable option for Gen Con week. Use a garage.
Full guide to downtown Indianapolis parking garages, rates, and locations: Indianapolis Parking Guide.
What to Expect: Your First Gen Con
Gen Con is genuinely unlike any other convention. Even if you've been to other gaming events or trade shows, the combination of scale, enthusiasm, and community makes it a different experience. Here is what to expect as a first-timer.
The Crowd
70,000 people is a lot of people
Thursday is the busiest day, Saturday is a close second. The space between the ICC and Lucas Oil Stadium fills with tens of thousands of people all moving at once. This is normal and manageable, but if large crowds are challenging for you, plan your high-priority Exhibit Hall visit for Friday morning or Sunday when numbers thin.
Thursday is the busiest day, Saturday is a close second. The space between the ICC and Lucas Oil Stadium fills with tens of thousands of people all moving at once. This is normal and manageable, but if large crowds are challenging for you, plan your high-priority Exhibit Hall visit for Friday morning or Sunday when numbers thin.
Noise levels
The Exhibit Hall is loud. Very loud. Hundreds of vendors, demos running, music, crowds — it is a sensory-rich environment. If you are noise-sensitive, consider earplugs or hearing protection for extended hall sessions. Event rooms are typically quieter.
The Exhibit Hall is loud. Very loud. Hundreds of vendors, demos running, music, crowds — it is a sensory-rich environment. If you are noise-sensitive, consider earplugs or hearing protection for extended hall sessions. Event rooms are typically quieter.
The community is welcoming
Gen Con attendees are friendly, enthusiastic, and generally happy to talk about games. If you are standing in line (which you will be), you will have a conversation with a stranger about games within 10 minutes. This is the culture. Embrace it.
Gen Con attendees are friendly, enthusiastic, and generally happy to talk about games. If you are standing in line (which you will be), you will have a conversation with a stranger about games within 10 minutes. This is the culture. Embrace it.
Cosplay
Cosplay is everywhere and it is spectacular
Gen Con has one of the best cosplay cultures of any convention. Elaborate fantasy armor, D&D characters, tabletop game mascots, video game characters — you will see extraordinary craftsmanship walking the halls. The quality gets better every year.
Gen Con has one of the best cosplay cultures of any convention. Elaborate fantasy armor, D&D characters, tabletop game mascots, video game characters — you will see extraordinary craftsmanship walking the halls. The quality gets better every year.
Restaurants and bars are cosplay-friendly
Downtown Indianapolis businesses welcome Gen Con attendees in costume. You will see full fantasy armor at Kilroy's. You will see Pathfinder characters at St. Elmo's bar. Don't worry about being overdressed (or over-costumed) anywhere downtown during Gen Con week.
Downtown Indianapolis businesses welcome Gen Con attendees in costume. You will see full fantasy armor at Kilroy's. You will see Pathfinder characters at St. Elmo's bar. Don't worry about being overdressed (or over-costumed) anywhere downtown during Gen Con week.
Cosplay is not a competition unless you enter one
Gen Con runs a formal costume contest, but most cosplayers are just attending the con in costume because it's fun. Asking to take a photo is welcomed — just ask first. Compliments on craftsmanship are universally appreciated.
Gen Con runs a formal costume contest, but most cosplayers are just attending the con in costume because it's fun. Asking to take a photo is welcomed — just ask first. Compliments on craftsmanship are universally appreciated.
Practical Tips for Your First Gen Con
Hydrate aggressively — August in Indianapolis is hot and humid. The Convention Center is air-conditioned, but you are walking outside, standing in lines, and running a full schedule for four days. Carry a water bottle.
Wear the shoes — Comfortable shoes, every day. Not fashionable shoes. Not new shoes. Shoes you have broken in. The concrete floors of the ICC and LOS are unforgiving over four days.
Bring a bag — You will acquire things: purchases, free demos, handouts, swag. A backpack or tote keeps your hands free. A rolling bag is common but slows you down in crowds.
Have a meeting point — Cell service in the Convention Center can be spotty with 70,000 people sharing towers. Agree on a physical meeting point with your group before you go in each morning so you can find each other if service drops.
Sleep enough — Gen Con runs events until late, and there is always more to do. Veteran attendees who burn themselves out on Thursday and Friday feel it by Saturday. It is a marathon, not a sprint. You will enjoy it more if you get 6+ hours a night.
It will not all fit in four days — and that's fine — No one does everything at Gen Con. The convention is intentionally larger than any one person can experience. Your job is not to see everything; it's to have the Gen Con you wanted. Build your schedule around what matters to you and let the rest happen organically.
The "hallway con" is real. Some of the best experiences at Gen Con happen in hallways, lobbies, and lines — spontaneous games that form while waiting, connections made with designers, conversations that turn into friendships. Your event schedule matters, but leave breathing room for the unplanned. Gen Con veterans will tell you the hallway con is often better than any ticketed event.
More Indianapolis Resources for Gen Con
Planning your Gen Con trip? These guides cover everything else you need.