Warhammer World Space Marine. Photo by Julie Gibbons (CCBY2.0)

We are pleased to announce that the third annual Games Workshop Research and Play Convention (note the new name) is taking place on Saturday 19th September 2026 at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester.

Games Workshop has been at the forefront of tabletop gaming for over five decades, producing some of the most culturally significant games, miniatures, and fictional worlds in the hobby’s history. GWRPC brings together researchers, players, and designers to explore Games Workshop's games and their wider legacies, welcoming contributions from all disciplinary backgrounds. For its third outing, the event will run all day from 9:30 until 20:30 and has three parts. The morning will be dedicated to talks about Games Workshop’s games, the afternoon will be a ‘playable exhibition’ in which we pair gaming with presentations, and the day will conclude with a social evening of gaming and music at ‘Grimdark after Dark’, organised in collaboration with the Dark Arts Research Kollective.

This event is free and open for all members of the public, staff and students to attend (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult). However, places are limited. Please book your ticket by clicking the link below:

---

This event organised by the Manchester Game Centre in collaboration with the Dark Arts Research Kollective.