
GAMA | Game Manufacturers Association 2027
Event Date
April 25–29, 2027
Location
Baltimore, MD
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryGAMA Expo is the premier professional trade show for the hobby and tabletop games industry, organized by GAMA: The Tabletop Game Association. It brings together publishers, retailers, distributors, manufacturers, game designers, and other industry professionals for five days of business, education, and networking. The event features seminars, panel discussions, product reviews, and hands-on demos of new products, all in a welcoming environment built to help attendees grow their businesses and connect with peers across the industry.
The show is a trade-only event: attendance requires GAMA membership, and the exhibit hall showcases the latest games and products from hundreds of publishers. Its core audiences include hobby game retailers, publishers, wholesalers, designers, and media and events professionals, making it a key annual gathering point for the North American tabletop trade.
Beginning in 2027, GAMA Expo moves to the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland, where it will be held each April through 2032. The relocation followed rapid growth that outpaced the show's previous homes, and the larger Baltimore venue offers more room for exhibitors, classes, and meetings. For anyone doing business in tabletop gaming, GAMA Expo is a valuable place to preview products, sharpen professional skills, and build industry relationships.
Show Highlights
GAMA Expo packs professional development and business-building into a five-day program. Signature features include:
- Seminars, panels, and presentations covering topics such as international retail, community building, rulebook writing, and media ethics — recent editions offered close to 200 sessions.
- A large exhibit hall where publishers showcase upcoming games directly to retailers, with product reviews and hands-on demos of new products.
- Dedicated tracks for different professional segments, including a designer track and expanded programming for the production category.
- Networking opportunities built to help members connect and collaborate across publishing, retail, distribution, and media.
Attendance
GAMA Expo has grown rapidly in recent years. Its final show in Reno, Nevada in 2023 drew just over 2,000 attendees. After moving to Louisville, Kentucky, 2024 attendance rose 37% to more than 2,700, and exhibitors jumped 50% to 300. The 2025 edition surged again to more than 3,420 attendees. At the 2025 show, nearly 1,100 retailers attended (up 22%), publisher numbers rose 24% to 240, more than 150 designers attended (up 47%), production-category attendees nearly doubled to 111, and media and events attendees rose 14% to 129. The number of booths in the exhibit hall grew from 300 to 350.
Registration
GAMA Expo is a trade-only show, and you must be a GAMA member to attend. Key points based on recent editions:
- Join GAMA — membership is required to attend; GAMA has described membership as "the best $300 you will spend all year."
- Register your badges — members receive an emailed link to register through Tabletop.Events (TTE). All Voting Members receive two complimentary badges as part of membership, and eligible members are sent a unique badge code.
- Additional badges — extra GAMA Expo badges have been priced at $125 each.
- Confirmation and hotel — after registering, attendees receive a confirmation email with a link to book in the official hotel room block.
If registering more than one badge, GAMA recommends using a unique email address for each badge holder to simplify badge pickup and scheduling. Prospective exhibitors can email exhibitors@gama.org for booth information and waiting lists.
History
GAMA Expo is run by GAMA: The Tabletop Game Association, a non-profit trade organization dedicated to serving the hobby games industry by advancing members' interests and providing educational programs. In recent years the show has experienced dramatic growth. Its 2023 edition in Reno, Nevada — its former home — drew just over 2,000 attendees, which eclipsed the event's pre-pandemic highs and prompted a move to Louisville, Kentucky for 2024 and 2025. Attendance blew past projections, rising to more than 2,700 in 2024 and more than 3,420 in 2025. Having outgrown the Louisville venue, GAMA announced in 2025 that the Expo would relocate to the Baltimore Convention Center, which offers more space for exhibitors, classes, and meetings. Baltimore will host GAMA Expo for six years, from 2027 through 2032.
Venue & Travel
Venue
Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street
The Baltimore Convention Center is located in central downtown Baltimore, connected to major hotels, with easy access to dining and attractions. The Center offers 300,000 square feet of contiguous exhibition space, approximately 85,000 square feet of meeting space (50 meeting rooms), and a multifunctional 36,672-square-foot ballroom, giving it the capacity and flexibility for a variety of professional events. It consists of two connected buildings and has two hotels directly connected to it, with many more hotels within reasonable walking distance. It is connected to Baltimore's skywalks, is a less than 10-minute walk to the Inner Harbor and its food and entertainment options, and sits across the street from the Orioles' baseball stadium. The SLEEP registration desk is located in the Pratt Street Lobby of the convention center.
Parking
Attendees should note that on-site public parking at the Baltimore Convention Center is limited. At comparable large events, public parking is not available at the BCC itself, and parking has been arranged at Camden Yards (for example, Lot C) across the street, with a shuttle running to the Pratt Street entrance. Numerous downtown garages and lots are also available nearby. Street and lot parking are available throughout downtown, and parking can be booked in advance through SpotHero via the website or app, with a discount code (VISITBAL) offering 10% off for new SpotHero users. Rates and availability are subject to change, so confirm current options before you travel.
Getting There
By air: Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) is the main commercial airport serving Baltimore and is roughly a 9.7-mile drive to the Baltimore Convention Center — about a 17-minute drive, and accessible via taxi, shuttle service, train, or rideshare.
Public transit: The west end of the facility is served by the Convention Center/Pratt Street Station of the Maryland Transit Administration's light rail system, providing direct links to both BWI Airport and Baltimore Penn Station (MARC Penn Line and Amtrak Northeast Corridor trains). The Center is less than 2 miles from Baltimore's Penn Station, reachable within 10 minutes by taxi or rideshare.
Rideshare and taxi: Taxis are available outside baggage claim at BWI, and Lyft and Uber are authorized to provide services at the airport. Rental cars are available at BWI, with a free shuttle between the terminal and the Car Rental Facility.
Nearby Hotels
Visit Baltimore is the exclusive housing provider for SLEEP 2026, offering discounted rates at partner hotels near the convention center, including:
- Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor (HQ Hotel) — $299, 3-minute walk, 401 W Pratt St
- Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor — $259, 3-minute walk, 300 Light St
- Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards — $269, 3-minute walk, 110 S Eutaw St
- Days Inn by Wyndham Baltimore Inner Harbor — $189, 3-minute walk, 100 Hopkins Pl
- Sonesta Hotel Baltimore Inner Harbor — $149, 5-minute walk, 1 E Redwood St
- Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore — $229, 6-minute walk, 550 Light St
- Hampton Inn Baltimore Convention Center — $169, 6-minute walk, 550 Washington Blvd
- Hotel Monaco Baltimore (A Kimpton Hotel) — $259, 6-minute walk, 2 N Charles St
- Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel — $259, 7-minute walk, 202 E Pratt St
- Lord Baltimore Hotel — $269, 7-minute walk, 20 W Baltimore St
Room rates are subject to change; reserve early to secure the best rates and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is GAMA Expo 2027?
GAMA Expo 2027 takes place April 25-29, 2027, at the Baltimore Convention Center in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. It is the show's first year in Baltimore, which will host GAMA Expo annually through 2032.
Who can attend GAMA Expo?
GAMA Expo is a trade-only event, and you must be a GAMA member to attend. It is geared toward hobby and tabletop game industry professionals, including retailers, publishers, distributors, manufacturers, designers, and media.
How do I register for GAMA Expo?
First join GAMA as a member, then register your badges through the emailed link to Tabletop.Events. Voting Members receive two complimentary badges, and additional badges have been priced at $125 each in recent years.
What happens at GAMA Expo?
The five-day show features an exhibit hall with hundreds of exhibitors, plus seminars, panel discussions, product reviews, and hands-on demos of new products. It is built to help attendees network, learn, and grow their tabletop game businesses.
Where should I stay and how do I get to the venue?
The Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor and Hyatt Regency connect to the convention center via skywalks, and thousands of downtown hotel rooms are nearby, many within a block. The venue is about a 20-minute drive from BWI Airport and is served directly by the MTA Light RailLink Convention Center station on Pratt Street.
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