Strategicon has posted the dates for Gamex 2027: Friday, May 28, through Monday, May 31, over Memorial Day weekend at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport. The convention opens at noon on Friday and runs continuously until 6 p.m. Monday. That is 78 hours of board games, card games, miniatures, role-playing games, collectible games, and video games under one roof.
Gamex is the middle stop of Strategicon’s three-show year, between Orccon in February and Gateway on Labor Day weekend. The 2027 event schedule has not been posted yet. Here is everything that is confirmed, plus how the convention runs, as of October 5, 2026.
The quick version
| When | Friday, May 28, at noon through Monday, May 31, 2027, at 6 p.m. |
| Where | Hilton Los Angeles Airport, 5711 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045 |
| What | Board, card, miniatures, role-playing, collectible, and video games |
| Full con badge | $75 online, $85 at the door (current posted price) |
| Parking | $13 a day at the Hilton with a Strategicon pass |
| Kids | 11 and under $10 with an adult; a family area with games for ages 3 to 6 |
| Official site | strategicon.net |
What happens at Gamex
Strategicon describes its conventions as a chance to play, watch, and buy games of every kind. The weekend runs on scheduled events and tournaments that you sign up for ahead of time, plus open gaming, a game library, a dealer room, a flea market, an auction, and a miniatures painting contest.
New to cons? Start here
Strategicon keeps a guide for first-timers, parents, and anyone who feels lost. Its first piece of advice: walk the whole convention before committing to anything, and take note of the open gaming areas. A few more practical moves:
- Check out a game from the library and teach yourself at an open table.
- Look for the family area if you have small kids. It has its own library aimed at ages 3 to 6.
- Buy online. Pre-registering saves $10 on a full con pass and skips the registration line.
- Pace yourself. The convention never closes between Friday noon and Monday evening, which is great for night owls and dangerous for everyone else.
Badges
Strategicon’s registration page lists these prices as of October 5, 2026. They are the rates posted for the current season, and 2027 prices have not been announced, so check before you buy.
| Badge | Price |
|---|---|
| Full Con Pass | $75 online, $85 at the door |
| Teen Full Con Pass (ages 12 to 17) | $50 online, $60 at the door |
| Season Pass (next three shows) | $180 online, $200 at the door |
| Child with adult (11 and under) | $10 |
| Saturday or Sunday Family Day Pass | $100 |
| One Day: Friday | $35 |
| One Day: Saturday or Sunday | $45 |
| One Day: Monday | $20 |
- Volunteer: Work eight hours and your badge is free.
- Group discount: Members of dozens of listed game groups, plus current U.S. military, veterans, and allies, get $70 full con passes and $170 season passes.
- Wear it: Your badge has to be visible above the waist. A lost badge costs full price to replace.
Hotel and parking
- Address: Hilton Los Angeles Airport, 5711 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045.
- Room block: Strategicon books one large convention block at the Hilton, and once it is gone, it is gone. For Gateway 2026, last year’s rate was $160 a night for one or two people, $180 for three, and $200 for four. The 2027 rates and booking deadlines have not been posted.
- Hilton parking: Self-parking is $13 a day for attendees. Hotel guests get an in-and-out pass at check-in. Non-guests get the $13 rate by having their ticket stamped, or picking up a pass, at the Strategicon registration desk, and that does not include in-and-out privileges. Valet is $25.
- The lot fills up. Strategicon notes surrounding lots typically run $25 to $40 a day and recommends reserving ahead through SpotHero.
Inside the con
- Game library: Hundreds of games to check out. Bring your badge and a government-issued ID, which is held while you have the game. Last listed hours: Friday 3 p.m. to midnight, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to midnight, Monday 9 a.m. to noon.
- Family area: In Catalina A on the second floor, with a separate library of games for ages 3 to 6, plus puzzles and coloring.
- Flea market: In the Pacific Ballroom Foyer. Tables rent for $10 an hour and require a badge. Selling current, in-print products is not allowed.
- Auction: Monday at 11 a.m. in the Carmel room, with up to 200 lots. Lot slips are $2, and a $50 buyer tab deposit lets you pay at the end instead of lot by lot.
- Painting contest: Miniatures entries are accepted Saturday at 10 a.m. through Sunday at noon in International Ballroom A, with judging Sunday at 2 p.m.
- Tournaments: Bring a copy of the game. Strategicon says players without one can be replaced by someone who has it.
Still to come
The Gamex 2027 event schedule, game sign-up date, event submission deadline, 2027 badge prices, and the hotel rate and booking deadline have not been posted as of October 5, 2026. The 824 Journal will update this guide when they are.
Sources
- Strategicon, official site (2027 convention dates, venue, hours)
- Strategicon: Convention Registration (badge prices, at-the-door hours, group discounts)
- Strategicon: Hotel
- Strategicon: Parking and Transportation
- Strategicon: Game Library
- Strategicon: Family Area
- Strategicon: Flea Market
- Strategicon: Auction
- Strategicon: Painting Contest
- Strategicon: Special Events (Gateway 2026)
- Strategicon: Code of Conduct
- Strategicon: New to Gaming
Featured photo: Diacritica via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
