Gen Con packed the halls of the Indiana Convention Center this past week with nearly 72,000 gamers and fans, setting an all-time attendance record and generating an estimated economic impact of more than $82 million for Indianapolis hotels, restaurants, and other local businesses.

Held each year since 1968, Gen Con gathers fans of board games, card games, roleplaying games, cosplay, and pop culture to play, shop, celebrate, and connect over a shared passion for gaming.

During the four days of the convention, attendees browsed and shopped an exhibit hall featuring over 575 game publishers and vendors and participated in nearly 30,000 events and activities, including a wide range of gaming sessions and tournaments, artist and author appearances, film screenings, musical performances, and the annual Gen Con Costume Contest.

Attendees also flocked to Gen Con’s outdoor Block Party activation on South Street. This outdoor, open-to-the-public festival featured dozens of local food trucks alongside Gen Con’s local food and beverage partners Sun King Brewery, HotBox Pizza, Daniel’s Vineyard, Helm Coffee, Social Cantina, and Harry & Izzy’s.

Gen Con partners with charities each year to raise funds and spotlight the work of the selected nonprofit organizations. This year, attendees helped raise nearly $40,000 for Women4Change Indiana and Brown Toy Box Foundation. Gen Con has raised almost $500,000 for charity since 2003.

Gen Con will return to Indianapolis from July 30 to August 2, 2026, and is contracted to take place there annually through 2030. Badges for next year’s convention will go on sale in early 2026.