PAX Unplugged Philly 2026 Content Schedule Lineup Revealed

PAX Unplugged Philly 2026 Content Schedule Lineup Revealed

This year's show includes a variety of panels, from serious topics including "Scare Tactics: The Psychology of Horror in Game Design," which combines academic psychology, RPG design, and actual-play performance to show how mechanics, sensory cues, and pacing can make up a terrifying tabletop experience; to the mouth-watering "Delicious in Gaming! The Cultural Significance of Food in Worldbuilding," which looks at how queer and BIPOC creators bring food traditions to fantasy without appropriating them.

Badges for PAX Unplugged Philly are available for $52.50 for Friday and Sunday-only badges, and $55.65 for a Saturday-only badge. Single-day Kids badges are available for $21 and three-day Kids badges for $47.25. Early bird pricing ends Oct. 22, 2026. Three-day adult badges are sold out.

Show organizers ReedPop and Penny Arcade today reveal PAX Unplugged Philly 2026's content schedule. The East Coast's most-attended tabletop gaming event returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center from Friday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026.

Watch the debut of a documentary about the hidden culture of TTRPGs in American prisons at "Saving Throws: Connection and Hope While Behind Bars," and witness tabletop's greatest card sleevers duke it out for an $1,000 grand prize in the 2026 APEX Sleeving Championship, presented by Ultra PRO.

Check out the full content list for more details on all the panels, tournaments, cosplay meetups, and more.

Want to cover PAX Unplugged 2026 for a media site or channel? Media and content creator badge registration is available.

For info on future PAX events, follow PAX on Instagram, Bluesky, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and Twitter.

Assets

Official PAX Unplugged Press Kit

About PAX

PAX, or Penny Arcade Expo, is a festival for gamers to celebrate gaming culture. First held in Seattle in 2004, PAX has nearly doubled in size each successive year, with PAX Prime 2014 selling out of tickets in a matter of minutes. Connecting the world's leading game publishers with their most avid and influential fans, PAX expanded with a second show in Boston in 2010, and a third in San Antonio in 2015. The first international PAX was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 2013. In 2017, Penny Arcade established PAX Unplugged Philly, its first tabletop-focused show, held in Philadelphia. 2027 will mark the debut of PAX Unplugged Houston.

About ReedPop

ReedPop is a boutique group within RX - one of the world's leading event organizers. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events globally and a full-service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized audiences, ReedPop currently features events in North America, Europe and Asia, including New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, Unplugged Philly and Houston, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), Star Wars Celebration, MCM Comic Con, MagicCon, and more. The staff at ReedPop are a fan-based group of professionals uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion.

About Penny Arcade

Penny Arcade has been the world's most popular webcomic for over 20 years, with over 3.5 million readers. Started in 1998 in the living room of Mike Krahulik & Jerry Holkins, it has grown into a media empire encompassing multiple beloved properties such as Lookouts, Automata, and beloved D&D live-play series Acquisitions Incorporated. Penny Arcade was responsible for the creation of Child's Play, a gaming charity that has raised over $45 million dollars for children across the world. They are also the founders of PAX, the number one consumer gaming festival in North America, with hundreds of thousands of loyal visitors every year.