Gary Con XIX 2027 By the Numbers

Lake Geneva, WI (July 21, 2026) – Gary Con, an annual game convention celebrating the life and works of Gary Gygax, filled the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa with nearly 4,000 attendees, selling out the convention, participating in over 3,000 event in 4 days of gaming, visiting 70+ exhibitors, generating over $7,00,000 to the local economy, and raising over $120,000 for our charity partner, Children’s Wisconsin.

Gary XVIII Badges

Gary Con XVIII’s 3,971 attendees interacted with 122 special guests from iconic industry founders to the legendary game designers of today and tomorrow, browsed 71 carefully curated exhibitors and artists, and partook in 118 seminars covering a vast range of gaming and industry topics.

Gary XVIII Events

Gary Con XVIII’s 3,060 events ranged from classic wargames, exciting miniatures games, fast-paced card games, vintage board games, legendary special events, and countless roleplaying games.

Top 10 Game Systems

  1. Dungeons and Dragons, 5th Edition – 1021 Games
  2. Old School D&D (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Original, BECMI, and Basic/Expert) – 174 Games
  3. Shadowdark – 137 Games 
  4. Pirate Borg – 94 Games
  5. Call of Cthulhu – 115 Games 
  6. Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC) – 93 Games
  7. Castles & Crusades – 64 Games 
  8. Pathfinder – 43 Games 
  9. Savage Worlds – 34 Games
  10. Mörk Borg – 31 Games

Gary XVIII Charity Auction

Sponsored by Orthane Press, the Gary Con XVIII Charity Auction brought an incredible $120,740 for Children’s Wisconsin. From once-in-a-lifetime experiences to unique items, the generosity of donors and bidders alike has helped make sure that Kids Deserve the Best!

This beat last year’s record of over $92,000 for our Charity Partner Children’s Wisconsin.

Economic Impact

Gary Con creates a $7 Million Dollar economic week during the absolute deadest month of the year.
Revenue Stream Estimated Total Impact Primary Beneficiary
Lodging & Accommodations $2,700,000 – $3,100,000 Grand Geneva Campus, Overflow Hotels, VRBOs
On-Campus F&B $1,000,000 – $1,200,000 Grand Geneva Resort & Spa Outlets
Off-Campus F&B / Retail $650,000 – $800,000 Downtown Lake Geneva Businesses
Exhibitor / Merch Sales $2,200,000 – $2,700,000 Convention Commerce & Sales Tax
TOTAL DIRECT IMPACT $6,550,000 – $7,800,000 The Regional Economy

 

About Gary Con

Held annually in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (the birthplace of RPGs), Gary Con began as a memorial gathering of friends and family and has grown into a event welcoming gamers of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels.