How Do You Buy Gen Con Tickets and Badges to Attend the Convention?

Updated

Gen Con runs August 5–8, 2027, and attending takes two separate purchases: a badge that gets you into the convention, and event tickets for individual games, seminars, and shows you want to join. Start with the badge through the official Badge Information page on gencon.com, then add event tickets when event registration opens. The sections below cover what each purchase does, how to choose a badge, and what to do when something goes wrong.

Badges vs. Event Tickets: Two Different Purchases

The most common confusion for first-time attendees is treating a badge as a ticket to everything. It isn't.

Purchase What it covers What it doesn't cover
Badge Entry to the convention, the exhibit hall, and general convention spaces Specific games, seminars, or ticketed shows
Event ticket A seat or slot at one specific ticketed event Convention entry on its own — you still need a badge

Gen Con describes itself as offering "thousands of ticketed events" across board games, card games, roleplaying games, seminars, cosplay, and entertainment, alongside exhibits from hundreds of companies. Those events are what the event tickets are for. Plan your budget and schedule around both lines, not just the badge.

Where to Buy and When

All purchasing goes through the official site, gencon.com. The homepage links directly to a Badge Information page, which is the authoritative source for current badge types, prices, and sale dates. The same site hosts Hotel Information for housing and travel, and a Help Center for FAQs and customer service.

Because the site does not publish sale dates or prices in the material available here, treat the Badge Information page as your checklist rather than relying on secondhand dates. Two practical habits:

  • Subscribe to the newsletter. The site offers "Get Exclusive Updates" via newsletter subscription — the standard channel for on-sale announcements and reminders.
  • Check the Badge Information page before each purchase window. Details can change between announcement and opening.

Choosing a Badge

Gen Con does not list its badge tiers or prices in the available material, so the reliable move is to read the Badge Information page and match the badge to how you plan to attend:

  • Attending all four days? A full-convention badge is usually the baseline; compare it against single-day options only if the page shows them.
  • Coming for one day or a specific event? Check whether a single-day badge exists for your date before buying a full badge.
  • Bringing family or a group? Confirm whether each person needs their own badge — convention entry is per person, and this is the most common budgeting surprise.

If the page lists a badge type you don't recognize, the Help Center is the place to confirm what it includes before paying.

Buying Event Tickets

Event tickets are separate from badges and are typically added after you have a badge. The workflow is consistent:

  1. Register or log in on gencon.com so your badge and tickets attach to one account.
  2. Open event registration when it goes live (announced through the newsletter and site).
  3. Select events by day and time slot, checking for overlaps — a single attendee can't be in two events at once.
  4. Complete checkout and keep the confirmation; you'll need it to pick up or verify tickets on site.

When an Event Sells Out

Popular RPG sessions and seminars fill quickly. If your first choice is gone:

  • Check the event listing again closer to the convention — organizers sometimes add sessions or release returned tickets.
  • Build a backup list of two or three events in the same time slot before registration opens, so you can pivot in seconds rather than minutes.
  • Look for events in less crowded slots (early morning, late evening) if your schedule is flexible.

When Something Goes Wrong

Problem What to do
Payment declined or checkout error Retry once, then contact the Help Center rather than creating a duplicate order
Wrong name or details on a badge Use the Help Center's customer service channel to correct it before the convention
Badge bought but no event tickets That's expected — event tickets are a separate purchase; watch for the registration announcement
Unsure whether a purchase went through Check your account order history and confirmation email before buying again

The Help Center on gencon.com is the single escalation path for order problems, and it's worth saving before you buy so you're not searching for it under time pressure.

A Realistic First-Timer Plan

For a first Gen Con, the sequence that avoids the usual mistakes is: subscribe to the newsletter now, read the Badge Information page and buy your badge as soon as sales open, then plan events around your badge days and buy event tickets the moment registration opens with a backup list ready. Budget for both purchases, confirm whether each person in your group needs a badge, and keep your confirmation emails until you're through the doors in Indianapolis.