Nova Open Tabletop Wargaming Convention

03/25/2026

Horus Heresy: Blind Date Doubles comes to NOVA Open as a one-of-a-kind social event!
Bring your 1000-point force and get ready to team up with new friends and maybe a
few future rivals.....

You’ll be randomly paired with a new partner each game, regardless of faction. Loyalist
or Traitor, you’ll need to adapt, collaborate, and conquer together.

Event Details:
• 1000 points per player
• 6x4 boards
• 2 games
• Missions announced day of

No pre-made teams. No guarantees. Just war in the Age of Darkness.

Will you stand loyal… or embrace the Warmaster’s rebellion?

03/24/2026

A galaxy at war awaits

The Star Wars Legion Galactic Conquest Grand Tournament arrives at NOVA Open,
hosted by SETGO. Command your forces and battle across a 2 day, 6 game event using
the most current Star Wars Legion rules.

“Do. Or do not. There is no try.” Will you rise to victory, or fall in the heat of battle?

Will you stand with the Empire, or fight for the Rebellion? The Galactic Conquest awaits.

Tickets are still in preview, ticket sales go live April 10th.

03/23/2026

The drums of war are calling

The Warhammer 40,000 Grand Tournament returns to NOVA Open, and the battlefield is ready for legends to rise. Command your forces, test your strategy, and fight through a weekend of intense competition against some of the best players in the hobby.

Only 400 player slots are available once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Secure your place with our One Click Bundle, which includes your convention badge, GT ticket, and early access to hotel booking everything you need to lock in your NOVA experience in seconds.

Will your army stand triumphant, or fall to the tides of the 41st Millennium?

Prepare your lists. Rally your forces. The GT awaits.

03/22/2026

TTE is now LIVE with a preview of NOVA Open 2026 events!!!

Not everything is up just yet—our team of office goblins are hard at work getting more events loaded in. Right now, we’re sitting at about 70% complete. Only a few artist events are live so far, and quite a few smaller events are still on the way. (So, so many spreadsheets)

We’re pushing to have everything in by April 10!

Check out the link in the comments and our story and be sure to check back every couple of days for new updates!

If your looking for an amazing RPG to play check out of friends over Fae!!!

03/18/2026

The never-ending work of NOVA prep continues!
With ticket sales opening April 10 and the Tabletop Events (TTE) preview going live March 22, the countdown to the NOVA Open is officially on. Behind the scenes, our volunteers are already hard at work making sure everything is ready.
This weekend one of our amazing volunteers spent hours sorting and checking hundreds of paints generously provided by our great partners at The Army Painter. These paints will be waiting for you in Hobby Haven, a space where attendees can relax, hang out, and get some painting in during the event.
Mark your calendar for April 10 and grab your tickets when they go live!
Check out the TTE preview on March 22 to start planning your hobby time.
And when you're at NOVA, stop by Hobby Haven and put those paints to use!
Huge thanks to the volunteers and partners who help make NOVA possible.

03/15/2026

Adventurers, Heroes, and Hobbyists… your quest begins soon.
From distant realms and hobby tables far and wide, champions gather each year at the legendary NOVA Open. A place of epic battles, master artisans, and unforgettable tales.
On March 22nd, the gates will crack open just enough to reveal a glimpse of the adventure ahead. Our Event Preview will unveil the tournaments, seminars, and grand gatherings awaiting brave attendees.
On April 10th, the gates open fully and tickets go live. This is your moment to claim your place among the heroes.
Prepare your armies.
Clean your brushes.
Gather your party.
Your journey begins here.....

03/08/2026

Mark your calendars! Ticket sales for the NOVA Open officially go live on April 10.
Whether you’re coming to compete, hobby, learn, or just enjoy an incredible weekend of gaming, this is your chance to lock in your spot. Events, classes, and badges tend to go fast, so make sure you’re ready when registration opens.
We can’t wait to see everyone back at NOVA for another amazing year of games, hobby, and community.

All dice used in this were supplied by Baron of Dice and no dice were harmed in the making of this video. Also neither was Kyron….

03/01/2026

We’re pleased to announce that our convention will officially be launching on TTE.

The website will go live for viewing on March 22, where you’ll be able to explore event details, programming information, and important updates.

Ticket sales will open on April 10 (time to be announced). We encourage you to mark your calendars and check back for the official on-sale time.

As we move forward, we will continue sharing additional information, announcements, and updates. Please stay connected for the latest details.

We look forward to welcoming you and sharing more soon.

01/20/2026

01/15/2026

Big news and even bigger thanks from the NOVA Open team! 👋

Did you know that every two years, we hold elections for our Board, Directors, and key staff? We've just welcomed some new and returning faces to the leadership team! A massive THANK YOU to the incredible leaders and volunteers who have poured their hearts into this convention. We're so excited for them to get a well-deserved break and finally enjoy the fruits of their labor as attendees this year! 👏

Now, a new team is ready to throw their hats in the ring to continue building a wonderful, family-friendly, and inclusive safe space for everyone to enjoy our amazing hobby. Want to be part of the magic? ✨

If you've ever wanted to help make NOVA Open even better, this is how! Join our volunteer team and get amazing perks like:
🎟️ Free convention passes & event tickets
🍕 On-site snacks & drinks
🤝 A chance to support the best wargaming convention on the East Coast!

Ready to get involved? Learn more and sign up in the link below!

01/10/2026

This is incredible to see. A huge thank you to our friends at Away Games for running so many fantastic events in the lead up to NOVA. We are thrilled to be partnering with them and to see the community come together across all of these amazing gatherings.

At NOVA, we pride ourselves on being a family friendly event where everyone is truly welcome. You will also be able to find some of our team at our sister cons Richmond Open Tabletop Gaming Convention and Captaincon. Be sure to come say hello while you are there and support these events as we continue to grow and strengthen this incredible community together.

The Road to NOVA is back and bigger than ever! This year we have added more Organizers than ever before.

We can’t wait to have these event lead players to the Nova Open Tabletop Wargaming Convention.

Just like before, Premiere Events will award winners a ticket to 40K plus swag and other Events will award winners just tickets to either 40K or AoS.

We also want to thank all the sponsors an organizers that are part of this years Road. We cannot name them all but thank you to; Best Coast Pairings, ATC Warhammer American Team Championship, Captaincon, Frontline Gaming, Sabre Games and Cards, Battle to End Alzheimer's , Richmond Open Tabletop Gaming Convention, Mayhem 40k GT, Warzone: Events, Huzzah Hobbies, Onslaught Gaming, HMGS, Inc. - Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, Inc., along with the National Tabletop League "NTL".

Hope to see you at a Road to NOVA Event!

01/08/2026

We’ve always been proud of where NOVA Open sits in the tabletop convention landscape.

As Goonhammer recently pointed out in their Big Big Three comparison, we’re the middle ground and honestly, that’s exactly where we like to be.

NOVA Open is where competitive play and casual gaming live side by side. Where world class tournaments happen in the same halls as narrative events, hobby classes, charity raffles, late night pick up games, and first time convention experiences. You don’t have to be a hardcore tournament grinder or a first time painter. You can be both, or anywhere in between.

What makes NOVA special isn’t just the size or the schedule. It’s the balance.

Serious, well run events for competitive players
A welcoming environment for new and casual gamers
A strong focus on hobby, community, and charity
A convention that feels big, but still personal

We work hard to be the convention where everyone belongs. Players, hobbyists, families, veterans, newcomers, and long time friends of the community.

Huge thanks to Goonhammer for including us in the conversation. If you’re looking for a convention that brings the whole hobby together, we’d love to see you at NOVA.

Check out the article here!

To kick off the year and with Adepticon approaching, Stillman and RagnarokAngel look at the Big 3 US wargaming conventions and which might be most right for you.