Board game and card game fans in the South now have a major event to mark in their calendars: PAX Unplugged Houston debuts June 25–27, 2027, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Organizers ReedPop and Penny Arcade announced the show on September 4, 2026, with badges set to go on sale before the end of the year.
The new expo joins PAX Unplugged Philadelphia — held annually since 2017 — as the only other dedicated tabletop stop in the PAX calendar. The Houston edition will feature a large expo floor with major analog gaming exhibitors, panels with industry figures and content creators, tournaments, and community meetups. A fuller program will be announced closer to the event.
Jerry Holkins, co-founder of Penny Arcade and PAX, pointed to the Philadelphia show’s energy as the direct inspiration. “Whenever we get done with PAX Unplugged out in Philly, I just want to rewind time and do it all again,” he said. “This is the next best thing. And it’ll be great to see our old friends from down that way.”
PAX Unplugged Houston becomes the fifth entry in the international PAX expo series, which launched in Seattle in 2004 and has since expanded to Boston, San Antonio, Melbourne, and Philadelphia. Media and content creator accreditation applications will also open before the end of 2026.
ReedPop organizes massive pop culture conventions across North America, Europe, and Asia. The roster covers major shows like New York Comic Con, PAX, Star Wars Celebration, and MCM Comic Con.
Launched in 1998 by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, Penny Arcade anchors a massive gaming community. Beyond the long-running webcomic, the creators produce projects like Lookouts, Automata, and the Dungeons & Dragons live-play series Acquisitions Incorporated
Follow updates on the event through PAX’s official channels on Instagram, Bluesky, YouTube, and Facebook, or visit the official PAX website for badge sale announcements.
