Warfare Wargames Show, Farnborough

Warfare is the annual show of the Wargames Association of Reading, known as WAR. It's held at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, usually in mid November, and it's a mixed show rather than one built around a single period or game. Ancients, Napoleonics and World War Two sit happily alongside elves, orcs and starships.

Under one roof you'll find a big trade hall, a long list of tournaments, participation games and a bring and buy the organiser describes as one of the UK's biggest. The 2026 show is supporting SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity, and parking is free all weekend.

Who runs it

The Wargames Association of Reading was established in 1978 and describes itself as a miniature tabletop club for wargamers in the Reading area. It meets on Wednesday evenings near Wokingham, has up to 130 members, and plays a bit of everything, from Flames of War and DBMM to Bolt Action, Lord of the Rings and Blood Bowl. Plenty of members write their own rules, too.

That club background shows. Warfare is organised by people who play, the tournament list runs from ancients to science fiction, and the bring and buy works to a clear set of rules. If you live near Reading and fancy playing more often, the club says new members are always welcome.

Warfare 2026 is on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026. Opening times are Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm. The status above reads Confirmed, which means the organiser has published these dates on its own site.

Both days have the trade hall, the bring and buy and games to watch. The tournaments are the bit that differs. Some run over the whole weekend, some on one day only, so a Saturday visit and a Sunday visit can feel quite different. A few tournament tickets on the 2026 list name their day: there's a Sunday Blood Bowl event, a Sunday Star Wars Legion event, Middle-earth singles on the Saturday and doubles on the Sunday.

Saturday or Sunday?

Saturday is the longer day, so it's the one to pick if you want time to walk the whole trade hall, have a go at a participation game and still watch some of the tournament tables. Sunday closes earlier and suits a shorter trip. If you're hunting bargains at the bring and buy, earlier in the weekend usually means more choice, while later on you'll see more sellers open to offers.

A one-day ticket covers either day, not both, so if you want the whole weekend you'll need a ticket for each day, or a tournament ticket, which includes show entry.

Show entry is £12 per day. The organiser's online shop sells a one-day ticket that's valid for either the Saturday or the Sunday. The main show page also says entry can be bought at the door in cash. With both routes mentioned, take some cash as a backup even if you plan to buy online, and check the show page a few days before you travel in case the wording changes.

The organiser doesn't list concessions, a child price or a weekend visitor ticket, so if any of those matter to you, ask the club through its contact page before you go.

The show is at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre, the big exhibition site next to Farnborough Airport. The site has several gates, and which one you use depends on how you arrive, so it's worth knowing before you set off.

The venue's map also lists Heathrow at about 35 minutes and Gatwick at about 50, if you're coming from further afield. Neither the organiser nor the venue map gives bus routes, so if you're relying on a bus, check the local operator's timetable before the day.

One more thing for dog owners: the organiser says dogs aren't allowed, apart from assistance dogs with their paperwork.

The trade hall

The organiser's 2026 traders page lists 74 traders. Going by that list, the biggest group is miniatures makers, from metal and plastic to resin, with terrain and scenery, rules and history books, board games, paints and brushes, dice and gaming accessories making up the rest. Walk the whole hall before you spend, then go back for the things you can't stop thinking about.

Tournaments

Tournaments are a big part of Warfare. When we checked, the organiser's shop had 32 tournament tickets across 25 game systems, priced £20 to £60 with show entry included. The list leans historical, with plenty of fantasy and some sci-fi.

Each tournament has its own ticket and its own organiser, and the army size, scenarios and painting requirements come from them, not from us. Popular events can fill, so if you want a place, book early and read the event details before you start building a list. Even if you're not playing, the tournament tables are a great place to see well painted armies and pick up ideas.

Participation games

Participation games are tables where you can sit down and play, no army needed. They're a friendly way to try a period or a set of rules before you buy into it. The organiser's participation games page was still empty when we checked, so look again nearer the show to see what's on.

The bring and buy

The organiser describes Warfare's bring and buy as one of the UK's biggest. It's where visitors sell second-hand models, rules and kit, and the club handles the selling for you. Here are the main rules from the organiser's 2026 form:

Is it good for beginners?

Yes, as long as you go in curious. You don't need an army to visit, and watching a few tournament games is one of the quickest ways to work out which games you like the look of. People at shows like this are usually happy to talk about their armies if you ask, especially between games rather than in the middle of a tense turn.

Can children go?

The organiser's attendee terms describe the event as aimed at a family audience and attended by children, and they ask adults to supervise the children in their party. No child ticket price is listed, so check with the organiser before you go. A busy trade hall is a lot for small legs, so plan a break and a snack.

The organiser's terms note that its insurance doesn't cover visitors' belongings, so keep an eye on your bags, and on any army you've brought to play with. They also say photos and video may be taken at the show by the organiser, the venue and other visitors.

Making a weekend of the shows? Our UK hobby calendar shows where Warfare sits in the year. Battleground in Middlesbrough is usually in late November, The Other Partizan in Newark is in October, and if you're planning ahead, Salute in London comes round each April. See every show we cover in miniature events around the world.