Fantasy Basel, Switzerland

Fantasy Basel is a three-day pop culture festival at Messe Basel, the city's exhibition centre. It's run by FantasyCon AG and calls itself the Swiss Comic Con. It is big: the organiser reports over 103,000 visitors and more than 800 booths in 2026, with eight stages and a site of over 100,000 square metres.

Most visitors come for the wider festival. The programme takes in a Cosplay Village, an Artist Alley, games, esports and VR, a sci-fi and space area, a medieval market, panels, talks, workshops and meet-and-greets with stars from films, series and games. Plenty of people turn up in costume.

Miniatures are a small part of all that, but a real one. The organiser runs a board game, tabletop and trading card game area, and that's where painters and wargamers will spend their time. If you're already heading to Basel for the con, it's a good reason to bring your gaming friends. If you're a gamer first, it's a chance to see the hobby inside a much bigger crowd.

Who runs it

FantasyCon AG is the company behind the festival and its website. It publishes the dates, tickets, opening hours, travel advice and a long FAQ, and it recruits volunteers to help run the show. We haven't found a founding year on the organiser's site, so we don't quote one here.

Fantasy Basel 2027 runs 15 to 17 May 2027, Saturday to Monday over the Whitsun (Pentecost) weekend. The festival usually takes place over the Ascension Day weekend in May. For 2027 the organiser has moved it to Whitsun as a one-off, because a conference at the exhibition centre takes up the space over Ascension.

The last day, Monday 17 May, is Family Day, with a reduced rate for under-16s and slightly earlier hours. If you're bringing children, that's the day to aim for.

Future dates

The organiser has already said the festival returns to its usual slot the year after: 25 to 27 May 2028, over Ascension. Ascension and Whitsun are both holiday weekends in Switzerland, so if you're travelling from the UK, book flights and a hotel early.

Fantasy Basel tickets are sold online through Ticketcorner, the organiser's ticket partner. Prices are in Swiss francs (CHF), and advance tickets are cheaper than buying at the box office. The three-day passes are sold in advance only. These are the organiser's published advance prices:

Which ticket to buy

Day tickets come with staggered entry times to keep the queues down, and the time is on your ticket. Don't arrive before it, but if you're late you can still get in later that day. Afternoon tickets are cheaper and suit anyone who only wants a few hours in the tabletop area. The Festival Pass covers all three days and has its own entry line; the Diamond Pass adds earlier entry and a souvenir badge, lanyard and T-shirt voucher.

The rules worth knowing

Buy only from Ticketcorner. The organiser warns that resale sites charge more and their tickets may not be valid. You can show your ticket on your phone, as long as the barcode is clear; a photo of a ticket won't scan. Date changes go through Ticketcorner at least 14 days before the festival, and refunds aren't possible, though you can pass a ticket on or resell it at face value on Ticketcorner's own resale platform.

Day tickets get a re-entry wristband at the exit, so you can pop out for air and come back. Three-day pass holders get a festival wristband on the first day and wear it for all three; a lost one can't be replaced. The box office opens at about 11am and only sells day tickets if the show isn't sold out, so booking ahead is the safe choice.

Wheelchair users and their companions buy standard tickets, and there is no disability discount. There's a fast entrance line, and the organiser asks anyone who needs an access aid to get in touch before the visit.

The organiser describes its board game, tabletop and trading card game area with a simple pitch: play to win, discover new products, find fellow players and lose yourself in fantastic worlds. It says everyone who wants to enjoy a good game is welcome, beginner or pro. Here's what that covers for hobbyists.

Paint your own miniatures

For painters, this is the headline. The tabletop page says you can paint your own miniatures in workshops run by a tabletop games company. They're a friendly way to pick up a brush for the first time, or a relaxed hour at a table if you already paint. The organiser hasn't published workshop times, costs or how to sign up yet, and the workshop programme is added in stages before the festival, so check the tabletop page nearer the date. Our guide to painting your first miniature is good homework either way.

Tabletop wargames

Tabletop wargames are part of the mix. Don't expect a wargames show with a tournament scene: the organiser's tabletop page doesn't list tournaments, and this is one strand of a pop culture festival. Think of it as a chance to see games on the table, try something new and find out what people in the region are playing.

Board games and card games

Board games and trading card games share the area, so it's a natural meeting point for anyone who'd rather sit at a table than queue for a panel. Magic: The Gathering is among the card games named on the organiser's site.

Role-playing games

The site also points to a role-playing community where you can meet players and join game worlds, with Dungeons and Dragons named among the pen-and-paper games. If your miniatures spend more time on a dungeon map than a battlefield, that's worth a look.

Buying on the day

The festival has more than 800 booths in all, and the tabletop area is billed as a place to discover new products. If you do buy miniatures, paints or games, plan how they'll get home: see the carry case tip in chapter 07.

Con-goers curious about miniatures. If you're going for the wider festival, the tabletop area is a low-pressure way to see what miniature gaming and painting are about. A painting workshop is a natural first step.

Gamers who enjoy the wider scene. Board games, card games, role-playing and wargames all sit together here. It suits people whose hobby doesn't fit in one box.

Painters wanting a fun day out. It isn't a painting show, but a workshop and a wander round a big festival make a good day. If the workshop gets you hooked, our hobby desk and lighting guide helps you set up at home.

Families. Under-9s get in free with an adult, and Family Day has a cheaper rate for under-16s. Under-14s must be with an adult, partly because the organiser says some costumes and exhibits may not suit young children.

Visitors who need a calmer day. The festival is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, with lifts and accessible toilets marked on the hall plan. There are two quiet rooms, though the organiser notes they aren't silent, and it recommends bringing hearing protection: expect loud noise, flashing lights and dense crowds.

Dedicated wargamers. If you're after tournaments and a big trade hall, a dedicated show such as Hamburger Tactica may suit you better. Fantasy Basel is a day out first and a wargames event second.

The venue

The festival is held at Messe Basel, Switzerland, Messeplatz 10, 4005 Basel. The tram stop you want is Messeplatz, right outside.

By train and tram

From Basel SBB, the main station, trams 1 and 2 run to Messeplatz in about 10 minutes. From Basel Badischer Bahnhof, take tram 2 or 6 for two stops. Tram 14 also runs to Messeplatz, linking it with Brombacherstrasse and the St. Jakobshalle area. The organiser says hotel guests in Basel get a free public transport ticket for their stay, which covers these trams.

Flying from the UK

The closest airport is EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, about 15 minutes' drive from Messe Basel. Zurich Airport is the other option, with a direct train to Basel SBB that takes under an hour.

Parking

Parking near the venue is limited, and the organiser doesn't publish prices. It suggests the Horburg car park on Badenweilerstrasse, about 15 minutes' walk or a short tram 14 ride away, and the Badischer Bahnhof car park, a few minutes' walk. Drivers coming in on the A3 can park at St. Jakobshalle and take tram 14. The site is signed from the motorway's "Messe" exit, and the organiser points to Basel's car park guidance system for live spaces. Driving makes most sense if you're carrying large costumes or several passengers.

Where to stay

The organiser recommends booking hotels through Basel Tourism, and suggests making a few days of it in what it calls the art city of Basel. With the festival on a holiday weekend, book early.

For the full, current travel details, see the organiser's getting here page.

Details checked against the organiser's website in October 2026. Always check the official site before you travel. Ticket prices, opening times, the floor plan and the full tabletop programme are published by FantasyCon AG, and its FAQ page answers most questions about tickets, access and house rules.

Looking for a show that's all about miniatures? Our miniature events around the world page lists the big shows by region and month.