D&D General London's D&D Fan Expo 2026 has been postponed until next year

The massive D&D Fan Expo at the O2 Arena in London was due to take place this summer. The event will not be going ahead as planned, however, having been rescheduled until September 2027.

The event organisers shared a statement, saying that this would allow them to 'deliver the truly epic experience this community deserves'. No other reason was given for the cancellation.

The D&D Fan Expo was announced in February 2026, headlined by D&D Actual Play group The High Rollers, as well as Dungeon Master Jasmine Bhullar and a group of undisclosed actors. In May, a range of performances and panelists were announced, including YouTube influencer D&D Shorts, the London D&D venue RPG Taverns, podcasters Roll Britannia, live-players It's Your Role, and miniature painter Johnny Ghiodini.

The O2 Arena is one of the UK's biggest indoor arenas, with a capacity of 20,000, and is the world's ninth largest building by volume.

"We wanted to share an important update regarding D&D Fan Expo: London.

To ensure we can deliver the truly epic experience this community deserves, the event will be rescheduled to Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 September 2027. This decision allows us to expand the show and bring you a bigger, better celebration of Dungeons & Dragons with more to see, more to do, and more special guests involved.

We know how much you’ve been looking forward to the event, and we truly appreciate your patience while we take the time to make it the best it can possibly be.

We will be announcing an array of new details and additions for the event in the coming weeks. Your tickets will remain valid for the new date, but if you can no longer attend, refunds are available on request from your original point of purchase.

Thank you for being part of the adventure, we can’t wait to share what’s coming next."

 

[Morrus]

I don’t think they’re able to predict heatwaves as far out as September, and the O2 isn’t exactly closing down for the summer. It has plenty of other events going ahead. It’s not the heatwave.

 

[Bravesteel25]

Interesting. I would love to be a fly on the wall in the meeting where they decided to postpone it as I'd love to know why.

 

[BruceWright]

That's an ENORMOUS venue for a first-time event. Events like this take a few years to grow so that people know to attend and build it into their long-term plans.

People set aside their money ahead of time for these things, unless they're local, and even then. If this thing had PHENOMENAL growth, the O2 might be the right size about 5 or 6 years in.

 

[mamba]

That's an ENORMOUS venue for a first-time event. Events like this take a few years to grow so that people know to attend and build it into their long-term plans.

People set aside their money ahead of time for these things, unless they're local, and even then. If this thing had PHENOMENAL growth, the O2 might be the right size about 5 or 6 years in.

aren’t they simply pushing it back by a year? That does not seem to match your ‘grow over multiple years’ scenario

 

[Clint_L]

Hasbro is listed on the banner as one of the presenters, along with AEG; which tells me they're involved somehow even if not doing the feet-on-the-ground organizing.

Well, yeah, they’re going to have some level of presence at a massive D&D event, and it’s nice if they offered their support, but how does it make it their fault if the organizers poop the bed? This isn’t being put on by Hasbro/WotC, is it? They didn’t plan it, sell tickets, etc., did they?

If not, it seems unfair to hold it against WotC. I’d like to know more facts first.

 

[Lanefan]

Well, yeah, they’re going to have some level of presence at a massive D&D event, and it’s nice if they offered their support, but how does it make it their fault if the organizers poop the bed? This isn’t being put on by Hasbro/WotC, is it? They didn’t plan it, sell tickets, etc., did they?

We don't know specifics as to what their involvement is/was but that 'Hasbro' is listed as a presenter indicates that involvement likely consists of considerably more than just giving their blessing to the event.

Anyone got any facts to share on this?

If not, it seems unfair to hold it against WotC. I’d like to know more facts first.

Agreed re WotC specifically, in that we also don't know whether the 'Hasbro' involvement comes from within the WotC branch of the company or from some other department or level.

 

[Lanefan]

aren’t they simply pushing it back by a year? That does not seem to match your ‘grow over multiple years’ scenario

Pushing it back a year gives them loads of time to change the venue if O2 was going to be too big.

 

[Clint_L]

To me, this sounds similar to something like a music festival. Normally, those are put on by local entrepreneurs, and sometimes they bite off more than they can chew, often because they are fans and their aspirations get ahead of them. I suspect this is a similar situation.

I agree that it sucks for those who were already invested in this summer’s event. I hope some kind of recompense can be found. I think it likely has little to do with WotC.

 

[BruceWright]

aren’t they simply pushing it back by a year? That does not seem to match your ‘grow over multiple years’ scenario

I actually think postponing it a year at this late date will cause FEWER people to make plans ahead for next year. Once bitten, twice shy.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

Remember when all those musicians were canceling their big arena tours at the last second because they couldn't sell tickets?
This was a dumb move even outside of a recession.