SoCal Gaming Expo: Your Complete Guide to Southern California’s Premier Gaming Convention 2026

Southern California has always been a hotbed for gaming culture, and the SoCal Gaming Expo has cemented itself as one of the region’s most anticipated events for gamers, collectors, and esports fans alike. Whether someone’s chasing tournament glory, hunting rare collectibles, or just looking to spend a weekend surrounded by fellow enthusiasts, this expo delivers on all fronts.

This year’s event promises to be bigger than ever, with expanded tournament brackets, guest appearances from industry legends, and a vendor hall packed with everything from vintage cartridges to next-gen hardware. For anyone considering attendance, whether it’s their first expo or they’re returning veterans, this guide covers everything needed to maximize the experience, from ticket options to insider tips for navigating the floor.

What Is SoCal Gaming Expo?

SoCal Gaming Expo is an annual convention celebrating gaming across all platforms and eras. It’s a three-day event that brings together retro gaming enthusiasts, competitive esports players, tabletop gamers, and collectors under one roof. Unlike purely corporate-sponsored conventions, SoCal Gaming Expo maintains a community-driven feel while still attracting major industry names and sponsors.

The expo features hundreds of arcade cabinets, console setups spanning multiple generations, competitive tournaments with cash prizes, panels with industry veterans, and a sprawling vendor marketplace. It’s essentially a one-stop destination for anyone who’s ever held a controller or rolled a d20.

History and Evolution of the Event

SoCal Gaming Expo launched in 2014 as a modest gathering of about 2,000 attendees focused primarily on retro gaming and arcade preservation. The founders, a group of arcade collectors and gaming historians, wanted to create a space where classic gaming could be celebrated alongside modern titles.

Over the past twelve years, attendance has grown to over 15,000 visitors annually. The event expanded to include esports tournaments in 2017, added dedicated tabletop gaming zones in 2019, and introduced developer panels and industry guest appearances in 2020 (though that year’s event was postponed and moved to a hybrid format).

By 2024, the expo had secured partnerships with major publishers and hardware manufacturers, while still maintaining its grassroots focus on gaming history and community. The 2026 iteration represents the expo’s largest footprint yet, with an additional 20,000 square feet of event space compared to 2025.

What Makes SoCal Gaming Expo Unique

The expo’s biggest differentiator is its balance between nostalgia and current gaming culture. Attendees can jump from a Street Fighter II cabinet tournament to a Valorant qualifier without breaking stride. That cross-generational appeal is rare, most conventions lean heavily toward either retro preservation or modern esports.

Another standout feature: nearly all arcade and console stations are free-to-play. Once someone’s inside, they can spend hours rotating through classic cabinets, retro consoles, and even some modern indie setups without dropping another dollar. The vendor hall also emphasizes small independent sellers and regional game shops rather than being dominated by major corporate booths.

The community atmosphere sets SoCal Gaming Expo apart from massive industry events that can feel impersonal or marketing-heavy. Panels often include Q&A sessions that run long because speakers are genuinely engaged, and tournaments attract both serious competitors and casual entrants looking for fun bracket runs.

Event Details: Dates, Location, and Venue Information

The 2026 SoCal Gaming Expo runs from Friday, June 5th through Sunday, June 7th. Doors open at 10:00 AM each day, with Friday and Saturday sessions running until 11:00 PM and Sunday wrapping at 8:00 PM.

The event takes place at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California. This venue has hosted the expo since 2021 and offers over 225,000 square feet of exhibition space across multiple halls. The facility includes dedicated tournament stages, breakout rooms for panels, and a large central atrium that houses the vendor marketplace.

Ontario Convention Center is located at 2000 E Convention Center Way, Ontario, CA 91764. It’s positioned roughly equidistant between Los Angeles and San Bernardino, making it accessible from most Southern California population centers within an hour’s drive.

How to Get There and Parking Options

For those driving, the convention center is right off the I-10 freeway (exit Haven Avenue). On-site parking is available in the attached garage structure for $20 per day (cash or card accepted). The garage connects directly to the convention center, so attendees won’t need to walk outdoors.

Overflow parking is available at the nearby Citizens Business Bank Arena lot, about a five-minute walk from the main entrance, for $15 per day. This lot tends to fill up by early afternoon on Saturday, so arriving before noon is recommended if using overflow.

Public transit users can take the Metrolink to the Ontario-East Station, which is approximately 2 miles from the convention center. From there, rideshare services (Uber/Lyft) typically cost $8-12 for the short trip. Ontario also has a local bus system (Omnitrans), with Route 61 stopping near the convention center.

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is only 3 miles away, making this expo particularly accessible for out-of-state attendees flying in specifically for the event. Airport shuttles and rideshare pickups are readily available.

Nearby Hotels and Accommodations

The expo has partnered with several hotels offering discounted rates for attendees who book using the event code SOCAL2026. These rates are typically 15-25% off standard pricing but must be booked by May 15th, 2026.

DoubleTree by Hilton Ontario Airport (700 N Haven Ave) is the closest partner hotel, literally across the street from the convention center. Rooms start at $139/night with the discount code. This hotel fills up fast, many tournament participants and vendors book here for the convenience.

Ontario Airport Hotel & Conference Center (2200 E Holt Blvd) offers rooms starting at $119/night and includes complimentary breakfast. It’s about a 10-minute drive from the venue.

Ayres Hotel Ontario (1945 E Holt Blvd) is a mid-tier option at $129/night with the code, featuring free breakfast and evening reception. About 8 minutes by car.

For budget-conscious attendees, Motel 6 Ontario (1560 E 4th St) and La Quinta Inn Ontario Airport (3555 Inland Empire Blvd) offer rooms in the $75-95 range, though these don’t include the official expo discount. Both are 10-15 minutes from the venue.

Airbnb and vacation rentals are also plentiful in the area, with entire apartments available in the $90-150/night range within a 5-mile radius of the convention center.

Ticket Types, Pricing, and How to Register

Tickets for SoCal Gaming Expo are available exclusively through the official event website. Registration opened on February 1st, 2026, and several ticket tiers sold out within the first week, so early purchase is strongly recommended.

Single-day passes are available for $45 (Friday), $55 (Saturday), or $45 (Sunday). Saturday is traditionally the busiest day with the most scheduled tournaments and panels, explaining the price difference.

Three-day weekend passes cost $120, offering a savings of $25 compared to buying individual days. These passes provide access to all public areas, tournaments (as spectators), panels, the vendor hall, and all free-play gaming zones.

Children 12 and under receive free admission when accompanied by a paid adult (limit two children per adult). Teens aged 13-17 can purchase youth passes at a reduced rate of $30 per day or $75 for the full weekend.

Early Bird vs. Standard Admission

Early Bird pricing was available through March 15th, 2026, offering weekend passes for $100 (saving $20) and single-day Saturday passes for $45 instead of $55. These discounts have expired as of the current date.

Early Bird purchasers also received a digital welcome pack including a convention map, schedule planner, and exclusive desktop wallpapers featuring expo artwork. Standard admission doesn’t include these digital extras, though the map and schedule are available for free download from the event website closer to the show dates.

One practical advantage of Early Bird tickets: guaranteed registration. Once standard admission sales open, weekend passes have historically sold out 1-2 weeks before the event, forcing latecomers to purchase individual day passes or hope for on-site availability (which is never guaranteed).

VIP Packages and Exclusive Perks

VIP Weekend Passes run $250 and include several significant upgrades:

• Priority entry each day (VIP doors open at 9:00 AM, one hour before general admission)
• Access to the VIP Lounge with complimentary snacks, drinks, and charging stations
• Reserved seating at main stage tournaments and panels
• Exclusive meet-and-greet session with featured guests (typically 30-45 minutes on Saturday afternoon)
• VIP-only tournament entry for select competitions with enhanced prize pools
• Physical swag bag including event t-shirt, pin set, and promotional items from sponsors

For collectors and competitive players, the VIP package’s biggest value is priority access. Getting onto the expo floor an hour early means first crack at vendor inventory, especially important for limited-run collectibles or rare retro games that tend to sell within the first few hours of Friday.

Ultimate VIP Packages ($500, limited to 100 attendees) add backstage tournament access, private panel Q&A sessions, and a reserved parking spot in the VIP section of the main garage. These packages are primarily targeted at content creators and serious collectors who need premium access for coverage or business purposes.

Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more. Organizations, gaming clubs, or friend groups can save $10 per ticket on weekend passes by contacting the expo’s group sales coordinator directly rather than using the standard registration portal.

What to Expect: Main Attractions and Activities

SoCal Gaming Expo packs an enormous variety of activities into its three-day run. The layout divides the venue into distinct zones, each with its own atmosphere and focus.

Retro and Classic Gaming Arcade

The Classic Arcade Zone is the expo’s crown jewel, featuring over 250 arcade cabinets spanning from the late 1970s through the early 2000s. Everything runs on original hardware, no emulation, maintained by a dedicated crew of collectors and restoration specialists.

Standout cabinets include original Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Galaga machines alongside rarer finds like Tron, Dragon’s Lair, and Japanese imports such as Radiant Silvergun and Battle Garegga. Fighting game fans will find a full lineup of Capcom’s CPS2 classics including Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and Darkstalkers.

The pinball section features approximately 40 tables from manufacturers like Williams, Bally, and Stern, including modern tables like The Mandalorian and classics like Medieval Madness and The Addams Family.

All machines are set to free play. The only exception is the high-score tournament area, where participants compete on designated cabinets for daily prizes. Score submissions close at 8:00 PM each night, with winners announced on the main stage at 9:00 PM.

Tabletop and Board Game Zones

The Tabletop Gaming Hall expanded significantly for 2026, now occupying 25,000 square feet with over 150 gaming tables. The space is managed in partnership with several Southern California board game cafes and shops that provide game libraries and staff facilitators.

Open gaming tables operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees can check out games from the library (over 1,500 titles available) and play with their group for as long as needed. Popular modern titles like Wingspan, Ticket to Ride, and Catan are well-represented, alongside deeper strategy games like Twilight Imperium, Brass: Birmingham, and Spirit Island.

Scheduled events include organized play sessions for Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon TCG, and Yu-Gi-Oh. Multiple formats are supported, from Standard and Modern to Commander and sealed draft tournaments. TCG vendors set up shop right in the tabletop zone, making it easy to purchase singles or trade between matches.

RPG enthusiasts can sign up for scheduled Dungeons & Dragons one-shots, Pathfinder Society scenarios, and indie RPG sessions. According to feedback from gaming coverage outlets, tabletop RPG sessions at conventions have seen a 40% increase in participation over the past two years, and SoCal Gaming Expo reflects that trend with expanded RPG programming.

Console and PC Gaming Tournaments

The Console Gaming Zone features 100+ stations with current-gen hardware (PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch) and a selection of popular multiplayer and fighting games. Casual freeplay is available, but most stations are reserved for scheduled tournament brackets throughout the weekend.

The PC Gaming Arena includes 50 high-spec gaming PCs (RTX 4070 Ti setups with 1440p 165Hz monitors) primarily dedicated to competitive tournaments. Outside of tournament hours, these stations are available for open play with a curated selection of installed games.

Both zones feature charging stations, headphone hangers, and staff supervision to ensure equipment stays in working order and to mediate any disputes.

Vendor Hall and Collectibles Marketplace

The Vendor Hall is where wallets go to die. Over 200 vendors occupy the marketplace, selling everything from sealed vintage games to custom arcade sticks, retro consoles, gaming apparel, art prints, and imported Japanese merchandise.

Notable vendor categories include:

• Retro game dealers with extensive inventories of cartridges, discs, and boxed games across all major platforms
• Import specialists carrying Japanese releases, limited editions, and region-exclusive hardware
• Custom hardware builders offering modded consoles, flash carts, RGB-modded systems, and arcade stick customization
• Artist alleys featuring original gaming art, prints, enamel pins, and commissions
• Collectibles dealers specializing in figures, statues, plushies, and gaming memorabilia

Prices in the vendor hall tend to be competitive with online marketplaces, though rare items command premiums. Haggling is generally acceptable, especially for multiple-item purchases or on Sunday afternoon when vendors are more motivated to move inventory rather than pack it up.

Cash is king, many smaller vendors offer 5-10% discounts for cash transactions to avoid credit card processing fees.

Featured Guests, Panels, and Special Appearances

SoCal Gaming Expo 2026 has announced an impressive guest lineup spanning industry veterans, content creators, and competitive gaming legends. The full schedule is published on the event website, but highlights include:

Tommy Tallarico, video game composer and creator of Video Games Live, hosts a Friday evening panel discussing his work on soundtracks for games like Earthworm Jim, MDK, and Unreal Tournament. He’ll also perform live arrangements of classic game music with a backing band.

Masahiro Sakurai, creator of Kirby and director of the Super Smash Bros. series, appears via pre-recorded video message on Saturday to discuss his YouTube series and design philosophy. While not physically present, there will be a live Q&A session where submitted questions are answered in real-time through a translator.

Stephanie Bendixsen and Bajo (Steven O’Donnell) from Australia’s Good Game series conduct a panel on the evolution of gaming media and critique. Their session includes a live gameplay segment where they review an upcoming indie title with audience participation.

Several professional esports players are scheduled for meet-and-greets, including representatives from teams competing in the expo’s featured tournaments. These sessions typically run 60-90 minutes with signing opportunities and photo ops.

Developer panels cover topics ranging from indie game development post-mortems to technical deep-dives on game engine optimization. These panels tend to be less crowded than celebrity appearances and offer substantial value for aspiring developers or curious players who want to understand what happens behind the scenes.

All panels take place in dedicated conference rooms with seating capacities ranging from 150 to 500 people. VIP pass holders get reserved seating, but general admission attendees can queue up to 30 minutes before each panel starts. Popular sessions fill up fast, arriving 45 minutes early for major guests is recommended.

Esports Tournaments and Competitive Gaming at SoCal Gaming Expo

Competitive gaming is a major draw at SoCal Gaming Expo, with tournament prize pools totaling over $50,000 across multiple titles. The main tournament stage features professional-grade setups with live commentary, instant replay systems, and audience seating for 300+ spectators.

Game Titles and Tournament Formats

Street Fighter 6 headlines the fighting game lineup with a double-elimination tournament running all day Saturday. The prize pool sits at $10,000 (1st: $5,000, 2nd: $3,000, 3rd: $1,500, 4th: $500). Registration caps at 256 entrants, and the event historically draws strong regional talent plus a handful of sponsored pros.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate runs a similar format on Sunday with an $8,000 prize pool. Ruleset follows standard competitive settings: 3-stock, 7-minute timer, legal stage list matching current community standards. Both singles and doubles brackets are offered.

Tekken 8 enters the tournament rotation for the first time in 2026 with a $6,000 prize pool. Given the game’s February 2024 release and continued support from Bandai Namco, the competitive scene remains extremely active. Expect high-level competition from established players still developing optimal strategies.

Rocket League (3v3) offers a $7,000 prize pool with team registration required in advance. Teams must register all three members plus one substitute by May 25th. Format is double-elimination with best-of-5 series throughout.

Valorant runs a 5v5 tournament on Friday and Saturday with a $10,000 prize pool. Teams must register complete rosters by May 20th. Matches use competitive map pool and standard tournament settings. Previous SoCal Gaming Expo Valorant tournaments have been covered by major gaming publications, reflecting the event’s growing credibility in the esports space.

Retro tournaments include Street Fighter II: Turbo, Tetris (NES), and Dr. Mario competitions with smaller prize pools ($500-1,000) but fierce competition from dedicated classic gaming communities.

Casual side tournaments for games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 3, and Guilty Gear Strive have entry fees of $5-10 with winner-take-all or top-3 payouts depending on entrant counts.

How to Register as a Competitor

Tournament registration happens through smash.gg (now operated by Microsoft as start.gg) with links available from the official SoCal Gaming Expo website. Most tournaments have registration deadlines 1-2 weeks before the event, though some day-of registration is available for tournaments that don’t fill their caps.

Entry fees vary by game: major tournaments charge $20-40 per entrant, while smaller competitions run $5-15. These fees contribute directly to prize pools beyond the guaranteed minimums.

Competitors must bring their own controllers for console tournaments. The venue provides fight sticks for arcade cabinet competitions and standard Xbox controllers for PC gaming events, but players are encouraged to bring their own preferred peripherals.

Check-in times are strictly enforced, typically 30-60 minutes before brackets begin. Missing check-in results in automatic DQ with no refunds. Bracket schedules are published on smash.gg approximately one week before the expo.

All tournaments require participants to agree to standard FGC conduct rules: no rage-quitting, no coaching during matches (except in designated team events), and respectful behavior toward opponents and staff. Violations can result in immediate disqualification and removal from the venue.

Tips for First-Time Attendees

First-time convention-goers can feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale and activity density of SoCal Gaming Expo. These practical tips help maximize the experience without burning out.

What to Bring and What to Leave at Home

Essential items to bring:

• Portable battery pack: Phones die fast when constantly checking schedules, taking photos, and coordinating with friends. A 10,000+ mAh battery pack keeps devices charged all day.
• Comfortable walking shoes: Attendees easily log 15,000+ steps per day navigating the expo floor. Break in shoes beforehand.
• Reusable water bottle: The venue has water fountains for refills. Buying bottled water repeatedly gets expensive.
• Cash: Many smaller vendors prefer cash and offer discounts for it. ATMs on-site charge hefty fees.
• Small backpack: Carrying purchases, swag, and personal items requires hands-free storage. Clear or mesh bags expedite security checks.
• Hand sanitizer: Hundreds of people touching the same arcade buttons and controllers all weekend.
• Business cards or social media handles: Networking with fellow gamers, vendors, or potential teammates is easier with quick contact-sharing methods.

Leave these at home:

• Large bags or rolling luggage: Security checks take forever, and navigating crowds with oversized bags annoys everyone.
• Expensive collectibles for trading: Unless participating in organized trade events, bringing valuable items risks loss or damage.
• Outside food and drinks (technically): Venue rules prohibit outside food, though enforcement is inconsistent. Better to plan for on-site food options.
• Laptops or tablets: Unless needed for specific purposes (content creation, tournament brackets), they’re dead weight.

Navigating the Expo Floor Efficiently

The convention center’s layout can be confusing with multiple halls and sections. Download the official expo app (iOS/Android) which includes an interactive map with real-time updates on tournament schedules, panel locations, and vendor listings.

Friday morning strategy: Hit the vendor hall first. Rare items and best deals disappear quickly. If something catches the eye, buy it immediately, returning later often means it’s gone.

Saturday is chaos: This is the busiest day with peak attendance. Arrive early for popular panels and tournaments. Prime arcade cabinet and console gaming times are late afternoon when tournament participants are occupied and casual crowds thin briefly before evening sessions.

Sunday afternoon deals: Vendors discount inventory they don’t want to pack up. Negotiating power peaks between 4:00-6:00 PM on Sunday.

Tournament schedules run notoriously behind. If planning to watch specific matches, build in 30-60 minute buffer times. Following the expo’s social media accounts provides real-time updates on delays.

Food lines inside the venue get brutal during lunch hours (12:00-1:30 PM). Eating at 11:00 AM or 2:00 PM avoids 30+ minute waits. Alternatively, the convention center is within walking distance of several restaurants and fast-food options outside the venue.

Meeting Fellow Gamers and Networking Opportunities

SoCal Gaming Expo attracts attendees from across the western United States, creating excellent networking opportunities for finding teammates, trading partners, or simply making gaming friends.

The Community Lounge (new for 2026) serves as a dedicated hangout space with comfortable seating, charging stations, and a digital bulletin board for posting “looking for group” messages, trade offers, or meetup coordinations.

Joining freeplay sessions at tabletop gaming tables is one of the easiest ways to meet people. Most groups welcome additional players, especially for games that scale well with player count.

Tournament waiting areas and spectator sections naturally help conversations. Talking tech, discussing character matchups, or analyzing ongoing matches creates instant common ground.

Many local gaming communities and online groups organize meetups at the expo. Checking Reddit’s r/SoCalGaming, Discord servers for specific games, or the expo’s official forums reveals scheduled meetups for particular games or communities.

Family-Friendly Activities and Age Restrictions

SoCal Gaming Expo welcomes families and maintains a generally all-ages atmosphere, though specific areas and activities have age restrictions.

Children 12 and under receive free admission with a paid adult. The expo includes dedicated Family Gaming Zones with age-appropriate titles, lower-height gaming stations for younger kids, and staff supervision to ensure safe, welcoming environments.

Games available in family zones include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Minecraft, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Kirby titles, LEGO games, and other E-rated content. These areas prohibit M-rated games and maintain lower volume levels compared to competitive gaming zones.

The main arcade floor includes games spanning all ratings, so parents should supervise younger children if concerned about age-appropriate content. Most classic arcade games are violence-light (even fighters like Street Fighter are fairly tame by modern standards), but some cabinets feature more intense content.

Tournaments for M-rated games (Mortal Kombat, some shooters) don’t technically have age restrictions for competitors, but parental consent is required for participants under 17. Spectating these tournaments is open to all ages, though parental discretion is advised.

The vendor hall can be navigated safely with children, though it gets crowded and chaotic during peak hours. Keeping close supervision prevents kids from getting separated in the crowds.

Cosplay is popular at the expo and generally family-friendly, though convention rules prohibit overtly sexualized costumes or graphic violence depictions. Security enforces these policies to maintain an appropriate atmosphere.

Stroller accessibility is good in main thoroughfares but challenging in densely packed areas like the arcade zone during peak hours. The venue offers stroller parking near the family zone entrance.

Nursing rooms and family restrooms are available near the main entrance and family gaming zone. The expo website includes accessibility information for guests with mobility concerns, sensory sensitivities, or other accommodation needs.

How SoCal Gaming Expo Compares to Other Gaming Conventions

Southern California hosts several gaming-related conventions throughout the year, each with distinct focuses and atmospheres. Understanding how SoCal Gaming Expo fits into the broader convention landscape helps set expectations.

E3 (when it was still running through 2023) was an industry-insider event focused on upcoming releases and business dealings. E3 wasn’t designed for general consumers until its later years, and even then it maintained a corporate, announcement-heavy atmosphere. SoCal Gaming Expo is the opposite: community-focused, play-centric, and light on marketing.

PAX West (though technically in Seattle, many SoCal attendees make the trip) dwarfs SoCal Gaming Expo in scale with 70,000+ attendees. PAX offers more industry presence, larger indie showcases, and bigger-name panels. But, PAX’s size creates logistics challenges, longer lines, more crowded spaces, and less intimate interactions. SoCal Gaming Expo’s smaller scale means easier access to everything without marathon queues.

DreamHack SoCal (when it runs in the region) emphasizes esports and BYOC (bring your own computer) LAN gaming. It attracts a more competition-focused crowd with less emphasis on retro gaming and collecting. DreamHack’s tournament production values are typically higher, sometimes featuring events that feed into pro circuits covered by outlets like The Game Awards showcase tournaments. SoCal Gaming Expo balances competitive play with casual gaming and collecting.

TwitchCon caters to content creators and streaming culture rather than gaming broadly. While gaming is central, the focus is on personalities, networking, and creator economy discussions. SoCal Gaming Expo puts games themselves front and center.

Local retro gaming shows (like Portland Retro Gaming Expo) share DNA with SoCal Gaming Expo’s classic arcade focus but typically lack the modern gaming and esports components. SoCal Gaming Expo successfully bridges old and new, making it appealing to broader demographics.

Price-wise, SoCal Gaming Expo lands in the middle: more expensive than small regional shows but significantly cheaper than major conventions like PAX (where weekend badges exceed $200). The free-play model for arcade cabinets and console stations adds considerable value compared to conventions that charge per-game or per-hour fees.

For Southern California residents, SoCal Gaming Expo offers the best value proposition: local access without travel costs, strong community representation, and a focus on playable content rather than marketing presentations. It’s essentially a love letter to gaming in all its forms, built by and for people who actually play games rather than just sell them.

Conclusion

SoCal Gaming Expo 2026 represents twelve years of growth and community building, evolving from a modest retro gaming gathering into one of Southern California’s premier gaming events. The balance between competitive esports, arcade preservation, tabletop gaming, and collector culture creates an environment where virtually any type of gamer can find their niche.

The June 5-7 dates position the event perfectly in the gaming calendar, after most major spring releases have settled into their competitive metas but before summer conventions dominate the schedule. For anyone within driving distance of Ontario, California, or willing to make the trip, the expo offers exceptional value: free-play arcade and console access, competitive tournaments with real prize pools, and a vendor marketplace that rivals dedicated retro gaming conventions.

Registration remains open through the event website, though weekend passes are selling steadily and may not be available by late May. Tournament competitors should register early to secure spots in capped brackets. First-time attendees benefit from arriving Friday morning to beat the Saturday crowds, while veterans know Sunday afternoon is prime time for vendor deals.

The 2026 edition promises to be the largest yet, with expanded floor space, enhanced tournament production, and the strongest guest lineup in the expo’s history. Whether chasing tournament glory, hunting for that one game that’s eluded a collection for years, or simply spending a weekend celebrating gaming culture with 15,000 fellow enthusiasts, SoCal Gaming Expo delivers.