GEN CON 2025 BRINGS RECORD-BREAKING NUMBER OF ATTENDEES TO INDY FOR THE BEST FOUR DAYS IN GAMING™
- Gen Con Indy 2025 drew a record-breaking, sold-out crowd of nearly 72,000 attendees and more than 575 exhibiting companies.
- The annual four-day convention generated an estimated economic impact of more than $82 million for local businesses.
INDIANAPOLIS (August 4, 2025) — Gen Con, the largest and longest-running tabletop gaming convention in North America, packed the halls of the Indiana Convention Center this week with nearly 72,000 gamers and fans, setting an all-time attendance record and generating an estimated economic impact of more than $82 million for Indianapolis hotels, restaurants, and other local businesses.
"With the entire Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium packed with global exhibitors and attendees, this year's Gen Con generated more than $82 million in economic impact,” said Chris Gahl, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Visit Indy. "This past week, we were proud to give Gen Con executives a hard-hat tour of the expanding convention center and new Signia hotel, projects giving the event continued future growth.”
Held each year since 1968, Gen Con gathers fans of board games, card games, roleplaying games, cosplay, and pop culture to play, shop, celebrate, and connect over a shared passion for gaming.
During the four days of the convention, attendees browsed and shopped an exhibit hall featuring over 575 game publishers and vendors and participated in nearly 30,000 events and activities, including a wide range of gaming sessions and tournaments, artist and author appearances, film screenings, musical performances, and the annual Gen Con Costume Contest.
"Gen Con 2025 was another record-breaking year, and we are grateful for the incredible support of Indianapolis,” said Gen Con President David Hoppe. "The warm and welcoming atmosphere created when the tabletop gaming community meets Hoosier hospitality is essential to making The Best Four Days in Gaming™ come to life each summer.”
Attendees also flocked to Gen Con's outdoor Block Party activation on South Street. This outdoor, open-to-the-public festival featured dozens of local food trucks alongside Gen Con's local food and beverage partners Sun King Brewery, HotBox Pizza, Daniel's Vineyard, Helm Coffee, Social Cantina, and Harry & Izzy's.
Gen Con partners with charities each year to raise funds and spotlight the work of the selected nonprofit organizations. This year, attendees helped raise nearly $40,000 for Women4Change Indiana and Brown Toy Box Foundation. Gen Con has raised almost $500,000 for charity since 2003.
Gen Con will return to Indianapolis from July 30 to August 2, 2026, and is contracted to take place there annually through 2030. Badges for next year's convention will go on sale in early 2026 on the convention's website (gencon.com).
About Gen Con
Gen Con is North America's largest and longest-running annual event devoted to tabletop gaming culture. The convention began in 1968 in Lake Geneva, WI, and takes place each summer in Indianapolis, IN. During the convention, attendees shop and demo games from hundreds of exhibiting companies and choose from thousands of ticketed events representing a wide array of board games, card games, roleplaying games, seminars, entertainment events, and more.
Photographs of Gen Con Indy 2025: bit.ly/gencon2025media
Gen Con Logos and Brand Kit: https://www.gencon.com/press/brand-resources
Media Contact for Gen Con
Stacia Kirby, (206) 363-1492, [email protected]