Spiel Essen 2026: an unforgettable journey

Usually, I focus on video games on this site… however, video games aren’t my only great passion: I also love board games. Every now and then, I’ll happily share an article dedicated to this world, too—hopefully, some of you will find them interesting!

What better way to start than by recounting my first experience at Spiel Essen 2026, the largest international trade fair for board games?

Between compulsive purchases, vast exhibition halls, heavy boxes to lug around, and a return journey that could only be described as "eventful," what was meant to be a simple trip to Germany turned into an adventure I won’t soon forget.

Twelve hours by car to reach paradise

Our adventure began on Thursday, October 22nd, when I set off with my best friend for Germany—specifically Essen—to attend *Spiel* for the first time, the world’s most important event for board game enthusiasts.

The journey itself was quite an undertaking; between the hours spent in the car, stops for food, and recharging at Tesla Superchargers, it took us about thirteen hours to reach our destination. We left at eight in the morning and arrived at our hotel at nine in the evening.

We stayed in Mettmann, about a thirty-minute drive from the fairgrounds. It was a convenient base for reaching Essen, though after a full day of travel, all we wanted to do was rest and get ready for the following day.

Despite our fatigue, our excitement was through the roof. I was finally going to see for myself an event I had heard so much about—a place that, for any board game fan, is practically a must-visit destination.

After a good night’s sleep, the time had come to find out whether it would live up to all our expectations.

Eight pavilions and a paradise for enthusiasts

The following morning, we headed to the fairgrounds… once we reached the parking lot, we had to take a shuttle to get to the entrance.

This first step alone gave an inkling of the event’s scale, but nothing could have truly prepared us for what awaited us once we stepped inside.

Eight exhibition halls, packed with stands dedicated to board games. Publishers, demonstrations, tables for trying out new releases, games just announced, and titles from all over the world—wherever we turned, something caught our eye.

Accustomed to typical comic book conventions—where I often find countless stalls filled with trading cards, merchandise, and all sorts of things that don’t interest me—attending Spiel was a completely different experience.

Here, board games were the true stars—not just a side attraction or a small corner for enthusiasts, but the absolute heart of the entire event.

It was hard to even decide where to begin; every aisle seemed to hide something interesting, and simply stopping in front of a stand meant finding yourself examining a new box, reading a description, or wondering if a particular title might be just the thing for us.

Moreover, this year the event reached record-breaking proportions, becoming the largest edition ever organized up to that point. For me, having never attended before, it was a truly impressive debut.

It felt like being in a massive amusement park designed specifically for board game lovers—with one key difference: the "attractions" here weren't roller coasters, but cardboard boxes that, once opened, promised hours upon hours of fun.

And, as I would soon discover, they also promised a significantly lighter bank account.

Previews, special editions, and a wallet in tears

Now we come to the part that likely interests those who share this passion the most: the purchases.

I knew that attending Spiel would be a huge temptation, but I think I underestimated just how hard it would be to resist when faced with so many titles. Between previews, games not yet released in Italy (and who knows if they ever will be), and special or limited editions, there were countless opportunities to bring home something interesting.

The trouble is that each purchase, viewed on its own, seemed perfectly justified.

"This is a preview—I can't let it slip by."

"You can't find this one in Italy."

"This is a limited edition; I might never get another chance."

And so, one purchase after another, my initial budget began to fade into a distant memory.

In the end, I spent a tidy sum, but honestly, I find it hard to regret it. Attending an event like this means having the chance to discover titles you wouldn't normally see in person, try out new things, and pick up unique editions that might be difficult to track down elsewhere.

Sure, my wallet might have a few complaints, but then again, if you decide to undertake a twelve-hour journey to reach the world's most important board game fair, you have to expect a few temptations along the way.

To compensate—at least a little—we tried to save money on meals; a small cost-cutting strategy which, considering how much we ended up spending at the various booths, can only be called a success in a very relative sense.

The locker service: a lifesaver after mountains of shopping

At a certain point, however, our purchases began to pose a logistical challenge.

Between bags, large boxes, and games of significant size, we found ourselves carrying so much stuff that navigating through the exhibition halls became increasingly difficult.

It’s worth remembering that Spiel isn’t an event you can cover in an hour; spending nine hours moving between booths, aisles, and gaming tables involves a great deal of walking and constant stops to check things out—dragging an ever-growing load of boxes along with us was hardly the ideal way to go about it.

Fortunately, there was a locker service available at the fair; by stowing our purchases there and finally freeing up our hands, we were able to enjoy the experience much more.

It was a crucial decision—without that service, continuing to explore would have become significantly more arduous, especially considering we still had many hours ahead of us.

Of course, the issue would resurface at the end of the day when we had to retrieve everything, but for the moment, that was a concern we could easily put off.

After all, we were at Spiel Essen: there were still countless booths to visit, and we had no intention of stopping just when things were getting really exciting.

I shudder to think what would have happened if we had flown instead of driving; we would have had to arrange for everything to be shipped, as there’s no way all those games would have fit on a plane.

A cinematic ending: rain, wind, and cardboard boxes

After spending about nine hours at the fair, it was time to gather all our purchases and head back to the car.

And that’s when the day decided to throw one last surprise our way.

Once we stepped outside, we discovered that it was raining and the wind was blowing incredibly hard. Carrying all those games—even for two people—wouldn’t have been easy under normal circumstances, but doing so in such bad weather turned the trek to the shuttle, and subsequently to the parking lot, into a real challenge.

We had bags and boxes everywhere; our hands were full, and we had to protect our haul to keep everything from getting ruined. Every step required careful attention, and for a few minutes, our sole priority became clear: getting everything to the car safe and sound.

Looking back, it was almost a comical scene—after spending an entire day in what was, for us, a board-game paradise, we found ourselves battling rain and wind to save our loot.

And yet, it’s precisely these kinds of unexpected twists that make a trip truly memorable.

It wasn’t just a series of purchases or a simple visit to a fair; it was a genuine adventure—filled with excitement, exhaustion, funny moments, and situations that will likely still make us laugh when we look back on them later.

Once we reached the car, we loaded everything up and headed back to the hotel. By then, we were completely wiped out: after twelve hours in the car the day before, we had just spent another nine hours walking around and lugging heavy bags.

We took a shower and went straight to bed—we didn’t have the energy for anything else—but it had all been worth it.

No second day at the trade fair: my bank account is grateful

Initially, the plan was to attend the fair on Saturday as well; unfortunately, when we checked ticket availability, we discovered they were already sold out.

That was undoubtedly our own fault—we left things too late and should have planned ahead.

It was a bit of a disappointment, as an extra day at Spiel would have given us more time to explore the stands and perhaps discover some titles we had missed.

On the other hand, there was a silver lining: given how much we had already spent on Friday, our wallets probably desperately needed a day off.

We decided to take the opportunity to head into Cologne, visiting a few shops and enjoying a different kind of day before the journey home.

It was a nice chance to take a break from the fair, though, after an experience like that, our minds kept inevitably drifting back to board games and the purchases we’d just made.

The hardest part was yet to come the following day, when we would get back in the car for the drive home to Bologna.

And, honestly, we never could have imagined just how complicated that would turn out to be.

16 hours to get home: the journey that never seemed to end

If the journey there had been long, the return trip was nothing short of a nightmare.

We set off at six in the morning, aiming to get home at a reasonable hour. Given the roughly twelve-hour travel time—including necessary stops for food and to recharge the car—we thought we’d manage the day without too much trouble.

But that wasn’t to be.

Because a truck overturned on the motorway, we ended up stuck in traffic for an extra two hours. Two hours spent at a near-standstill, with nothing to do but wait for the situation to clear.

At that point, the journey took on a surreal quality: 12 hours of driving and breaks, plus another 3 hours stuck in motorway gridlock. In total, it took about 16 hours to get home.

We left at six in the morning and arrived at ten at night.

I swear, at one point, I just couldn’t believe it. After the 13-hour trip there, the exhaustion built up at the trade fair, and all those hours spent walking around carrying bags and boxes, an endless return journey was the last thing we needed.

It was one of those days where you’re desperate to arrive, yet the destination seems to move further away rather than getting any closer.

In the end, though, we made it home safe and sound, with all our purchases intact and a wealth of memories to take with us.

And, as grueling as it was, I think this return journey will ultimately become one of the most memorable parts of the whole experience.

Not exactly for the reasons we would have hoped, but let’s look on the bright side.

Spiel Essen 2026: an experience I’d repeat?

Absolutely—but maybe not quite like this.

Despite a 12-hour journey there, nine hours spent walking around the convention, purchases that put a serious strain on my bank account, the rain, the wind, and the 16 hours it took to get back home, my first experience at Spiel Essen was incredible.

For anyone who loves board games, seeing an event of this scale in person is something truly special. It’s not just about buying new boxes; it’s about being in an environment where your passion is at the very heart of everything.

Wherever you turn, you find people who share your interests, games waiting to be discovered, and ideas that could turn into your next gaming session with friends.

And then there’s the value of the journey itself. Setting off with my best friend, sharing our finds, tackling the exhaustion of the convention together, and ending up hauling heavy boxes through the rain and wind—all of this makes the experience so much more than just a simple trip to Germany.

Sure, next time I’ll plan further ahead, book tickets for every day I intend to visit, and probably try to be a bit more sensible with my purchases.

Or maybe not. After all, we are board game enthusiasts, aren't we?

One thing is certain, though: Spiel Essen has won me over. I hope to return in the future—perhaps with a less grueling journey, a few fewer purchases, and a more effective strategy for transporting everything.

Though, knowing myself, I can’t guarantee any of those things.

Because some passions aren't measured just by the money spent or the kilometers traveled, but by the memories they leave behind. And this first adventure at Spiel Essen 2026—with all its games, laughter, exhaustion, and unexpected turns—is one I won’t soon forget, for both good reasons and bad.