Gaymer Fest 2026 is the LGBTQ+ gaming convention we’ve been waiting for
If you’ve ever wished there was a gaming convention that felt genuinely built for you, where the community isn’t an afterthought but the entire point, then Gaymer Fest might just be your new favourite date in the calendar.
Organised by Boston Gaymers, Gaymer Fest is a full-day event packed with gaming of every kind, from a video game expo spotlighting Boston’s LGBTQ+ game developers, to freeplay board games, TTRPGs, panels, and an all-drag live play. It’s coming to Cambridge, MA on 19 September 2026, held at The Foundry, and for its inaugural run, it sounds like an absolute joy.
Programming
The programming lineup genuinely has something for every type of gaymer. The massive board game library is open all day for free play, with organised play sessions for popular modern board games, no experience required. Whether you’re a seasoned Eurogame strategist or someone who only vaguely remembers the rules of Cluedo, you’re welcome at the table.
Queer GMs will be running TTRPG one-shots all day, and there’s something quietly radical about sitting down at an RPG table knowing the person running the game shares your experience of the world. It changes what stories feel possible to tell.
On the video game side, the expo hall will be packed with indie game demos from queer developers, and attendees can sign up for Mario Kart World and Super Smash Sis tournaments. Super Smash Sis. Iconic!
One of the most exciting elements of this inaugural event is the dedicated indie developer showcase. The expo hall, run in partnership with Boston Game Dev, will feature a talented community of local LGBTQ+ game developers, with attendees able to play quick video game demos and meet the people who made them.
The games industry has made strides in representation, but there’s still a significant gap between what mainstream studios produce and the rich, weird, tender, politically sharp work coming out of LGBTQ+ indie spaces. Gaymer Fest puts those developers front and centre from day one.
Then there’s the all-drag live play, which might be the thing we’re most excited about. Attendees can experience an all-drag cast of performers playing a tabletop RPG live on stage. Live play events have exploded in popularity thanks to shows like Critical Role, but adding drag performance to the mix takes the format somewhere genuinely theatrical, unpredictable, and almost certainly hilarious!
Venue & Tickets
The event is held at The Foundry, Cambridge’s inclusive hub for creative exploration, located at 101 Rogers St, a short walk from the Kendall/MIT stop on the Red Line. The venue offers elevator access, gender-neutral restrooms, and a quiet room. Gaymer Fest also operates a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, discrimination, or hate speech of any kind.
Gaymer Fest 2026 takes place on 19 September 2026 and tickets are available now via Zeffy.
If you’re in or near Boston, or feel like making a trip of it, this looks like one of the best ways to spend a Saturday this autumn.
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