RetroCon UK Comes To The NEC This November
- Lee Murray
- Jul 20, 2026
- 3 min read
My wife Sarah's family are originally from Birmingham, and we visit occasionally. I was a bit of a fan of UB40 (it was a guilty pleasure) back in the day as well, so I have a soft spot for the 'Brummies'!
Birmingham has the NEC venue, which is decent for events, especially Retro events, and there is one coming up in November.
RetroCon UK is coming to the NEC in Birmingham on the 21st and 22nd of November, and it is a bit different from the usual gaming markets and expos. Their tagline is "celebrate the best of yesterday," and they really do mean everything from back then, not just the games.
I'm going to be straight with you: this is more of a whole-childhood nostalgia weekend than a pure retro gaming one. But there is still plenty here for our lot, and honestly it looks like a decent day out either way.
What's on
On the gaming side, you get loads of retro arcade machines, a handheld corner, racing simulators, Tetris and Pac-Man tournaments, and a Retroland exhibition walking you through vintage computers and gaming history.
Then it opens right out. There is a Matt Goss concert on the Saturday night, Pat Sharp bringing an actual Fun House, live sets from the likes of Nick Heyward, Toyah and Chesney Hawkes, a silent disco, and celebrity guests including Leigh Francis and actors from the likes of Charmed and Beverly Hills 90210. Add over a hundred traders selling retro toys, vinyl, comics and vintage gaming, plus classic cars and old motorbikes scattered about, and you have got a proper trip down memory lane here. It is organised by the Oakham Group.
Times, tickets and getting there
As mentioned, it is at the NEC in Birmingham, in Halls 19 and 20, postcode B40 1NT. The NEC is about as well connected as venues get, right off the M42 with Birmingham International station and airport on the doorstep, so it is doable from most of the country even if it is a bit of a trek for those of us further north.
It runs across both days with doors opening from 10am. Tickets start at around £20, which does seem good value, with earlybird discounts if you book ahead, over on the RetroCon UK site. There is also an event page on the NEC website.
So, more of a whole-childhood day out than a pure gaming one. But if the idea of wandering past a Pac-Man neon, a shelf of Donkey Kong figures and Pat Sharp's Fun House all under one roof appeals, then this is the one.
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