Abuja, Nigeria — August 2026 — The African Boardgames Convention (AB Con), Africa’s premier tabletop gaming convention, has officially announced its 10th anniversary edition, scheduled for November 27–28, 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria. Alongside this milestone celebration, organizers have launched an international Kickstarter campaign to help deliver the convention’s most ambitious edition yet.
Founded in 2016 by NIBCARD Games, AB Con was created with a simple but powerful vision: to build a thriving tabletop gaming industry in Africa. Over the past decade, the convention has grown from a small gathering of passionate gamers into a leading platform where game designers, publishers, educators, manufacturers, retailers, content creators, students, and families come together to celebrate African creativity through games.
For ten years, AB Con has championed locally designed board and card games while providing opportunities for creators to showcase their work, connect with industry professionals, learn new skills, and inspire the next generation of African game designers. The convention has become a meeting point for innovation, collaboration, and community, helping demonstrate that games can be powerful tools for education, storytelling, entrepreneurship, and cultural expression.
The 2026 edition will celebrate this remarkable journey while looking ahead to the future of Africa’s growing tabletop ecosystem. Visitors can expect two days filled with game demonstrations, tournaments, prototype playtesting, workshops, industry discussions, family gaming activities, networking sessions, marketplace exhibitions, awards, and opportunities to discover original games created by African designers.
To support the expansion of this milestone event, AB Con has launched a Kickstarter campaign with a funding goal of US$14,000. The campaign will help cover venue and production costs, volunteer support, logistics, marketing, accessibility improvements, and expanded programming designed to welcome an even larger and more diverse audience.
Kickstarter Launch Date: Tuesday, 11th August 2026
Additional stretch goals will enable the convention to introduce new initiatives, including a Kids Gaming Competition to encourage gaming clubs in schools, an AB Con Designers Grant to support emerging creators, an AB Con Impact Award recognizing individuals and organizations advancing Africa’s gaming ecosystem, and the possibility of expanding the convention into a three-day event.
Speaking on the announcement, Kenechukwu Ogbuagu, Founder of NIBCARD Games and Lead Convener of AB Con, said:
“When we hosted the first AB Con in 2016, our dream was bigger than organizing an event—we wanted to help build an industry. Ten years later, we’ve seen designers launch original games, communities grow across Africa, and more people recognize games as powerful tools for learning, culture, business, and connection. This anniversary is not only a celebration of how far we’ve come but an invitation for the world to help shape what comes next.”
The convention reflects the broader mission of NIBCARD Games, one of Africa’s pioneering tabletop game companies. Since its founding in 2013, the studio has designed more than 70 original tabletop games while investing in game publishing, manufacturing, education, community development, and digital game development through NIBCARD E-Games.
As global interest in African creative industries continues to grow, AB Con aims to position Africa as a significant contributor to the international tabletop gaming landscape. By connecting creators, educators, investors, businesses, and players, the convention is helping lay the foundation for a sustainable gaming ecosystem built on African stories, talent, and innovation.
Members of the media, sponsors, industry partners, content creators, and gaming enthusiasts are invited to participate in this historic edition and join the celebration of a decade of building Africa’s tabletop gaming industry.
About AB Con
The African Boardgames Convention (AB Con) is Africa’s premier annual tabletop gaming convention. Founded in 2016 by NIBCARD Games, AB Con brings together designers, publishers, educators, retailers, manufacturers, students, families, and gaming enthusiasts to celebrate, grow, and strengthen Africa’s tabletop gaming ecosystem through exhibitions, tournaments, workshops, networking, and community engagement.
About NIBCARD Games
Founded in 2013, NIBCARD Games is a Nigerian game studio dedicated to designing, publishing, manufacturing, and promoting original African tabletop games. Through its events, educational initiatives, game café, and digital game development studio, NIBCARD E-Games, the company is committed to building a vibrant gaming culture across Africa.
Media Contact
Kenechukwu Ogbuagu
Founder & Lead Convener, AB Con
NIBCARD Games
Email: nibcardng@gmail.com; info@theabcon.com
KS Campaign page
AB Con Website
Media Kit
