Join the 2026 Board Game Design Virtual Summit
Join the 2026 Board Game Design Virtual Summit
Join the 2026 Board Game Design Virtual Summit
February 3–9, 2026
Level up your game design skills—from anywhere in the world.
Whether you're a first-time designer scribbling on napkins or a seasoned publisher with games on shelves, the 2026 Board Game Design Virtual Summit is your backstage pass to the inner workings of the industry. With exclusive interviews, deep-dive sessions, and live Q&A panels featuring some of the most respected voices in tabletop gaming, this is more than just an event—it’s your blueprint for success in game design.
Hosted by Joe Slack, designer, educator, and author of The Board Game Designer’s Guide, this summit brings together 20+ speakers for an immersive, no-fluff experience you won’t want to miss.
What You’ll Get: Expert Interviews – Go behind the scenes with designers, publishers, and crowdfunding pros. Live Q&A Panels – Get your questions answered by the pros (with paid passes). Lifetime Access – Rewatch every session anytime, at your own pace. Bonus Content – Extra interviews and insights not available anywhere else.
Topics Include: Making your first game actually playable. Pitching to publishers vs. self-publishing. Running a successful Kickstarter (and what to watch out for). Building your audience before you launch. Selling on Amazon, navigating challenges, and much more.
There are four ways to attend, depending on the level of access you’re looking for. The Free Pass lets you watch the sessions live during the summit week, February 3–9. If you want to watch at your own pace and revisit the content anytime, the All-Access Pass gives you lifetime access to all the recordings. The Premium Pass includes everything from the All-Access level, plus bonus interviews with every speaker—insights you won’t find anywhere else. Finally, the Ultimate Pass includes all of the above, plus full enrollment in the Board Game Design Course (a $149 value) and six months of group coaching and community membership.
You can claim your preferred pass below using these affiliate links:
Ultimate Pass
Premium Pass
All-Access Pass
Free Pass
What Others Are Saying:
“I have been attending a few online events in the last 5 months and this was definitely one of the most engaging and useful.” – Daniela de Angeli
“Eye-opening. A wealth of information.” – Peter Thull
“Incredibly detailed, informative, and inspiring.” – Warren Loewen
Who Is This For?
Brand-new designers with big ideas. Mid-career creators looking for an edge. Indie publishers and Kickstarter veterans. Anyone passionate about turning their game into reality. Even if you can’t attend live, every session is pre-recorded. Pick up a paid pass and you’ll never miss a beat.
Final Word (and why you should join through me)
As a proud affiliate and partner of the event, University XP is here to support your journey from idea to playtest to publication. When you register using one of my links, you’re also supporting more free content, tools, and resources for game-based learning.
So, let’s do this together. Choose your pass. Build your dream game.
Ultimate Pass
Premium Pass
All-Access Pass
Free Pass
Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase through them, University XP may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote events and products I genuinely believe will provide value to the game design community. Your support helps keep University XP running and allows me to continue offering free content and resources.