John TuftsMadyson CraneJaylon Lee HawkinsJenny Porter TilleyIndianapolis Star
July 30, 2026, 5:01 a.m. ET
It’s the first day of Gen Con!
North America’s largest and longest running tabletop convention has returned to Indianapolis for four days of gaming, cosplay and enough 20-sided dice, we imagine, to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Last year’s event drew roughly 72,000 people to downtown Indy, organizers said, and this year’s sold-out convention could do the same.
IndyStar is following the action with live coverage, photo galleries, video and interviews with those attending. Follow along here.
IndyStar is covering Gen Con 2026. Who’s in our adventuring party?
The Rogue: A collector of shiny things, John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Ask about his tragic backstory on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff, or send him a news tips at John.Tufts@IndyStar.com.
The Wizard: Madyson Crane is a social video producer for IndyStar. A woman of many skills, Madyson brings out the magic thanks to her wide range of experience in the digital space.
The Fighter: Jaylon Hawkins is a summer digital intern and warrior through the Dow Jones News Fund program at IndyStar.
The Ranger: When Senior Visuals Editor Max Gersh isn’t roaming around in nature, you can find him with a camera in hand taking shots of Indy’s most important events. A drone counts as a familiar, right?
The Barbarian: Look, we’re not saying photojournalist Grace Hollars can outfight Conan and outdrink Grog Strongjaw, but we are heavily implying it.
The Bard: Michelle Pemberton, a Pulitzer finalist, is an artist whose work captivates audiences.
The Cleric: A party is only as strong as its healer, and Jenny Porter Tilley keeps everyone alive while managing a team of trending reporters on Midwest Connect in the USA Today Network.
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