Must-Visit Gaming Events in the UK and Ireland in 2024
Gaming fans are in for a treat in 2024, with the upcoming schedule in the United Kingdom and Ireland packed with major events.
From industry conferences to major eSports tournaments and more, the next 12 months is a veritable feast of gaming extravaganzas.
With that in mind, we look at what is on the agenda in 2024, starting with what promises to be an action-packed four-day event in Ireland.
Galway Poker Festival – January 4-7
The New Year starts in style as the Irish Poker Tour lands at the Galmont Hotel in Galway for one of the most lucrative events ever staged on the Emerald Isle.
The undoubted highlight of the festival is the Galway Poker Cup Main Event, boasting a hugely impressive €300,000 guaranteed prize pool.
The buy-in is €600, but players can attempt to book their seat in the tournament via a series of cost-effective satellite events hosted on Irish online poker sites.
With the option to use the live casino experience for Irish players to brush up your skills ahead of the tournament, you could easily walk away with your bankroll significantly boosted.
Bounty tournaments, high-roller events and women’s tournaments add to the allure of a festival which is guaranteed to be a big hit with the UK and Irish poker community.
ICE London – February 6-8
ICE London is firmly established as one of the most important gaming industry events in the calendar, with around 650 international exhibitors showcasing their products and services.
Visitors to the ExCeL London will be able to check out the latest trends across numerous sectors including sports betting, online casino, mobile development, eSports and more.
Networking opportunities and educational sessions relating to the lucrative iGaming industry are also an integral part of this feature-packed three-day event.
ICE London also has a strong focus on eSports, with this year’s event offering gaming fans the opportunity to watch some of the world’s top professional racers in action.
The Formula 1 eSports showcase will have the added attraction of live odds available around the arena, allowing gaming fans to wager on the races in real time.
Torquay Comic Con and Gaming Festival – February 17
The family-friendly Torquay Comic Con and Gaming Festival will take place at the Riviera Centre on Saturday, February 17.
The event features a plethora of plethora of attractions including a cosplay contests, comic artists, vendors and displays of rare collectibles.
There will also be a Gaming 4u Gaming Zone including virtual reality (VR) games, Mario Kart and more, giving you the chance to test yourself against fellow gamers.
The festival also offers visitors the opportunity to get selfies and autographs with numerous celebrity guests from movies and television.
Torquay Comic Con and Gaming Festival has something to suit gaming fans of every age, making this the perfect day out for all the family.
Develop:Brighton 2024 – July 9-11
First staged in 2006, the Develop:Brighton conference has grown into one of the most influential events of its type in the gaming sector.
It provides a platform for the UK and Irish game development industry to network, share ideas and forge new partnerships in an inclusive environment.
Topics at the 2023 event included artificial intelligence (AI) content, player acquisition and monetisation across all of the most gaming genres.
Develop:Brighton features informative conference sessions led by the industry’s top talents, giving delegates the chance to hear from people who have made it to the pinnacle of their profession.
This three-day event is truly unmissable for anyone working in the industry who wants to shape their future innovations by learning from thought-leaders in the sector.
League of Legends World Championship 2024 – November 2
The eyes of the gaming world will be on the O2 Arena in London at the start of November as the 2024 League of Legends (LoL) World Championship is staged.
The 15,000-capacity venue is guaranteed to be a sell-out for an event with naturally features the best exponents of LoL from across the world.
After the conclusion of the regular season, qualified teams from professional leagues worldwide participate in a month-long tournament in the hope of progressing to the World Final.
South Korean team T1 are the reigning champions having defeated Chinese outfit Weibo Gaming 3-0 in the 2023 final to scoop the $445,000 first prize.
No European teams made it to the quarter-finals in this year’s tournament, but staging the event in London could improve their chances of success in 2024.
