ZA Upcoming

rAge Expo 2026

Name: rAge Expo 2026
Start: 2026-11-26
End: 2026-11-29
Location: Johannesburg

rAge Expo 2026 is South Africa’s premier annual festival for video gaming, technology, and digital entertainment, held in Johannesburg from November 26 to 29. The 2026 edition features a retrofuturistic theme that blends gaming nostalgia with emerging technology. The event serves as a massive community gathering featuring professional esports, creative cosplay competitions, and the country's largest Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) LAN event.

Date: Nov 26-29, 2026
Location: Johannesburg
Status: Upcoming

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Event summary

Highlights

South Africa's largest BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) LAN event running over 50 hours.
Competitive esports tournaments and a dedicated Craftsmanship Competition for cosplayers.
A 2026 'retrofuturistic' theme blending gaming history with future-facing technology.
Hands-on demonstrations of new gadgets, VR, and 3D printing alongside classic arcades.

Celebrating over 20 years of digital culture, rAge Expo 2026 returns to Johannesburg with a unique retrofuturistic creative identity. This theme explores the visual language of gaming's past while showcasing cutting-edge advancements like virtual reality and 3D printing. The festival caters to a diverse audience, including hardcore gamers, tech enthusiasts, families, and creators, offering interactive experiences that range from classic arcade setups to the latest product launches.

A cornerstone of the festival is the BYOC LAN, a 50-plus-hour event where hundreds of gamers connect to a local network for cooperative and competitive play. Beyond the LAN, the expo floor hosts a variety of esports tournaments and a multi-tiered cosplay competition. These contests range from casual stage appearances to a craftsmanship category where participants are judged on the technical detail and creative effort of their costumes.

The event also highlights local game developers and provides a platform for hands-on demos of upcoming software and hardware. In partnership with Mettlestate, the 2026 edition aims to provide a fully immersive festival environment that bridges the gap between the online gaming world and real-life community interaction.

Practical details

Before attending

Check the sources below for current opening times, admission prices and registration requirements. A date range does not mean the event runs continuously or that admission is free.