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Nova Open Tabletop Wargaming Convention

Nova Open Tabletop Wargaming Convention

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The NOVA Open is one of the largest Tabletop Gaming, Hobby, and Arts conventions on the East Coast. The inaugural NOVA Open occurred in August, 2009.

Named for the Northern Virginia area where it is hosted, the NOVA Open is the largest tabletop wargaming convention in the Washington, DC Metropolitan region. The experience was tailored to the needs of the global gaming community based on their feedback. We believe all manner and style of hobbyist can be accommodated and entertained within the same venue and the same events. Whether a hardcore co

09/05/2026

A few important Capital Palette times to keep in mind!

Capital Palette entries close at 12:00 PM today, so make sure you get your entries in before the deadline!

Fan Favorite voting starts at 11:00 AM today and runs through 10:00 AM Sunday. Come check out the incredible artwork and cast your vote for your favorite!

The Capital Palette Art Show and Award Ceremony begin Sunday at 12:30 PM. Come see the incredible artwork, celebrate our artists, and find out who takes home the awards!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of Capital Palette 2026!

09/05/2026

We caught up with Joe today at the Capital Palette, the art show here at NOVA Open.

What makes Capital Palette so special is that there’s an entry point for everyone, whether you’re just starting your painting journey or you’ve reached master level. Small, large, single miniatures to full dioramas, even historical miniatures, it all has a place here.

Huge thanks to and .mir_sculpture for running it. We’re incredibly proud to see artists like Joe supported here, growing and improving year after year.

Joe entered two pieces this year, Athena and Rahel, into the Masters category. He’s been coming to NOVA Open for four years and this is his third time competing. Last year he took gold in the Journeyman category for a bust, and this year he’s moved up to Masters.

His advice for anyone thinking about entering an art show for the first time? Just do it. You learn so much from your first entry, and the real goal isn’t the award, it’s growing as an artist along the way.

That’s what makes this community so special. Everyone here is encouraging each other and pushing one another to be better. It really does feel like one big family.

Good luck to everyone that has entered the Capital Palette.

Photos from Nova Open Tabletop Wargaming Convention's post 09/05/2026

Tonight, our Art Director, Kyron Haines , hosted the Artist Happy Hour, bringing together the incredible artists, judges, volunteers, and staff who make the art events at NOVA Open possible.

It was a chance to step away from the hustle and bustle of the weekend, raise a glass, share some laughs, and most importantly, say thank you to the people who put so much time, passion, and creativity into making NOVA’s art program something special.

As an extra thank you, we also presented our new artists with a special NOVA Open artist apron. It’s a small token of our appreciation for the talent and creativity they bring to the community.

While we can’t tag everyone who helped make this happen, we want you to know that it took an incredible number of people from all over the world to bring these events together. From artists and judges to instructors, volunteers, staff, sponsors, and countless people working behind the scenes, this truly was a worldwide effort.

Thank you to everyone who showed up tonight, and to everyone who has contributed their time, talent, and energy to NOVA Open 2026. We could not have done it without you.

Here’s to the artists, the hobby, and the amazing community that makes all of this possible.

Africa Mir
Erik Swinson
Brett Avants
Derek Clawson
John Margiotta
Artis Opus
CK Studios
Izzy B Sanchez

09/04/2026

NOVA Open 2026 is underway, and we want to make sure everyone has a plan for parking!

First, we’re sorry this is coming out last minute. We just received confirmation that our main non-hotel parking lot across the street is no longer available due to construction.

We’ve been working with the hotel to identify additional parking options nearby. There are still several options around the hotel, but spaces will be limited, especially during peak hours.

If you’re staying nearby or coming in for the day, we strongly recommend using Metro or carpooling when possible.

Plan ahead, arrive early, and give yourself some extra time to get parked and into the convention.

Also make sure to try spot hero!

We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding, and we’ll see you at NOVA Open 2026!

09/04/2026

Meet of Izzy’s Painting Studio, one of the incredible instructors teaching at NOVA Open this week.

Izzy specializes in airbrushing, and his classes take you from the very basics (assembling and cleaning your airbrush, thinning paint, applying it properly) all the way through to his advanced Volume and Depth class, where he shows you how to build blooms of color and real depth into your models.

The piece he’s holding is a beautiful starship from Oasis, a game launching soon, airbrushed on a Evolution. And a huge thanks to for being one of the amazing suppliers of classes and vendors here at NOVA OPEN.

We feel lucky to have instructors like Izzy sharing their craft with everyone here this week. If you’re at NOVA Open, go say hi and check out his class.

09/04/2026

What a great first day at NOVA Open.

The halls have been packed, the games have been played and we’ve seen some seriously impressive armies and miniatures.

From competitive team tournaments, narrative 40k to hobby classes and everything in between,

The Capital Palette competition cabinets are starting to fill up and entries are the coming in.

And tomorrow is only going to get bigger.

Photos from Nova Open Tabletop Wargaming Convention's post 09/03/2026

NOVA OPEN BINGO COUPON BOOK

with Baron Of Dice

Coupon Books available from registration desk and get yourself some epic discounts with vendors.

Go to each participating vendor, complete the bingo card on the last page and turn the card into Stack Up charity before 6pm.

You will be eligible to enter into a raffle for various prizes (dwarf nova swag), Armageddon box, Snot Goblin modular terrain and more!

09/03/2026

NOVA Open 26 is finally here and the doors are open.

Let’s go.

09/02/2026

We’re in Washington, D.C. and NOVA Open is almost here.

Registration is open: badges going out, merch getting collected, and gaming halls that’s about to start to fill up.

Vendors are already setting up: Baron of Dice, Army Painter, Games Workshop, Artis Opus, and so many more getting ready to welcome you. The Capital Palette cabinets just went up, and we can’t wait to see them filled with the incredible artwork over the next few days.

The opening ceremony is about to kick off, and this hall becomes home to 40K players, competitive, narrative, and everything in between, plus a full floor of other gaming systems, workshops and so much more.

We can’t wait to see so many familiar faces again and meet so many new ones over the next few days.

So if you’re heading to NOVA Open, what’s the one thing you’re most looking forward to?

Photos from Nova Open Tabletop Wargaming Convention's post 09/02/2026

NOVA OPEN 2026 IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY!

Move in is complete, the doors are open, and the check in lines are moving! The halls are filling up, tables are getting set, and NOVA Open 2026 is officially in full swing.

Welcome to everyone joining us this weekend! Whether you’re here to compete, paint, learn, shop, or just hang out with friends, we’re glad you’re here.

Let’s make this one to remember!

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NOVA Open 2025/Aug 27th/Aug 31st 2025; Washington Hilton
Washington D.C., DC
20009