KIDSHAMMER AT THE 2026 NOVA OPEN: Labor Day Weekend, September 4-6
Kidshammer is returning to the NOVA Open for its eighth year! The NOVA Open is the birthplace of Kidshammer, and we are excited to remain part of the biggest tabletop gaming convention on the east coast.
There is a full line up of kids and family events on Saturday and Sunday at the NOVA Open under the Kidshammer banner. In general, Kidshammer events at the NOVA Open are open to kids aged 8-16, but check the primer for each event for specifics. Below is a schedule of Kidshammer events each day To find out more, please check out the event schedule for the NOVA Open here. (You can search events sorting by the "Kidshammer" keyword)
Saturday, September 5
Morning:
Afternoon:
Sunday, September 5
Morning and Early Afternoon
Morning:
- Age of Sigmar Spearhead Learn to Play This event is an open play format, where kids will be paired up to play on the day of the event. The fast and smaller scale Spearhead format will be used for the event. Organizers will provide boards, cards, and loaner armies. Strongly encourage kids to watch a "how to play" video before the event for the basics, but Kidshammer volunteers will be on hand to help with rules.
- Warhammer 40k Combat Patrol Learn to Play This event is an open play format, where kids will be paired up to play on the day of the event. The fast and smaller scale Combat Patrol format will be used for the event. Organizers will provide mats and terrain and loaner armies. Strongly encourage kids to watch a "how to play" video before the event for the basics, but Kidshammer volunteers will be on hand to help with rules.
Afternoon:
- Age of Sigmar Spearhead Learn to Play This event is an open play format, where kids will be paired up to play on the day of the event. The fast and smaller scale Spearhead format will be used for the event. Organizers will provide boards, cards, and loaner armies. Strongly encourage kids to watch a "how to play" video before the event for the basics, but Kidshammer volunteers will be on hand to help with rules.
- Warhammer 40k Combat Patrol Learn to Play This event is an open play format, where kids will be paired up to play on the day of the event. The fast and smaller scale Combat Patrol format will be used for the event. Organizers will provide mats and terrain and loaner armies. Strongly encourage kids to watch a "how to play" video before the event for the basics, but Kidshammer volunteers will be on hand to help with rules.
Sunday, September 5
Morning and Early Afternoon
- Age of Sigmar Spearhead Youth Friendly Tournament This event is a three-round Spearhead tournament, using the Fire and Jade set. Designed to be welcoming for beginners, but also an opportunity to demonstrate your generalship in the Mortal Realms! Participants should bring their own models, board, and card decks, although loaner armies, models, and decks will be available. Kids who learned to play on Saturday are encouraged to play in the casual tournament on Sunday!
- Warhammer 40k Combat Patrol Youth Friendly Tournament Kidshammer: Warhammer 40,000 Youth Friendly Tournament offers kids aged 8-16 the opportunity to participate in a friendly, three-round Combat Patrol tournament set in Games Workshop’s popular Warhammer 40,000 (40k) sci-fi setting. For 2026, Kidshammer will use the Combat Patrol rules found at the top of the Reference section in Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40,000 app. The app can be found in the Google and/or Apple stores. Kidshammer will use the 11th edition Core Rules which can be found on Warhammer Community
| KHAOS AM & PM Learn to Play Events 61 + 62 (2026) |
| KHAOS Youth Friendly Tournament Event 60 (2026) |
| KH40k AM Learn to Play Event 59 (2026) |
| KH40k PM Open Play Event 58 (2026) |
| KH40k Youth Friendly Tournament Event 46 (2026) |
How to Sign Up
If your kid is interested in joining us at the NOVA Open, sign up now! Space is limited, and it may not be possible to walk on on the day of the event this year. Click HERE to go to the Tabletop Events website to register for Kidshammer events at the 2026 NOVA Open.
The first step is to buy a badge, so that tickets for events can be added to it. Click on the "Buy Badges" button under Registration. Every one who enters the convention, adult or child, needs a badge for each day they are there. So purchase a badge for your child for each day of attendance, and one for any adults accompanying the child. Badges for adults are $30 per day on Saturday and Sunday, or $69 for the entire convention (Wednesday through Sunday). Note that a Youth Convention pass for the entire weekend is also available for $20 for kids 15 and under!
After you buy the badges for adults and kids, go back and click the "Buy Tickets" button under Registration. Type in "Kidshammer" in the "Search by keyword or event number" search field and hit search. Next click on the event desired. You will need to purchase a ticket for each child participating in an event. Accompanying adults do NOT have to buy a ticket (but do need to purchase a convention badge for the day of the event or for the entire convention).
The first step is to buy a badge, so that tickets for events can be added to it. Click on the "Buy Badges" button under Registration. Every one who enters the convention, adult or child, needs a badge for each day they are there. So purchase a badge for your child for each day of attendance, and one for any adults accompanying the child. Badges for adults are $30 per day on Saturday and Sunday, or $69 for the entire convention (Wednesday through Sunday). Note that a Youth Convention pass for the entire weekend is also available for $20 for kids 15 and under!
After you buy the badges for adults and kids, go back and click the "Buy Tickets" button under Registration. Type in "Kidshammer" in the "Search by keyword or event number" search field and hit search. Next click on the event desired. You will need to purchase a ticket for each child participating in an event. Accompanying adults do NOT have to buy a ticket (but do need to purchase a convention badge for the day of the event or for the entire convention).