FAQ

What is RuneFest? 

RuneFest is the world’s biggest and best real world celebration of all things RuneScape. Meet with your favourite JMods, content creators and fellow players, engage in RuneScape activities, learn firsthand about upcoming content and immerse yourself in all things Gielinor. With stage entertainment, parties, competitions, the Golden Gnomes awards, LAN zones, goodie bags, and merchandise stalls... it’s the XP of a lifetime!

Where and when is RuneFest 2026? 

This year’s RuneFest will be held in Hall 5 of the National Exhibition Centre on 3rd and 4th October 2026. 

What’s new at RuneFest 2026?

RuneFest is coming back, bringing its biggest, boldest, and best experience yet.

This anniversary year we're welcoming a record 6,000 players to celebrate and honour the 25 years of quests, skills, and stories that we've shared together. Whether you’re a seasoned maxed veteran or fresh off of Tutorial Island, this is the community gathering of the decade for all.

Two Grand Stages
The Wise Old Man isn’t the only one with stories to tell... This year we have added a second stage to the event hall running in tandem with our main stage arena. This brings an influx of behind the scenes content with JMod panels, Creator Q&As and additional evening entertainment.

On the main stage you can expect all the RuneFest classics with our Roadmap Summits, Golden Gnomes, and new RuneScape entertainment fresh for this year!

New Skill Chips
Take on 8 brand-new challenges, each inspired by the skills and activities in the games you know and love. For those dedicated players that complete them all, there is an elusive 9th chip for you to collect...

Expanded Entertainment
From the opening ceremony to the final hours on Sunday, RuneFest 2026 is packed with more entertainment and things to do than ever before. Wherever you roam, something is happening, so expect surprises worthy of a random event… minus the evil chickens (probably).

All New Questing Feature
Your journey doesn’t stop at skill chips, we're bringing questing to life with RuneFest quests. Earn quest points and climb the hiscores, and see what rewards await those who complete their adventure.

Exclusive Goodie Bags
Every attendee will receive a goodie bag packed with entirely exclusive items, including special 25th anniversary collectibles you won’t find anywhere else.

Gieli-more!
We’re bringing the world of RuneScape to life with new immersive zones, inspired by iconic locations across Gielinor. Explore iconic locations that you recognise from each of our RuneScape games and maybe even uncover a few secrets along the way...

We’re also bringing back beloved locations from last year, so make sure to have your cameras ready to get photos with the Lumbridge gates, the Grand Exchange, Varrock Fountain and our secret new areas. You can also expect the return of all your favourite RuneFest staples, including an expanded LAN area, campfire zone, meet & greet space, community marketplace, and merch store!

Will the Golden Gnomes be at RuneFest this year?

Yes, the Golden Gnome awards will be held this year at RuneFest. They will be livestreamed for those unable to make it in person. 

What food and drink will be available at the event? 

There will be a multiple cafes, food stalls and bars within the event floor as well as plenty of restaurants, bars and shops in the immediate vicinity of the NEC.  

Can I bring my own food and drink? 

You are welcome to bring your own food and drink, but bringing alcohol into the venue is not permitted.

Is there anywhere to leave/store luggage? 

Cloakrooms will be located near the hall entrance. They open 30 minutes before show open and will remain open up to one hour after show close if there are any items remaining to be collected. Anything not collected will be taken to lost property at the end of the day. Item costs are £2 per coat and £3 per bag.

What does my RuneFest ticket include? 

Standard tickets include full access to the event on both Saturday and Sunday and an exclusive RuneFest goodie bag.

Our new Gold tickets give you the highest level of access in Gielinor as well as exclusive limited-run merch. Your benefits are:

• Upgraded goodie bag with an exclusive RuneFest Gold Trim Rune Armour Figurine by Youtooz. Never to be reproduced or resold, this 5“ vinyl figure is the perfect desk or shelf companion to your adventures in Gielinor.
  
  

  

  
  

• 15% discount on merch store purchases at the event

• Exclusive early access to merch store

• Reserved Gold Tier seating area at front of main stage

• Priority booking for LAN area slots

• Priority booking for Meet and Greet area slots

Please see the Merchandise T&Cs for Gold Ticket merch discount terms.

How much are RuneFest tickets? 

Standard tickets are priced at £210 plus the platform’s booking fee for standard entry; Gold Tier tickets are priced at £375 plus the platform’s booking fee.

How does Jagex decide on pricing? 

Our model for events is simple – offer a fantastic event for RuneScape players. Jagex does not profit on tickets we sell for our events.

Prices are set based on the right balance of supporting the creation of an awesome event worth your time, while keeping the cost as low as we can.

How many tickets will be available? 

This year we are doubling the capacity of the event to 6,000 attendees so that more of our community can come together than ever before. 

How do I buy RuneFest tickets? 

RuneFest 2026 tickets will become available exclusively through our official ticket vendor See Tickets on April 30th at 4pm BST.

Any tickets found on alternative vendors are unofficial and are not affiliated with Jagex or RuneFest. Please avoid these 3rd party vendors to avoid the risk of purchasing non-valid tickets or price-hiked (scalped) tickets.

If you have any questions or need something from our ticket provider, visit the support centre: https://www.seetickets.com/content/support-centre

This includes topics such as:

• Missing tickets

• Refunds

See Tickets customer service is available 24/7. Response times will vary based on the current workload of See Tickets Customer Service and they will respond as soon as possible.

If you need something answered directly by the event organisers please email us at support@runefest.com. We will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible but please be aware our working hours are Monday-Friday 9:00-17:00.

Please see the SeeTickets T&Cs here: https://www.seetickets.com/content/terms-and-conditions

Can I buy a ticket for one day of the event only?

We only have full weekend tickets available to enable guests to enjoy all the different days have to offer.

Do I need to print my tickets?

No need to print – please have your ticket confirmation email handy and staff will scan your QR code on the door.

I’ve given my tickets to someone else but it is my name on the ticket, will that matter?

No, we check the barcode on the ticket and not the name, so this won’t matter.

I’ve paid for my ticket but haven’t received an email, what do I do?

If you received a confirmation email, your tickets should be attached to the email. If you still haven’t received them, visit the See Tickets support centre via https://www.seetickets.com/content/support-centre for more information.

Do I need to bring an ID?

You do not need ID to check-in, only to purchase alcohol on site.

Do you provide disabled / carer / companion tickets / discounts?

We can provide a free carer ticket for those who receive Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payments.

When you buy a ticket, you will be able to select a free Companion ticket. When you check out, you will be asked to supply evidence.

Evidence Accepted:

• Copy of DLA, PIP or Adult Disability Payment entitlement letter

• Evidence of registered severely sight impaired (blind)

• CredAbility Access Card (with +1 icon)

• Copy of Attendance Allowance letter

• Recognised Assistance Dog ID card

• Any other relevant documentation*

*Please note: If you are unable to upload appropriate documentation this may result in your order being cancelled. We appreciate your cooperation.

Do I need to be with my child inside the event?

Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Can I resell my tickets?

The only legitimate way to sell your tickets is using SeeTickets fan-to-fan resale platform here: https://www.seetickets.com/content/fan-to-fan

All other resale methods and selling for profit are strictly prohibited.

Full See Tickets terms & conditions can be found at https://www.seetickets.com/content/partial/terms-and-conditions

NEC Address:

NEC 
North Ave 
Birmingham B40 1NT 
UK 

​www.thenec.co.uk/visitors/getting-here/ 

By Train 

If you’re heading to RuneFest by train, you’ll find us located less than a ten-minute walk from Birmingham International Railway Station. You’ll find many train services connect directly to Birmingham International, however, if you’re travelling from further afield you may need to catch a connecting train at Birmingham New Street, which is only a 15-minute journey away.

By Bus or Coach 

Coach services are operated by National Express and Megabus, with over 120 daily services from across the UK to Birmingham Airport. From here you can get to the NEC in a ​matter of minutes​​ on the free air-rail link. If you’re jumping on a bus in Birmingham City Centre you can take the 900 service (one every 15 minutes, takes 30 minutes) or the 97 (one every 30 minutes, takes 45 minutes). Local bus services also run every 30 minutes throughout the day to Solihull (service 966) and Coventry (service 900). 

By Car 

You’ll find the NEC and Birmingham International Airport both clearly signposted from all motorways and major routes including the M42,M40 and M6. If you’re using your trusty sat nav to get here simply enter the postcode B40 1NT, and follow signs for RuneFest. 

By Plane 

The NEC is just minutes away from Birmingham International Airport, making it ideal for our many international guests to get here. Simply jump on the free and fast air-rail link to Birmingham International Railway Station which only takes 90 seconds and runs every two minutes. When you arrive just head straight through to the NEC. 

How do I book parking? 

Parking is in the North Car Parks. A parking permit costs £5 per day and is only available to book online. You can find more information and book parking here: https://www.thenec.co.uk/visitors/parking-at-the-nec/.

How far is the parking from the event? 

Parking is on the NEC complex and not far to walk from the customer car parks to the Halls; there is also a free shuttle bus if you prefer. 

For all things relating to the venue, including any disabled support you require, we recommend that you head to www.thenec.co.uk.

Can I film/take pictures at RuneFest? 

Yes, you are welcome to take pictures or film within the event as much as you like, provided you do not plan to use anything for commercial purposes. General shots of the venue, experiences, stage contents and conversations – where explicit recording consent is given - are permitted for filming or recording.

Please do not film other attendees or JMods who are not on stage without their explicit consent. Conversations cannot be filmed or recorded in any manner without consent of any subjects.

Any recording equipment must be visible and identifiable at all times.

Please refer to our Player Code of Conduct for more information.

Will there be photos taken of me at RuneFest? 

RuneFest will be photographed and recorded for promotional purposes. For general photography, you may appear in the background of some images or videos. However, if our photographer wants to feature you as the main subject, they will ask for your permission first.

Any photographs or recordings taken will be stored securely and only used for event promotion. For further information on how Jagex uses your personal data, please view our Privacy Policy here.

How will the NEC and RuneFest keep me safe? 

RuneFest and the NEC will be collaborating throughout the event to ensure the safety of every attendee. 

To ensure a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, all attendees are expected to comply with the Code of Conduct. Harassment, violence and drug and alcohol abuse will not be tolerated at RuneFest. 

If you need any help at the event of any nature, including first aid and incident reporting, or if you witness or experience any unacceptable behaviour, please go to the RuneFest Help Desk marked on your map or flag down a member of the roaming security team. 

The NEC Group has extensive knowledge and experience in ensuring the safe delivery of events, exhibitions and concerts across its venues, using a wide range of solutions. 

The NEC is constantly reviewing their measures to ensure that they remain effective and proportionate. 

West Midlands Police and Counter-Terrorist Security Advisors work in partnership with them at the venue, often deploying a variety of resources to work alongside those of our team. These include a number of overt and covert security measures, so whilst you may not see all operational security activity, you should be assured that it is ongoing, often behind the scenes, to prevent crime and keep you safe whilst you enjoy your visit. 

The NEC has multi-layered security measures and procedures in place including: 

• State of the art CCTV monitoring and communications centres 

• Walk Through Metal Detector security arches 

• Search and screening technology 

• Bag searches at venue entrances 

• A Response and Conflict Management team 

• Behavioural Detection team 

• Dedicated Security Dog team 

• An onsite West Midlands Police team 

• Vehicle checkpoints 

• Hostile Vehicle Mitigation protection 

The NEC periodically ​deploys​ highly-visible resources to deter, detect and disrupt a range of criminal activity, providing reassurance to our customers, so please don’t be surprised if you see both uniformed and plain-clothed officers in and around our venues. 

What can you do to help? 

We encourage you to arrive at the venue as early as possible, to allow more time for enhanced security checks. 

It is best for everyone to only bring essentials and note that bags and suitcases may be searched. The NEC does have on site storage facilities at an additional cost, but please check event pages on the NEC website ahead of your visit to see if there are any specific bag size policies. 

Their security teams work hard to keep you safe, please help them by cooperating with their requests. 

You have an important role to play in helping us by reporting anything that doesn’t feel right, for example any unattended items or someone acting suspiciously. You can report anything suspicious to any of our security officers or the Police. 

Remember: ‘See it. Say it. Sorted.’