The NOVA Open is a Washington, DC area tabletop gaming convention with a strong focus on organized play, charity, hobby seminars, and social connection. More than 3,200 gamers attended in 2023. 

2024 will see the 13th year of the NOVA Open, whose origins are traced to a 32-person outdoor charity BBQ tournament held in 2009 in Springfield, VA. Its legacy events include a massive Warhammer 40,000 GT, and more than 100 player events in X-Wing, Infinity, Warmachine, Malifaux, and many other large organized play tracks in numerous other game systems. 

The convention has grown to host some of the world's best hobby instructors. Over 100 seminars are offered all day, every day of the con. The pre-con seminars have been developed to offer attendees early opportunities to learn from the greats over several hours and to assist in finishing armies ahead of the convention.

Information on the NOVA Open event, tournament rules and the Washington D.C. area can be found throughout this website and at the NOVA Open online store.  For the most up-to-date information and early access to hotel room block and more, subscribe to the NOVA Open's Newsletter.  

QUESTIONS? Contact us: customerservice@novaopen.com.

OUR HISTORY

The  NOVA Open originated in 2009 with a gathering of 32 gamers for an outdoor Warhammer 40,000 event. Played in a campsite beneath a shady canopy of trees, 4 rounds of games were played. Armies were crushed, food was served… and an idea for something new began to take shape.

The NOVA Open 2010 was the inaugural launch of this new experimental format. 114 players from around the country came to Chantilly, VA, to test their skills. With positive post-event feedback and experience gained from steep climbs up ever-expanding learning curves, planning began for a more ambitious event the following year.

In 2011, NOVA Open moved to the Hyatt Regency Crystal City.  Over 400 tough attendees participated in various games and tournaments during this 3- day event . . . while the now-infamous HURRIQUAKE of 2011 - a rare DC earthquake, which combined with the remnants of Hurricane Irene - crashed in around them. The massive increase in attendance served to galvanize organizers into redoubling their efforts. If a hurriquake wasn’t enough to deter these gamers, NOVA Open wouldn't be deterred!

As the idea of NOVA Open continues to materialize, lists of critical elements for improving the way hobbyists compete - from running a seamless tabletop gaming convention for player enjoyment to adding the Capital Palette Miniature Art Competition and dozens of seminars each year to ensuring a family friendly welcoming environment unlike other similar cons - the all-volunteer staff has never wavered. When the 2017 NOVA Open hosted over 2,100 attendees, an overall feeling of "having arrived" served only to breathe new life into the staff. These simple concepts - serving charitable efforts, growing to include activities for hobbyists and gamers alike, and motivating a healthy atmosphere where good sportsmanship and social bonds can only improve - continue to be the primary motivations behind the NOVA Open.

Post COVID, the NOVA Open returned in 2022.  Our largest event ever, we added the Renaissance hotel to the venues.   However, in 2023 we are back under one roof at the Washington Hilton, in Washington DC.

We look forward to meeting you!