10am to 5pm
Saturday 17th October 2026
Out of the Blue Drill Hall
Edinburgh, EH6 8RG
The Tabletop & Graphic Storytelling Festival is a free-to-attend day long event, dedicated to spotlighting Scotland's small press innovative talent!
We’re celebrating collaborative and visual storytelling in its many forms, from comics and roleplaying games to board games, zines and beyond.
What's On?
Marketplace
Want to be part of our curated collection of jaw-dropping exhibitors? We're looking for artists, comic authors, game designers and independent publishers, hailing from across Scotland, the UK, and abroad.
Board Game Zone
Find lots to do, see and play in our Board Game Zone, hosted by Ancient Robot Games -- Leith's favourite local gaming store.Book into sessions run by volunteer stewards, or borrow board games from the free library!
Talks and Panels
Join guest experts from the arts, graphic novel and table top gaming industries for exciting talks and panel discussions.
About the Venue
The Out of the Blue Drill Hall is a vibrant, fun, and inclusive space. Come along to experience all kinds of innovative contemporary arts, enjoy the creative atmosphere, meet, discuss, eat, relax, and learn.
Friendly Spaces
We kindly ask that you wear a facemask while attending TAGS Fest, if you can. By wearing masks, we can help protect more vulnerable friends and family, like our elderly, chronically ill, and immunocompromised pals.
Friendly Spaces
We work hard to create a welcoming space. This includes operating under a policy of mutual respect that we expect anyone attending or exhibiting the event to follow, called our friendly spaces policy.
About
Origins of TAGS Festival
TAGS was founded in 2023 by Eve Greenwood of Quindrie Press and Brian Tyrrell of Stout Stoat Press, indie creators-turned-publishers who work in the comics and tabletop game industries respectively. As of 2025, TAGS Fest is run by Eve, Brian, and Faye Stacey under Small Press Scotland CIC.TAGS Fest is organised by creators who have first-hand knowledge of what the Scottish convention scene is like. We know what our community needs, and our goal is to deliver it!
Contact
Have questions about the event? Email us at: hello@tagsfest.co.uk
2026 Feature Artist
This year our feature artist is Jack Magee, an illustrator and writer from the Scottish Borders (the bit between Edinburgh and England). Jack doesn't have any degrees and failed art at school, but in 2014 he won the British Cartoonist Association's Young Cartoonist of the Year competition in the under 18s category, which is the longest name for anything in the history of ever. Since then he's made artwork for musicians, magazines, podcasts, and the BBC.
Curation Consultant
This year curation will be assisted by Nyla Ahmad. Nyla is a writer and musician from North Lanarkshire. She currently works in the Scottish literary sector, as part of the team behind Extra Teeth and at Scottish Book Trust, leading on programming Book Week Scotland. She serves on the Society of Authors Comics Creators Network Steering Committee and the Glasgow Zine Library Board of Trustees.
Our policies
All exhibitors and attendees are expect to follow our Friendly Spaces Policy at TAGS Festival.You can read our Curation Policy to learn more about the kind of work permitted at TAGS Festival.
This year, TAGS is generously sponsored by:
Tettix Games
Lost Pages
Julie Campbell
Kelly Zou
TAGS is organised with help from:
Ancient Robot Games
Out of the Blue
Out of the Blueprint
Edinburgh Mask Bloc
If you are interested in sponsoring TAGS Fest, please get in touch with us at hello@tagsfest.co.uk.
TAGS is part of:
Small Press Scotland CIC
Reports
We value transparency. At the end of each event, we anonymously survey our exhibitors and combine their responses with data we gathered on the day.You can read our findings in these public reports. We plan to continue reporting on the success of TAGS as we continue to grow.
Exhibiting at Tags
Applications
All exhibitor applications have now been responded to. Please check your emails if you are expecting to hear back from us.If you think there's been an issue, pop us an email at hello@tagsfest.co.uk !
Overview
Where? Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny St, Edinburgh EH6 8RG
When? Saturday 17th October 2026
Set up - 9am to 10am
Open - 10am to 5pm
Packdown - 5pm - 6pm
Table Prices?
4' table - £40
6' table - £60
Discount tables will be available for select first-time exhibitors.
Timeline
Applications - Open April 13th, and close May 15th.
Assessments - May 15th to June 10th. All applications reviewed with our external curator.
Table offers - Aiming to send out by June 15th.
Invoices - Due by July 1st. Get in contact if you need longer!
Exhibitor profiles - TAGS website profiles published on August 1st.
Social media highlights - Posts featuring exhibitors, games and talks from September through October in the run up to the fest!
Venue Floor Plan
Policies
We will be using our updated Curation Policy when assessing applications. We recommend you read through it before applying.All exhibitors and visitors will be expected to adhere to the Friendly Spaces policy while at TAGS.
Testimonials
Here’s what past exhibitors have had to say about our festival!
“This was an excellent convention. Very welcoming and a great curation of folks exhibiting. It was busy throughout most of the day and the overall vibe of the show was really positive and nice. ”
“I told all my friends. An absolute no brainer for next year.”
“For artists who are starting in the convention world, it's lovely to be able to pay a little less for a table"
“This was my first market. I was terrified at first, but over the course of the day, I settled in and I made a lot of lovely friends in the industry.”
“I found sales to be [...] comparable to my sales at UKGE (the UK's largest Boardgame Convention) in a fraction of the time.”
“The attendees were really engaged and a number of them told me it was their first time looking into an event like this.”
Festival Reporting
At the end of each event, we anonymously survey our exhibitors and combine their responses with data we gathered on the day. This includes data like footfall across the event, average spend, median exhibitor income, and more.You can read our findings in these public reports. We commit to further reporting on the successes of TAGS with our future events.
2026 Exhibitors
We're hosting over 40 creators in our 2026 marketplace! You can sort through this year's exhibitors by category using the buttons below, or search for custom tags assigned by the exhibitors.
Interested in tabling next year? Sign up for our exhibitor newsletter!
Venue
Venue Floor Plan
The Out of the Blue Drill Hall is a building of considerable historical and cultural significance to the Leith community.
Careful, sustainable restoration and regeneration has transformed this former military building into a participatory and inclusive arts and cultural centre, with artists’ studios, rehearsal and performance areas, exhibition spaces and a well-reviewed café.
Getting here
Train. Edinburgh Waverley is the closest station, with links available across the UK.
Tram. Balfour Street is the closest stop.
Buses. Leith Walk: Routes 7, 10, 11, 16, 26 and 49; Easter Road: Routes 1 and 35.
Parking. Off street parking can be found at the top of Leith Walk, about a 25 minute walk from the Drill Hall, or 5 minutes by Tram or Bus. Nearby car parks include:
What's the venue feel like?
The Market will be in the main hall. It is a bright space, lit by skylights. Tables are well spaced, creating wide corridors for visitors to browse and wander through. The space is not too loud when filled with visitors.The Board Game Zone is located in a dance rehearsal studio connected to the main hall. This space is cosier, and lit with warm artificial lighting.TTRPG sessions will take place in a carpeted office further back into the Drill Hall.
Talks and Panels will take place in a hard floor office adjacent to the market. Doors will be closed during events, to help attendees hear panellists.Mid-October can bring all sorts of weather in Scotland, from crisp sunny days to cold windy rains. It can get a little chilly so we recommend bringing layers and dressing as you would for a comfortable stroll around an outdoors market.Below is a gallery of photos taken at other market events at the Drill Hall!
Cafe
The Drill Hall cafe serves locally sourced and seasonal produce, with wonderful baked goods, all made in-house (including Drill Hall Cafe Preserves which you can buy to take home with you).You can enjoy delicious breakfasts, hot lunches, fresh-made sandwiches, enticing cakes, and a variety of hot and cold drinks at affordable prices.
Breakfast items: £3.50 - £8.25
Lunch Items: £4.35 - 6.50
Cakes: from £2.80
Hot drinks: £2.60 - £5.00
Soft drinks: £2.10 - 3.10
Children and Young Adults
Any attendees under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. We take no responsibility for unattended underage visitors.
Dogs
Out of the Blue Drill Hall is a dog-friendly space, but all dogs must be kept on a lead, and accompanied at all times. You cannot tie your dog up and come back for them later.
Toilets
There are three toilet facilities, all with step-free access. Men’s toilets are on the left as you come in by the main entrance. Women’s toilets and an accessible bathroom with baby changing facilities are further inside, a right turn just before the cafe.
Curation Policy
TAGS Fest’s aim is to explore visual storytelling in all its forms from small press creators.
This means that we’re looking to curate exhibitors featuring original, story-focused material such as graphic novels, comics, tabletop games, or other projects exploring visual storytelling.Curation will be assisted by an impartial guest curator.
What it TAGS all about?
As our festival focuses on celebrating the hard work of independent and small press creators, we're most excited to see the following on our exhibitor's tables:
Comics and Graphic novels.
TTRPG books, supplements, and adventures.
Projects where sequential illustrations are central to their premise.
Boardgames and other tactile interactive media.
Zines and pamphlets.
Prints, stickers, pin badges and merchandise are an expected sight at most conventions. While beautiful, they aren't the focus of this event. Exhibitors may sell some merchandise, but the majority of your display must be your own original material (comics, games, zines, etc). Furthermore, merchandise on your table should ideally relate to the your main projects, such as prints of characters from your graphic novel.
Following feedback from exhibitors in previous years, we will be monitoring table displays this year. Exhibitors displaying majority merchandise may be asked to reconfigure their display, or be denied a table in the future.
Here is an example of what we're looking for from an ideal exhibitor:
This is a mock up table display from our 2023 feature artist, Ver! Their table features their latest comics, and a concept art book for their upcoming graphic novel. Around their books are stickers and charms of their original characters.They’ve used a plastic grid to hold up prints of their own characters. On the day, they had a larger selection from other projects and of fan works in a plastic binder for visitors to flick through.
Prioritisation
Conventions and fairs are often inaccessible to marginalised creators for a variety of reasons. Because of this, we will be prioritising applications from:
Black creators or creators of colour.
Disabled creators.
Queer creators.
Creators whose work speaks on an experience that is not often represented.
Creators residing in Scotland outside of Edinburgh or Glasgow.
For those who have exhibited with us before, we’d love to have you back! Please note, we will be prioritising returning applications showcasing new projects, or work that is further developed than from the last time you were with us. This is because we want to give new applicants a fair opportunity to show their work.
Suitability
Still wondering if TAGS is the right show for you? If any of the statements below apply to you, there might be other spaces in Scotland that would be better suited to your work and your needs:
You are representing an established, large publisher of any kind. Instead, consider the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Your work is primarily text (prose, poetry, etc) with no visual or interactive component. Instead, consider CYMERA Festival.
Your work is not wholly original (ie. fanworks). Instead, consider Anime, Comic or Fan Conventions, such as DeeCon.
The majority of your practice is dedicated to producing prints, t-shirts, badges, stickers, or other forms of merchandise. Instead, consider ECAF.
Your work focuses on fine arts, conceptual printmaking, or limited edition hand-crafted books. Instead consider Fruitmarket's Artists' Bookmarket.
Your work focuses on perzines, minizines and non-profit zines. You are welcome at TAGS but may find a stronger community and more cost-effective table pricing at the Glasgow Zine Fair.
Displaying Sensitive Works
We advise the following practices be taken regarding sensitive works:
NSFW or 18+ material cannot be on direct display at TAGS Fest. However, it can be kept behind an exhibitor's table or out of reach of younger attendees with only non-explicit content on display. Games with these themes should be played with caution.
Trigger warnings should be implemented when appropriate, such as displayed by exhibitors or introduced by players at the start of games.
If sensitive work is in your portfolio, please give us a heads up in your application.
Banned Content
We take a strict stance on the following content:
Works that promote discrimination (including but not limited to sexuality, race, gender, religion or age) are banned from this event.
Works featuring AI generated content (e.g. art, words, etc) are banned from this event.
Exhibitors intentionally trying to bring this content to TAGS Fest will be banned and asked to leave.
This policy will be enacted at our discretion. If we see AI-generated content posted on your social media or on your websites, then we can't be sure the work you will be bringing to this event won't have AI-generated content in it.
Public Liability Insurance
If accepted to the festival, all exhibitors will be required to have public liability insurance coverage for the duration of the event. If you're not sure what that is, here's a handy overview from Heather Parry’s free book, The Illustrated Freelancer’s Guide:
Product Liability covers you in the event that your work causes damage to a third party or their property. This could be someone hurting themselves in one of your jewellery-making classes, tripping over a wire at your home photography studio, or your Allen and Heath causing damage to a venue's sound system at a gig.
If you don’t currently have public liability insurance, there are many different ways you can obtain it, such as through one-off coverage payments to an insurance company, or as part of your monthly dues to an artists' union, like the Scottish Artist's Union, the AN-Network, or the Society of Authors.It is up to you to research which method best suits your needs.
Waiting Lists
We have capacity for about 40 exhibitors in this year's venue, and expect to receive 100+ applications.Applicants may be added to waiting list. If a table space frees up, we will offer replacements to the most suitable exhibitor in this waiting list. Like the rest of the show, these offers are curated, and not affected by an application's submission date.
Cancellations
We will do our best to accommodate cancellation requests. Please reply to your confirmation email to cancel your table.
You will receive a full refund if you cancel before 17th September 2026.
You will receive a 50% refund if you cancel before 1st October 2026.
You will not receive a refund if you cancel after 1st October 2026.
We do not allow for table swapping (i.e. allowing another exhibitor to take your table). If an unvetted exhibitor tries to exhibit at the show, they will be asked to leave.
Please email hello@tagsfest.co.uk if you have any questions.
friendly spaces policy
1.0 Policy Overview
We want TAGS to create a space where creators of all backgrounds can share their work, and all of their fans can show their appreciation. Anyone exhibiting at or visiting our events agrees to follow the guidelines below. This policy will be arbitrated by the Small Press Scotland team on a common sense basis. Please help us to maintain our friendly spaces — if you believe this policy has been broken by anyone, please inform a member of our staff or a steward.
1.01 breaking this policy.
You will be asked to leave our events if you ignore warnings about breaches in these following guidelines. Furthermore, egregious examples of or repeatedly breaching these guidelines may result in us banning you from our events in the future.
2.0 Conduct
All attendees of our events will be expected to treat one another with respect. This includes:
Respecting the stewards and staff. Be polite to Small Press Scotland staff and stewards, and the staff or assistants of the event’s venue.
Respecting each other. Do not insult or yell at others. Use correct names and pronouns; if you aren’t sure what name or pronouns to use, ask. If you make a mistake, apologise and move on.
Refraining from using offensive, hostile or intimidating language. This includes but is not limited to homophobic, transphobic, or racist language.
Being considerate and careful of your surroundings. Don't misuse, damage or misappropriate others’ property.
Not engaging in 'hard sales' or 'haggling' tactics.
Keeping spaces clean and tidy. Don't drop litter, and don't block walkways or fire exits with boxes or banners.
Being mindful of the space you occupy. Do not inhibit the access of others. For example:
Do not build table displays that hang over another exhibitor's space.
Don’t block access to an exhibitor's table by forming a queue across them.
Do not linger in main doorways, blocking footfall traffic.
Being respectful of the venue. Do not create any lasting marks at the venue.
3.0 Photography, videography, recording and content generation at our events
Images in which people can be identified are a form of personal data. In UK law, filming and photography for personal, non-commercial, non-broadcasting use is permitted in public spaces. Small Press Scotland operates our events in private venues. Therefore, as an organisation we are allowed to determine who can or cannot record at our events. We ask all attendees to follow these guidelines to help maintain a collective sense of safety and dignity.
3.01 Consent in recording media
You must obtain the express consent of all subjects prior to taking any photographs or recording video or audio (a.k.a “media”) at our events.
Consent must be an enthusiastic yes. Uncertain or hesitant responses should be treated as “no”. If you do not have consent, you must not record media of that subject.
Consent must be informed. You must tell all subjects what you intend to use the recorded media for (e.g. a personal instagram, a public podcast, etc.)
Consent can be withdrawn at any time. If a subject asks you to stop, you must do so without question.
Subjects can request you delete media. At any time a subject can request that you delete media you have recorded of them, and you must do so immediately.
Reports of nonconsensual recording will be taken seriously by Small Press Scotland, and anyone engaging in this behaviour will be asked to immediately leave the event.
3.2 Secret or undisclosed recording devices.
You may not bring any form of hidden, disguised or undisclosed recording devices to our events, even if it is not in operation. It is at the discretion of Small Press Scotland staff and stewards what counts as a secret device, but they can include:
Meta AI Glasses (also known as “pervert glasses”)
Spy cameras (also known as “nanny cameras”)
Covert listening devices (also known as “hidden microphones”)
Anyone seen to be wearing, carrying or operating these devices will be asked to leave our event. Due to the implicit breach of trust and dignity created by these devices, no warnings will be given around this policy.Use of such devices with disclosure may be permitted, if sought in advance, and measures are taken to re-disclose them. For example, an attendee wearing Meta AI Glasses may be allowed to attend if they wear a badge disclosing that they are wearing a recording device and that they may be recording at any time.
3.3 Small Press Scotland Photography
Small Press Scotland plans to take photos and record videos during the running of our events. These photos and videos will be used by Small Press Scotland to promote future events, and to illustrate the work we do for our community. Such content may be used in press releases, printed publicity, and published on our website (www.smallpress.scot). They will be stored securely, and we will delete them after they are no longer needed for publicity purposes. We may also share these photos with relevant partners at our discretion, such as with organisations collaborating with us at that specific event, or with venues we work with.As general policy, while photos and videos may be taken where children are present, this media will not be shared or published without first obscuring and anonymising them.Notices that photography will be taking place will be present on our event websites, when purchasing tickets, and displayed physically at main entrances, and throughout our events.If you see a member of the Small Press Team taking a photo or video, you can always request to be left out. If you were unaware that you were the subject of a photo or video that has since been made public, or have concerns about a photo or video of you that has been taken, please email us at hello@smallpress.scot with the subject line “Photography Objection at [Event] on [Date the event took place]”. You can request to see all images of yourself, and for us to delete them. As a community interest company with limited resources, we will aim to reply to these requests within 28 working days, though we may prioritise actions (such as removing photos from public spaces) over replying.
4.0 Content
When displaying works for exhibition or for sale, we expect exhibitors to follow these guidelines:
Works that promote discrimination (including but not limited to sexuality, race, gender, religion or age) are banned and can not be sold at our events.
Works featuring AI-generated content (e.g. art, words, etc) are banned and can not be displayed or sold at our events.
NSFW or 18+ material can not be openly displayed. This material can be kept out of sight or out of reach of younger attendees with only non-explicit samples on display. Adequate age rating warnings should be available.
Trigger warnings should be disclosed on the covers of works or at the start of presentations when appropriate.
5.0 Masking and Illness
Contagious illnesses like Covid-19 are an ongoing problem. Throughout all arts communities you will find friends and peers who are disabled and/or immuno-compromised. For their benefit and safeguarding we firmly request that you wear a mask when attending, if you are able to.We will have disposable masks available for free throughout our events, and in offshoot zones and workshop spaces. You are of course welcome and encouraged to bring your own mask, as it may be more comfortable!We will have signage throughout our events asking attendees to wear masks. Our events operate under Scottish Government Covid regulations. If you are or suspect you are sick with a contagious airborne illness (flu, cold, COVID-19, etc) we kindly ask that you please be considerate of your fellow community members and consider not attending the event, to reduce the chances of spreading illnesses.
Board game Zone
Ancient Robot Games is a local, independent, and fiercely inclusive store located at the foot of Leith Walk.
It's packed with more boardgames and roleplaying games than you could roll a pair of dice at, and they make a mean cup of tea, too! We're proud to have our friends over at ARG back once again to help host our boardgame zone.
Boardgame Library
No booking required!
All Day - Boardgame Library
Open from 10am to 5pm
Last games from 4pm.
Browse Ancient Robot's extensive catalogue of free-to-borrow fast paced games, or check out their pop-up shop on the day for local and international titles.Open tables will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please be kind to your fellow gamers by freeing up empty chairs and sharing tables when playing in small groups.Refreshments are available from Drill Hall's cafe. You are welcome to bring food into the Board Game Zone, but please be mindful of avoiding spilling drinks or get library games dirty! Light snacks, not a hero's feast.
Blood on the Clocktower
10:30 to 12:30
12:30 to 14:30Tickets Available from 1st October
Morning - Blood on the Clocktower
During a hellish storm, a scream disrupts the sleepy town of Ravenswood Bluff. The townsfolk rush to investigate, and find their beloved storyteller slain by something evil. Clearly, a demon stalks amongst out midst! Can good find the demon in time? Or will evil overrun this once peaceful town?
Blood on the Clocktower is a game of murder and mystery, lies and logic, deduction and deception for five-to-twenty courageous players and one devious storyteller.
Two sessions will run for 2 hours each, starting at 10:30 and 12:30. Sign ups will be available from 1st of October, or you can walk in on the day.
TTRPG Sessions
15:00 to 18:00Tickets Available from 1st October
Afternoon - TTRPG Sessions
Volunteer game masters will be ready for you to run fast paced 3- hour sessions for range of daring and exciting systems, like Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, and more!
Safety Tools. All sessions will make use of John Stavropoulos' X-Card. Some volunteers may require additional tools in their sessions.
Three sessions will run from 15:00 to 18:00. Sign ups will be available from 1st of October, or you can walk in on the day.
Accessibility
Children & Young Adults. Any attendees under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. No responsibility will be taken for unattended underage participants.
Board Game Zone. You can reach the Board Game Zone through the marketplace. It has step-free access, through an open pair of wide double doors closest to the main entrance.
RPGs. You can reach the RPG sessions past the marketplace. It has step-free access, though the corridors are narrow and the floor may be uneven. A steward can help wheelchair users navigate through doorways.
Feedback
We'll opening up for feedback after our 2026 event.
If you need to get in touch with us or give us more urgent feedback and need us to respond, please email us at hello@tagsfest.co.uk.
