PINBALL NEWS DIARY

The INDISC Pinball Festival is a three day pinball arcade party with more fun than you can imagine!

Not only do we have 500+ pinball machines and video games all on FREE PLAY, we’re hosting the first Stern Pinball Pro Circuit event of the year, It Never Drains in Southern California — which also happens to be one of the largest open pinball tournaments in the world.

Come battle the best players from all over for pinball supremacy, or simply enjoy the plethora of video games and pinball machines the Museum of Pinball has to offer.

The annual UK amusement and coin-op trade show is bacckk at ExCel London in the Docclands area of the capital.

Often a launchpad for various companies’ new releases, expect a presence from Stern Pinball on the Electrocoin stand, Jersey Jack and Chiccago Gaming on the Pinball Heaven stand, and some surprise pinball-related products.

Details of tournament format and other tournaments to be confirmed.

Featuring the main Dutch Pinball Masters tournament, a Classics tournament, a Team tournament and a 4-Strikes Knockout tournament.  Maximum prize money of €1,000 for the winner of the DPM and €500 for the Classics winner.

Held at the Dutch Pinball Association (NFV) Clubhouse in Veenendaal, there are also free play practice machines and a cafe/bar on-site.

The annual sprint amusement and coin-op trade show returns to Las Vegas in 2019. Conferences begin on Tuesday 26th, with the show starting a day later and running into Thursday.

There is usually an IFPA tournament held at the same time, and entry to the tournament gives free entry to the trade show too.

Note the new location for this show at the Lake County Fairgrounds Event Center in Grayslake.

The Ohio Pinball Show will be four fun-filled days of pinball machines, arcade games, toys, and all things classic gaming! There will be over 120 pinball machines and classic arcade games on Free Play for you to enjoy with your paid admission.

Some games may be available for purchase at the show.

The show will also be hosting an IFPA-backed pinball tournament, which is a great, friendly competition that is open to novice and advanced players alike.

Show times:

Thursday, April 4, 2019: 4pm -12pm
Friday, April 5, 2019: 10am – 12pm
Saturday, April 6, 2019: 10am – 6pm

The Midwest Gaming Classic is a trade show featuring 100,000+ square feet of retro and modern home video game consoles, pinball machines, arcade video games, computers, table top gaming, crane games, collectible card games and air hockey, and that’s just the start!

The Midwest Gaming Classic is about celebrating gaming, trying new things, learning about the gaming hobby, about meeting others who share the love of gaming, and having fun doing it!

No matter if you have one console and a handful of games or thousands of games in every room of your house, you’ll find something to celebrate with us!

Note: Same new venue as last year.

Two halls of pinball fun – one for vendors, one for free play and tournament games. Only €4 entry to both (free for accompanied children under 12-years-old).

Open 10am-7pm on Saturday, 10am-6pm on Sunday.

Catering on-site, plus a supermarket next door. See last year’s report here

We are showcasing Pinball Machines, Arcade games, coin-ops and all the cool things you need to complete your gameroom including neon signs, gas pumps, and more.

2:00 PM Thursday – 10:00 PM Thursday.
1:00 PM Friday – 10:00 PM Friday.
9:00 AM Saturday – 6:00 PM Saturday.

Adults $15.00 per day
Kids 5-13 $8.00 per day
Kids 4 and under Free

PU-Battle is a exciting tournament held at the Pinball Universe store and showroom in Bünde, Germany. We are very proud of the top conditioned games and are sure you will greatly enjoy playing them.

A large free-play area and additional hosting will complete the perfect pinball weekend.

– Online registration required.

– Deadline for registration: February 14, 2019.

– Best (IFPA rank December 31, 2018) 80 registered players will participate.

Registered players ranked 81-120 have got the possibility to join and spend their time in a big freeplay area with several fun tournaments (without WPPR points).

The third major pinball event in Munich since those in 2003 & 2006.

More details coming soon.

Our facility is the one of the largest dedicated pinball venues (by unique game count) in North America and has games from the 1950s “woodrails” to the latest games from Stern pinball. Every decade, manufacturer and game type is represented at the museum. There are many rare and hard to find games set up and ready to play. All machines are free play, so one entrance ticket allows unlimited play for the day. There’s something for every pinball fan here (we are the one of the largest dedicated pinball facility in North America.) But unlike other pinball museum type facilities, we are here every day working on our machines, making sure they play perfect! Arguably this makes us the best working/restored pinball collection in North America.

Tickets for the showcase will be available in advance only. We want to ensure that all attendees have the absolute best possible experience and have plenty of room to mingle and experience and play the pinball machines. To do this we have a limited number of tickets available for each day. Once the limit is reached, we are sold out, and no more tickets will be issued. Hence generally speaking there will not be tickets available at the door.

Pinfest will take place at the Agri-plex Expo Center of the Allentown Fair Grounds. The indoor and outdoor flea market is also planned for this year.

Show schedule for this event will be:
– Thursday May 3rd (setup only for vendors and free play) 1:00pm to 9:00pm
– Friday May 4th from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
– Saturday May 5th From 9:00 am to 8:00 pm

Fees for participation are as followed:
– General Admission per day is $20 for adults 12 and older
– Children under 12 are $10 and under 5 are free

Free Play Space available for pinball machines is approximately 250 units.  Indoor vendor space is approximately 10’x 10’. Indoor Flea Market space is approximately space is 20’x 15′.

Free play participants gain free access with a qualifying machine that’s admitted for the show per day. Please review specific rules as defined by show management

An on-location snack bar that will provide a typical selection. Several specialty shops to browse and sit down dinning available within the fair grounds main section.

lodging is available and discounts for this event may apply. We are inquiring and will provide details as they become available.

Free parking

Events may be added if planned

The first ever Czech Pinball Open will be held at the Terra Technica museum in Kleinhaugsdorf, just across the Austrian border.

Around 200 pinballs and more than 600 jukeboxes are set up at Terra Technica, while a large shopping mall is next door.

More details of the tournament will be available soon.

This is the second year of the central California show from the Northern California Pinball Association, being held in Lodi near Sacramento.

Along with all the games, the Pinball University (Pin-U) will hold talks designed to improve your pinball skills, from repairing to playing to learning how games are designed and the state of the pinball market today.

There is also a Pin-Golf tournament designed for all skill levels to enjoy.

See our comprehensive report from the 2018 show here.

The eleventh edition of the Madrid pinball tournament.

Modern and Classic tournaments.

Preferential hotel rates being negotiated.

It is like the comicon for pinball, retro console, classic arcade video! Gameroom exhibitors of all types of games, parts, and collectibles are under one roof at this once-a-year festival for you to play, buy and sell. If they are a major name in pinball and arcade gaming, they are here.

Play all the games you want with admission. Interested in honing your pinball play and improving gaming skills? Want the industry low-down and to be an insider on innovations? We have that covered. Take a break from playing to join meetups and seminars hosted by industry insiders and celebrity guests — designers, modders, programmers, artists, and entrepreneurs galore.

Note: New location and new dates.

Around 400 pinball and video games fill the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center’s hall along with multiple tournaments and a wide variety of vendors, while seminars take place in the lobby outside.

See our reports from the past few years in the Shows section for a good overview.

Note that the 2019 dates are a week earlier in the year than in the past couple of years, avoiding clashes with other US shows.

The sixteenth edition of the IFPA World Championship will take place from 7th to 9th June 2019, for the first time ever in Italy.

The event will be hosted in the Double Pinball showroom, in Assago, just outside Milan.

In the same week of the event and in the days before the Ifpa World Cup Italy and Double Pinball will organize a series of introductory tournament that will anticipate the maximum competition. For a week of sports pinball.

Note: Entry is restricted to the top players in each country and is by invitation only.

This expo is 30,000 square feet of fun for the whole family. The kids can have never-ending excitement with a caricature artist, face painting, friendly clowns, balloon animals, yo yo and juggling show. The adults can bring out their inner child with over 200 pinball machines set on free play, all while enjoying an ice-cold craft beer.

Well over 170 pinball machines set on free play! The mix is different each year, thanks to the dedicated hobbyists, operators, and game vendors who bring games to show off. Expect pinball machines that span a wide time range, and some non-pinball arcade games as well!

Same location as the previous three years but dates have changed from usual mid-June due to hotel scheduling conflicts.

Hotel rooms available for $129 per night.  Book early as these usually sell out.

Online registration is now open, but only for full three-day passes at the time of writing.

Featuring the Pinburgh Match-Play Championship with over $100,000 in total prizes and more than 700 pinball and arcade machines.

The World’s largest pinball tournament with close to 800 competitors.

The UK’s national pinball show returns for a second year to the familiar surroundings of the Mercure Daventry Court Hotel.

More than 100 machines are expected, with more details on special announcements nearer the time

VIP-only sessions are held on Friday and Saturday evenings, and a tournament is also planned.

This annual event has long been supported by pinball enthusiasts from all over Northern California and helps local youth charities. Many people bring their pinball machines to share, the organizers and volunteers are not paid to put on the show, we spread pinball joy and everyone benefits!

Pinball Expo returns to the Westin Chicago North Shore for the 35th anniversary in 2019, including the Stern Pinball factory tour, seminars, tournaments, vendors, large games rooms, exhibits and much more.

Note:  Normally only the tournaments continue into Sunday.  Pinball Expo vendor, games and seminar halls are all expected to close Saturday night.

The public is cordially invited to attend the largest antique show of its kind! Curious about what the Chicagoland Show has in store for you? Check out our ticketing options, and join us at this one-of-a-kind event!

There will be over 300 classic and current coin-op pinball machines, video arcade games, penny arcades, and console video games ready for attendees to play on free play or buy them for their home.

There will be tournaments, events, music and workshops to keep the young and young-at-heart entertained.

It is like the comicon for pinball, retro console, classic arcade video! Gameroom exhibitors of all types of games, parts, and collectibles are under one roof at this once-a-year festival for you to play, buy and sell. If they are a major name in pinball and arcade gaming, they are here.

Play all the games you want with admission. Interested in honing your pinball play and improving gaming skills? Want the industry low-down and to be an insider on innovations? We have that covered. Take a break from playing to join meetups and seminars hosted by industry insiders and celebrity guests – designers, modders, programmers, artists, and entrepreneurs galore.

Note: Same location and Memorial Day weekend dates as last year.

Featuring the Pinburgh Match-Play Championship with over $100,000 in total prizes and more than 700 pinball and arcade machines.

The World’s largest pinball tournament with close to 800 competitors.