Hotlead 2026 the BIG 3-0!
20, 21 & 22 March 2026 at Best Western Plus The Arden Park, Stratford, ON, Canada
What are you getting yourself into?
Schedule
There are five game time slots: Friday evening (7:00 PM), Saturday morning (9:30 AM), Saturday afternoon (2:00 PM), Saturday evening (7:30 PM), and Sunday morning (9:00 AM). Attendees can register to participate in games on the day of. Any tournaments that require pre-registration will be listed as such with instructions how to contact the Game Master.
Game Pre-Registration
There is limited pre-registration available using an email form. For instructions go here. Pre-Registration opens on 1 February 2026. The deadline for Pre-Registration is midnight 14 March 2026.
Bring & Buy
Each year attendees are invited to bring wargaming related consignment items to sell. If you have a need to clear up space (even if only to fill it again with more models), we tend to have a room full of interested buyers. Our staff run the consignment operations, and we collect a portion of the profit to add to Hotlead’s annual charitable donation. Want to know how it works? Please check out the Bring & Buy page for instructions and forms. All items for sale MUST be stickered per the instructions.
No haggling allowed for the Bring & Buy – Hotlead staff do not have the authority to change the price of an item.
Admission
Cash only please. Hotlead does not take electronic payment.
| Adult (14 years and older) | Junior Gamer (13 years and younger) | |
| Friday | $10.00 | $5.00 |
| Saturday | $30.00 | $10.00 |
| Sunday | $10.00 | $5.00 |
| Full Weekend Pass | $40.00 | $15.00 |
Game Masters who run an event during the show will receive free entry to Hotlead for the weekend.
Location
The Arden Park Hotel
Ontario Street
P.O. Box 1040
Stratford, ON
Canada N5A 6W4
877 788 8818 – Reservations
519 275 2936 – Front Desk
519 275 2938 – Fax
Contact Us
Click here to go to the Contact Us page.
Game Masters
Looking to do more at Hotlead this year? Why not register as a Game Master (GM) or Dungeon Master (DM) and run your own scenario? Click here for instructions regarding registration. Welcome to the team.
Vendors
Conventions are all about finding people who like the same stuff as you do. Some of the more passionate wargaming enthusiasts in the room are bound to be our vendors.
There are booths around the perimeter of the gaming room selling anything from codex books and models, to board games and more. Check in and see who’s selling this year.
Information about Stratford, ON
Making the trip to Stratford for Hotlead this year? More than the home of our humble convention, this beautiful city has much to offer. Check out Tourism Stratford for some ideas how to get the most out of your trip this year. Maybe you can even come back after mid-April to squeeze in a visit to The Stratford Shakespeare Festival for an amazing show (no shows are running during Hotlead).