Knox Protospiel 2026

Knoxville's annual Protospiel tabletop game design convention!

What is a Protospiel? It's a weekend of playing, testing, and offering feedback on games in various stages of completion. Publishers possibly present.

• Fri, Apr 17 2026, 12:00pm - 10:00pm
• Sat, Apr 18 2026, 10:00am - 10:00pm
• Sun, Apr 19 2026, 10:00am - 6:00pm

Badges for designers, play-testers, and publishers are available now!

For the whole weekend...

• Designers: $50
• Playtesters: $15
• Publishers: $2

Designers are welcome to bring any game prototypes they are working on - be they ready-to-pitch projects that just need some refinement or brand-new concepts written on sticky notes and scrap paper. We only ask that you practice reciprocity: For every hour you spend testing your game, you should spend at least one hour testing someone else's.

Parking is available through the Tennessean Hotel with validation of attendance to the event at the Curio in the Maker Exchange.

PANEL: There will be a published designer/publisher panel and a Peer discussion group on April 18th. Please come with your questions and experiences.

At Protospiel Knoxville we care about the safety and comfort of our attendees. Do not attend if you feel sick. If you show up sick, you may be asked to leave.

Protospiel Knoxville is a safe space focused on creative collaboration and productivity. Harassment and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. If someone or something is making you uncomfortable, please speak with an organizer.

If you find yourself unable to attend after purchasing a ticket, you may refund your ticket anytime before Thursday, April 16th.

Finally, a huge thank you to our sponsors!