A weekend of mystery, deception and strategy is set to return to York.
‘Social deduction’ gaming convention Demons Wake has announced its return to York St John University from 28 to 30 August 2026.
Following a sold-out 2025 event, Demons Wake is coming back bigger and better for 2026.
The immersive event allows visitors to experience the thrill of hidden role games – can you tell when people are lying? Can you successfully conceal your identity and commit the ultimate betrayal?
The 2026 edition promises even more for the community. Attendees can expect longer operating hours, an increased number of dedicated gaming rooms, more traders, and the return of live shows.
To support this growth, the convention has launched a revamped software system designed to streamline the user experience, making it easier for players to find, join, and manage their games across the weekend.
Highlighting the weekend’s festivities is a lineup of 18 special guests. Headlining this year’s roster are five iconic contestants from BBC’s hit series The Traitors: Jessie (Series 4), Diane and Zack (Series 2), and Wilfred and Ivan (Series 1).
These masters of the game will join hundreds of players for a weekend of high-stakes social deduction.
“We are incredibly proud to bring Demons Wake back to York on a scale we’ve never seen before,” said founder, Ryan. “With more guests, more space, and a refined gaming experience, 2026 is set to be a landmark year for the social deduction community.”
“As with all of our events, we’re continuing to prioritise accessibility for our attendees,” Matt, one of the co-directors, added. “Gaming is for everyone and we want to make sure that everyone who wants to be involved, can be.”
Tickets for Demons Wake are expected to sell out quickly. Early access, for mailing list members, will begin Thursday 2 April at midday. Any remaining tickets will be released in general sale on Friday 3 April at midday.
Standard tickets are priced at £55. In a special opening offer, the first 100 tickets sold will have a £5 discount.
For more information, to join the early access list, or to view the full guest lineup, visit the Demons Wake website.
