ALL ABOARD EXPO 2026 Workshops

Level Up Your Tabletop Game at All aBOARD Expo 2026! 

Playing board games at the table is a blast, but have you ever wondered about the “how” behind the “wow”? This year at All aBOARD EXPO 2026, we’re moving behind the scenes with industry professionals to walk us to an innovative future through immersive workshops and gamified educational strategies. 

Whether you’re a teacher planning to create engaging classes, an aspiring artist dreaming to work in the industry, or a designer dedicated to share unique and immersive board games—there's a seat just for you.

🧠 The Game Design Workshop: From Scribbles to Strategy

Ever wondered how a rough prototype becomes a masterpiece? Board games aren't just born; they’re built through countless rounds of playtesting, hair-pulling revisions, and intentional development.

• The Vibe: This workshop brings together a powerhouse panel of designers from across the community. They’ll be sharing their real-world creative processes, the hurdles they’ve faced, and exactly how a "what if" concept turns into a physical tabletop reality.

• Who it’s for: Aspiring designers or just curious enthusiasts who want to see the hobby from a totally different perspective.

🍎 The Educator’s Workshop: Game-Based Learning 101

Let’s be real: keeping students focused is hard. But what if your lessons felt like game night? Happy Baobab (winner of the Prime Minister’s Commendation Award!) is back to show you how to turn your students into active learners.

• The Special Guest: We’re joined with Hana Cho, a fellow educator, researcher, and Grand Prize winner of the 2025 Teacher’s Game Literacy Competition.

• The Goal: You’ll walk away with actual strategies to boost critical thinking and collaboration in your classroom using tabletop games. It’s time to transform your class!

🖌️ The Illustrator Workshop: Art That Plays

If you’ve ever fallen in love with the art of Harmonies or Dixit Disney, you need to meet Maëva da Silva. She’s teaming up with David Esbrí (the creative powerhouse from Devir Games) to show you how illustration does more than just look pretty—it makes the game come alive.

• The Inside Scoop: Maëva will walk you through her creative process for turning a designer's abstract idea into eye-catching visuals. Meanwhile, David will share the "pro" side: how to build a portfolio that stands out to publishers and how to handle a project from concept to print.

• The Takeaway: Learn how to sharpen your style and make your mark on the tabletop world.

🎟️ Important Housekeeping!

Workshop slots are super limited and usually fill up faster than a 2-player game of Splendor. While the workshops themselves are listed FREE, you must have a valid Day Pass or VIP Ticket to enter the expo and attend.

Ready to transition from player to pro?