Gen Con 2026 Hit With Flooding and Tornado Warning

Severe weather disrupted Gen Con on Saturday as heavy rain caused flooding inside the Indiana Convention Center and a tornado warning forced attendees to move away from windows and exterior areas.

Videos shared by people at the convention showed water pouring into parts of the building and spreading across the floor. Containers were placed beneath some of the leaks as exhibitors and attendees worked to protect tables, games, merchandise and other property.

One video posted by Ander The Great showed water falling heavily inside the convention center as people gathered around the affected area.

A separate video from Zrob0 showed additional flooding inside the building, with water visible across a section of the convention floor.

ShenastyTCG also documented conditions at the event as the severe weather affected the convention.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for central Marion County at 5:23 PM Eastern on August 1. The alert said a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was over Indianapolis and moving northeast at approximately 10 mph.

The warning was based on radar-indicated rotation and remained in effect until 6 PM. It included downtown Indianapolis and Monument Circle, placing the Indiana Convention Center within the warned area. Attendees were instructed to take shelter in interior sections of the building and stay away from windows.

According to the Indianapolis Star, water entered the convention center during the heavy rain and affected an area of the Gen Con floor. The newspaper reported that convention staff responded to the flooding while the event continued under severe-weather precautions.

The tornado warning did not mean that a tornado had been confirmed on the ground. The National Weather Service described the threat as radar-indicated rotation within the storm.

Gen Con is being held in Indianapolis from July 30 through August 2. The convention describes itself as the largest and longest-running annual celebration of tabletop gaming culture, with board games, trading card games, role-playing games, exhibitors, seminars and other events.

The convention’s official website did not display a cancellation notice Saturday evening, and Gen Con remained scheduled to continue through Sunday, August 2.

The flooding created a particular concern for exhibitors and collectors because much of the convention floor contains boxed games, trading cards, artwork, books and other paper-based merchandise that could be damaged by water.