Nova Open Tabletop Wargaming Convention

So begins the final countdown.

We are officially 10 days until NOVA Open 2026!

It’s honestly wild how quickly this has come up. Months of planning, prep, meetings, packing, painting, organizing, and countless hours behind the scenes have all led us to this point.

Hobby Haven is coming together, Capital Palette is getting ready, seminars are being finalized, vendors are preparing their booths, and our incredible volunteer team is putting in the work to make sure everything is ready when those doors open.

Meanwhile, our Warhammer and other gaming event leads are putting the finishing touches on their events, checking schedules, organizing prizes, building tables, and making sure everything is ready for thousands of gamers to sit down and throw some dice.

There is still plenty to do, but the finish line is finally in sight.

In just 10 days, thousands of hobbyists, gamers, painters, artists, vendors, and friends will come together for NOVA Open 2026.

We cannot wait to see everyone.

10 days. One final push. Let’s make NOVA Open 2026 an incredible event.

And while we’re getting close, we still have a lot to do and can always use more help. If you want to be part of making NOVA Open 2026 happen, email us or send us a DM to find out how you can help.

Today was another Lorton day!

Huge shoutout to our team who braved the weather, and even the rain, to get Super NOVAs and terrain packed, while also sorting through the absolutely amazing amount of swag that just arrived.

We also got some awesome restocks and goodies from our sponsors:

Monument Hobbies sent us a paint restock for the classrooms, plus some of their NEW paint for us to try out.

The Army Painter sent a huge restock of paint for Hobby Haven along with some new goodies.

SprayGunner Airbrush Supplies hooked us up with some amazing swag for the Art First bags.

And finally, the Baron Of Dice dice have arrived!

We’re getting closer every day. Huge thanks to everyone putting in the work to make NOVA Open happen!

Meet another member of the NOVA Open Capital Palette team!

Steve Garcia, better known in many circles as “Tequila Steve” and as Steven Garcia on social media, is an American professional miniature painter based in Austin, Texas.

Steve started his painting journey through tabletop wargaming before expanding into all areas of miniature art. A lifelong sci-fi fan, he has a particular love for lasers, lightsabers, and all things futuristic, drawing much of his inspiration from the comic books he grew up with.

For the past six years, Steve has competed internationally, earning awards at many of the world’s premier miniature art competitions, including Monte San Savino, World Model Expo, Scale Model Challenge, Golden Demon, Crystal Brush, and more.

He has also collaborated with some of the finest sculptors, miniature designers, and gaming companies in the industry. Among his proudest accomplishments are his Master Gold placements at the prestigious Monte San Savino Show, placing him among an elite group of miniature artists from around the world.

We’re excited to have Steve bringing his experience, talent, and passion to the NOVA Open Capital Palette team!

ENGINES ROAR. GUNS BLAZE. THE WASTELANDS AWAIT.

The highways of civilization are long gone. All that remains are rusted wrecks, desperate survivors, and the thunder of engines across the wasteland.

This year at NOVA Open 2026, we’re bringing an entire weekend of Gaslands: Refuelled action with NINE events ranging from hands-on hobby workshops to high-octane races and an epic three-part narrative campaign.

Build Your Dream Car
Start your journey in the Post Apocalyptic Driving School, where you’ll transform ordinary die-cast vehicles into wasteland war machines. Learn the art of conversion, painting, weathering, and customization from veteran mechanics of the apocalypse. Best of all, you take your creation home—and can even bring it straight to the track for competition.

Then put the pedal to the floor.

Race through the wasteland in driving school events, learn the rules of Gaslands, and test your newly-built machine against rival gangs, reckless drivers, and impossible odds.

But the real story begins in:

KING OF THE WASTELANDS

A three-part narrative campaign where rival gangs battle through the zombie-infested ruins of New New Haven. Fight through hordes of undead, intercept valuable convoys, build your reputation, and carve your legend into the wasteland. Every victory matters as your gang’s actions shape the battles to come.

Will you become a forgotten roadkill statistic?

Or will your gang rise to become the King of the Wastelands?

Whether you’re a veteran road warrior or completely new to Gaslands, there’s an event waiting for you at NOVA Open.

Build. Race. Survive.

Registration is open now. See you on the Fury Road.

The Mortal Realms await at the NOVA Open 2026 Age of Sigmar Grand Tournament.

Bring your best 2,000 point army and prepare for five rounds of competitive play against talented generals from across the country. Every game matters as you battle for a place in the Top 8 and the chance to become the NOVA Open Champion.

This year there’s even more on the line. Games Workshop is once again awarding a coveted Golden Ticket, giving the champion a direct path toward one of the most prestigious events in Warhammer.

Whether you’re aiming for the Golden Ticket, competing for the title, or simply looking for an unforgettable weekend of Age of Sigmar, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

The battle lines are being drawn. The only question is: will your army be remembered among the legends of the Mortal Realms?

Register today before the event sells out.

Battletech is coming in force to the NOVA Open 2026.

We’re talking 48 Battletech events spanning the entire convention. From competitive tournaments to narrative experiences, casual grinder games, and learn-to-play sessions, there is something for every level of player.

Whether you’re a veteran MechWarrior looking to test your skills or brand new and ready to step into the cockpit, NOVA has you covered. Expect large-scale tournaments, unique narrative scenarios, and nonstop action across multiple days of gaming.

The NOVA Open continues to be one of the largest tabletop conventions on the East Coast, bringing together thousands of players for a full weekend of hobby, competition, and community.

Tickets are live now. Secure your spot, plan your schedule, and get ready to drop onto the battlefield.

Catalyst Game Labs

Monument Hobbies is back again this year as a Premium Sponsor of NOVA Open!

Monument continues their incredible support of our Seminars, supplying paint for every classroom so our attendees can learn, create, and improve their hobby skills throughout the convention.

They’re also bringing the heat to Capital Palette, with a $1,500 cash prize for Best in Show, a special Fan Favorite cash prize, and prize support across all of our other categories.

We’re incredibly grateful for Monument Hobbies’ continued support of NOVA Open and the hobby community. Be sure to check them out at the convention!

1490 DOOM is coming to NOVA Open.

A narrative-driven 1490 DOOM tournament where players bring their own Doom Company and compete across multiple rounds for awards and glory.

Players must bring:
• Their own Doom Company
• Measuring device
• Dice
• Rulebook, if needed
• Roster

Boards and terrain will be supplied.

Build your roster for free, bring your Doom Company to NOVA Open, and fight to see whose story becomes legend.

We’re excited to welcome Kyle Dalton, aka Kyle Dalton to the Capital Palette judging team at NOVA Open!

Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, award winning professional miniature painter Kyle Dalton aka PALE KING HOBBY has been painting miniatures for over 20 years. In recent years, he has focused on artistic study, community growth, & competition painting. His work is rooted in character, basing, world building, texture, and color theory. “The Pale King’s” style has evolved and grown under the mentorship of many great artists and has begun to pass on these lessons to his own students.

Games & Gears is coming to NOVA Open 2026!

We’re excited to have Games and Gears LLP joining us as a vendor this year, and they’re bringing some serious hobby eye candy with them.

They’ll have Two Thin Coats paints available, so you can stock up on the paint you need for your next project. But that’s not all — their artists have told us they’re bringing some EPIC, large-scale miniatures that you’re definitely going to want to see in person.

If you’re a miniature painter, collector, or just someone who loves seeing what’s possible with the hobby, make sure Games & Gears is on your NOVA Open must-visit list.

Come check out the booth, grab some Two Thin Coats, and prepare to be impressed!