The annual Society Convention is a weekend residential gathering held in the autumn in the UK (so far), and is a chance for wargamers and those interested in military history to gather and share ideas and enjoy new wargames rules and ideas with like-minded wargamers. There are various ticket options with or without residential accomodation.
The 2026 Society of Ancients Convention will this year take place at Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL over the weekend 16th -18th October 2026.
We are delighted to say we are able to maintain the prices from last year, as follows:
- Full weekend package: Friday dinner, bed and breakfast; Saturday lunch, dinner, bed
and breakfast; Sunday lunch; plus all teas/coffees – £290 - Conference package: Saturday lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast; Sunday lunch; plus
all teas/coffees – £200 - Single Day only Saturday: includes Saturday lunch; plus all teas/coffees – £40
- Single Day only Sunday: includes Sunday lunch; plus all teas/coffees – £40
The Convention is an opportunity to participate in a plethora of battles using a variety of both new and well-worn rulesets. In many cases, the rules’ authors and various experts are on hand for discussion.
Our Keynote Speaker this year is Anne Curry, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of Southampton and the author of several books on Medieval history including her “Agincourt: A New History” which re-shaped views of the battle. At our Convention her subject will be “I counted them all out and I counted them all back”: The problem of numbers in late medieval battles.
Games already confirmed include:
- A refight of the battle of Dara 530 AD from Simon MacDowall using his new version of his Comitatus rules which are being officially launched at the Convention.
- Nick Harbud is staging his “The Day After Cunaxa” – so you can find out what (may have) happened next after this year’s Battle Day battle…
- And I will run another “Romans in Britannia” adventure, with possibly some returning characters from those who survived last year’s bloody denouement…
As usual, a full programme of events and games will be published nearer the date.
Please note that bookings should be made by 31st August. After that date we may be able to accept bookings but cannot guarantee that places will be available.
If you have a game for the Convention (and you know I will be asking!) and for all other enquiries, please email Convention@soa.org.uk.
Gallery
Snapshots from past convention events.
Next Convention
- 2026 Convention
The 2026 Society of Ancients Convention will this year take place at Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL over the weekend 16th-18th October 2026.
The Convention is an opportunity to meet fellow members and participate in a plethora of battles using a variety of both new and well-worn rulesets. In many cases, the rules’ authors and various experts are on hand for discussion. In addition there are a number of historical talks, and the 2026 Key Note Speaker will be Professor Anne Curry, mediaeval author and historian best known for her published work on the battle of Agincourt.
First-time attendees in previous years have commented on how welcoming and inclusive the event feels – so please do take the plunge and come along, I do not think you will be disappointed.
A full programme of events and games will be published nearer the date, and we will be taking bookings from later in the new year.
if (typeof Cartloom === “undefined”) { var Cartloom = {}; (function(){ var script = document.createElement(“script”); script.src = “https://soa.cartloom.com/cart.js”; document.body.appendChild(script); })(); }For further information please email convention@soa.org.uk
Richard Lockwood, SoA President and Convention Organiser
Past Conventions
- 2026 ConventionThe 2026 Society of Ancients Convention will this year take place at Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL over the weekend 16th-18th October 2026. The Convention is an opportunity to meet fellow members and participate in a plethora of battles using a variety of both new and well-worn rulesets. In many cases, the rules’ authors and various experts are… Read more: 2026 Convention
- 2025 ConventionThe 2025 Society of Ancients Convention will this year take place at Missenden Abbey, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, over the weekend of the 26th – 28th September 2025. The Convention is very much an opportunity to participate in a plethora of battles using a variety of both new and well-worn rulesets. In many cases, the rules’ authors and various… Read more: 2025 Convention
- 2024 ConventionThe 2024 Society of Ancients Convention will take place once again at Madingley Hall, Cambridge, over the weekend of the 25th – 27th October 2024. What’s on? Our keynote speaker on Saturday evening pre-dinner will be John Bassett OBE. John is an innovative game designer, stalwart member of Wargames Developments as well as being a… Read more: 2024 Convention
- 2023 ConventionThe 2023 Society of Ancients Convention (formerly known as the Conference) will take place once again at Madingley Hall, Cambridge, over the weekend of the 20th – 22nd October 2023. We are delighted to say we are able to hold the prices at the 2022 levels, as follows: Booking now available below. All enquiries to… Read more: 2023 Convention
- 2022 Conference UpdateHere is an update on the Society Conference that will take place over the weekend 29th-30th October. There is still plenty of room to attend, so please hurry and sign up via the website or contact me directly. For those attendees planning to arrive on Friday evening, there will be a pre-Conference dinner followed by after-dinner… Read more: 2022 Conference Update
- 2022 ConferenceThe Society’s Annual Conference will take place at the Cambridge University Continuing Education Centre at Madingley Hall (two miles northeast of Cambridge and one mile off the M11) from the evening of Friday 28th October to teatime on Sunday 30th October. The Venue is an Elizabethan Manor House with modern facilities, set in landscaped gardens.… Read more: 2022 Conference
- 2021 Conference Report
The annual Conference is where the Society of Ancients gets together for a weekend to exchange ideas on wargaming in the ancients and medieval periods. And to enjoy playing some good and varied wargames! As in previous years, things kicked off on the Friday evening with a boardgame session that went on until midnight when… Read more: 2021 Conference Report - 2019 Conference
When was it: 2nd – 3rd November 2019 Where was it: Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth The annual Conference is where the Society of Ancients gets together for a weekend to exchange ideas on wargaming in the ancients and medieval periods. And to enjoy playing some good and varied wargames! The weekend contains a mixture of presentations… Read more: 2019 Conference - 2018 ConferenceWhen: 24-25 November 2018 Where: Chesford Grange Hotel Kenilworth Cost: £189 for two days, including Saturday night accommodation and dinner The Society of Ancients Conference 2018 will take place over the weekend 24th and 25th November, at the same venue as the 2016 and 2017 Conferences, the Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. The cost for… Read more: 2018 Conference