Salute 2026 Convention: Why Historical Wargamers Should Pay Attention
Salute 2026 Convention: Why Historical Wargamers Should Pay Attention
Salute is one of the most important events in the tabletop wargaming calendar, especially for players interested in historical miniatures, large display games, and new hobby releases. Organized by the South London Warlords, Salute is Europe's largest independent wargaming event — held annually at the ExCeL Centre in London — and it consistently sets the tone for where the historical wargaming hobby is heading.
For Canadian hobbyists who can't attend in person, Salute is still worth following closely. New releases, emerging rulesets, and creative terrain and scenario ideas that debut at Salute tend to ripple through the wider hobby community in the months that follow.
Shop historical wargames at Tistaminis:
Bolt Action | Flames of War | Konflikt '47
What Is Salute?
Salute is a one-day annual wargaming event held at the ExCeL Centre in London. The event features exhibitors, participation games, hobby displays, new releases, traders, and club-run tables from across the tabletop gaming world. It's family-friendly, open to all experience levels, and gives attendees the chance to see impressive display games, try new systems, meet hobby creators, and explore a wide range of tabletop products.
The show has deep roots in the hobby — the first Salute was held in 1972 at the Surrey Tavern at the Oval Cricket Ground, and it has grown steadily into the large event it is today. Despite its scale, it's still run by the South London Warlords, a small non-profit club, which gives it a strong community identity even as it attracts visitors, traders, and exhibitors from around the world.
Why Salute Matters for Historical Wargaming
Historical wargaming has always been central to Salute's identity. The event is known for visually spectacular display tables — many of which take years of preparation and represent the hobby at its absolute highest level. Ancient battles, Napoleonic engagements, World War I trench warfare, WWII theatre games, and everything in between appear at Salute in a way you simply don't see at other conventions.
For players interested in systems like Bolt Action, Flames of War, Konflikt '47, or any other historical period, Salute is one of the best places to discover new rulesets, miniature ranges, terrain ideas, and scenario inspiration — all in a single day.
Participation Games and Demo Tables
One of the strongest aspects of Salute is the opportunity to actually play. The event features participation games and learn-to-play tables run by clubs and publishers, making it a genuinely useful place to try systems you might not normally encounter locally.
This is especially valuable for historical wargaming, where many excellent systems are community-driven and best experienced at the table rather than through rulebooks alone. If you've been curious about a new historical period or ruleset, Salute is often where that curiosity gets answered.
Painting Competition and Hobby Displays
Salute hosts one of the most respected painting competitions in the UK wargaming scene, with entries displayed in glass cabinets and judged by experienced painters. For miniature painters, this is one of the biggest attractions of the event — the standard of work on display is consistently exceptional and a genuine source of inspiration for painters at any level.
The display games themselves are equally impressive — clubs and creators present tables that combine terrain building, historical research, and miniature painting into full tabletop spectacles. These are the kinds of projects that take years to build and are rarely seen outside of major conventions.
Hobby Heroes Panels
In recent years, Salute has added the Hobby Heroes panel series, giving attendees the chance to hear from game authors, painters, historians, hobbyists, and wargamers. For players who enjoy the design and history behind tabletop games, this adds a meaningful layer beyond shopping and gaming — direct access to the people who create the hobby.
What Canadian Hobbyists Can Take From Salute 2026
Even if you're not attending in person, Salute 2026 is worth following because it consistently previews where the hobby is heading. New products, creative demo games, terrain ideas, and historical gaming trends that debut at Salute tend to spread through the wider community in the months that follow.
Practically speaking, Salute is one of the best moments of the year to:
- Discover a new historical period — seeing a beautifully presented Napoleonic or ancient game at Salute is often what convinces players to start a new project
- Research a new ruleset — participation games let you try before you buy, and the buzz from Salute often surfaces the best new systems
- Get inspired for terrain and basing — the display tables at Salute set a standard that's worth studying even if you're building at a fraction of the scale
- Identify upcoming releases — publishers often use Salute to preview new products, giving you advance notice of what's coming to the hobby
Start Your Next Historical Project at Tistaminis
If Salute 2026 has you inspired to start or expand a historical wargaming project, Tistaminis carries the full range of the most popular historical systems available in Canada:
Bolt Action — WWII Skirmish Wargaming
The most popular WWII tabletop wargame, with starter armies for every major nation. The Bolt Action 3 Starter Set — Band of Brothers is the best single purchase for new players. Read our full guide: How to Start Bolt Action in 2026
Flames of War — WWII Company-Level Wargaming
The definitive company-level WWII wargame, covering every major theatre from North Africa to the Eastern Front. The Fortress Europe Starter Set is the best entry point for new players. Read our full guide: Flames of War Starter Sets Compared
Konflikt '47 — Alternate History WWII
For players who want WWII with a weird war twist — rift-tech walkers, enhanced soldiers, and occult-themed units alongside historical forces. A natural next step for Bolt Action players looking for something different.
Final Thoughts
Salute 2026 is worth watching for anyone interested in historical wargames, miniature painting, and tabletop gaming culture. Its mix of display games, participation tables, painting competition, traders, and hobby panels makes it one of the most influential events in the wargaming world — and one of the best sources of inspiration for your next project, whether you attend in person or follow along online.
Start your next historical project at Tistaminis:
Bolt Action | Flames of War | Konflikt '47