Run for the Border 2026 (No Coach Page)

Join us for Run for the Border 2026 (No Coach, Self Drive Page)!

Date: 26th June, 2026

Location: Lizzie Buggies, Ballyconnell

RUN FOR THE BORDER is Ireland's biggest cross-border game dev meetup. An international meeting of the minds, where game developers from all over the North and South of Ireland descend upon an out-of-the-way, small-town pub somewhere on the border for a day of cooperation, camaraderie, friendship, and a fair bit of craic.

After last year's success, we're continuing to host RFTB in Ballyconnell, a one-horse border town inconveniently located in the middle of nowhere where nobody actually lives...
It's all going down on Friday 26th June! (26.06.26 - for numberphiles)

...but don't worry about getting there! True to form, we've got you covered.

RFTB is as much about the journey as the destination. Thanks to generous sponsorship from Creative Europe Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen, Ardán, and Ulster Screen Academy at Ulster University, transportation to Ballyconnell will be supplied in the form of FREE COACHES, departing from Dublin, Belfast, Galway, and Derry.

Space is limited on the coaches! If you need a seat, grab one immediately! If you don’t, don’t take one away from someone else! If we run short, we'll have a waiting list.

Ticket prices are the same whether you take a seat on a coach or you’re travelling there on your own. Fees go towards covering event costs: food, venue, etc., and any excess will be put toward future RFTBs.

If we haven’t mentioned this enough: This is the page for the NO Coach - getting there yourself. If you are looking to another way, please see the relevant page:
Dublin: https://RFTB2026Dublin.eventbrite.com
Belfast: https://RFTB2026Belfast.eventbrite.com
Derry: https://RFTB2026Derry.eventbrite.com
Galway: https://RFTB2026Galway.eventbrite.com

This seems like a great place to also thank our other sponsors - Screen Ireland, Story Toys, GWUI, IWGB IMIRT, NIGD, Italic Pig, and Spooky Doorway - without whom this event would not be taking place.

Feedback from previous years:

“...I liked the informality of RFTB, it wasn't stuffy or corporate...”

“...it's much more cozy and my style compared to GDC I feel like I gained much more from this event....”

“...I love how relaxed it is. I love how together we all feel…. Let’s learn from each other.”

“...the attention to detail regarding people’s safety and comfort was really appreciated - the pronoun stickers, physical contact bands and drinks covers should definitely be the standard and spoke volumes for the events organisation.”

“I think we, as an industry distributed across the island, NEED this event….”

CALL FOR SPEAKERS!

RFTB features a collection of 10-minute lightning talks on a range of topics from the North and South. If you’ve got something you think others in the games industry would find fascinating, intriguing or eye opening, we’d love to hear from you.

Grab your ticket first, then . We'll let you know ASAP if your talk is selected ot not. We want a wide range of experience and backgrounds.

WHAT’S CHANGING THIS YEAR?

You’ve spoken, we’ve listened! Last year’s feedback form was very helpful in planning this year’s event. Most things seemed to go well but there is always room for improvement. Here are some of the things to expect this time:

• Food: Last year we had a pizza buffet, which resulted in long queues and some confusion on how much each person could take. This year we're moving to a token system, so everyone gets an individual meal. There will be a 2-hour timeframe for ordering, which should mean nobody misses out. You will even have more options to pick from and can order extra out of your own pocket if you wish!
• Communication: In the past, we were lacking a central place to get information. This year, we have setup a website (https://runfortheborder.org/), an instagram (https://www.instagram.com/runfortheborderireland), and a dedicated email list (sign up on the website!) to make that flow of information a little easier to find and follow.
• Networking: we're always looking for new ways to help break the ice between people. We're exploring various ways to further bring folk together in as unobtrusive a manner as possible.

What if I don’t know anybody? What if I’m travelling alone? What if I'm new to the industry?

Run For The Border is an event designed to facilitate contacts and partnerships, from your own region or from anywhere in the North or South of Ireland. In other words, the whole point is to meet people that you’d maybe like to work with in the future.

Grab a ticket, and we'll make sure the trip is worth your while.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Lizzie Buggies, Church Street, Ballyconnell, Ireland

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App