Crawl the Con: Your Guide to Gen Con’s Dungeon Crawler Carl Takeover

Welcome, crawlers. Per Syndicate rules, subsection 543 of the Precious Elemental Reserves Code, Gen Con 2026 has been successfully seized and is being repurposed as the ultimate destination for Dunegon Crawler Carl fans. 

In honor of Renegade Games Studios’ highly anticipated Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG debuting at the show, Gen Con is kicking off a convention-wide celebration inspired by Matt Dinniman’s hit book series. Running from July 30 to Aug. 2, this crossover turns the largest and longest-running tabletop gaming convention in North America into an all-out crawl, packed with themed events, celebrity sightings, and exclusive loot on every level. 

Between the televised tabletop tournaments and cosplay catwalks, there’s a lot of ground to cover this year, so we’ve compiled this handy guide as a Tutorial Guild, so you can 100% every floor of Gen Con’s Dungeon Crawler Carl takeover.  

Your descent into the dungeons begins in ICC Room No. 139, also known as the Renegade Games’ Crawl Con room. Part fan hub, part photo-op, this immersive space drops fans right in the middle of the World Dungeon, surrounded by towering decor, over-the-top visuals, and all the apocalyptic absurdity fans know and love from the series. You might even spot in-universe ads sponsored by the Borant Corp. — because every con-crawler is an opportunity for credits.

Inside, fans can meet up with their party, snap epic photos, and relive every moment of their favorite series. Audiobook lovers can swing by Soundbooth Theater’s table to pick up the latest audiobook releases and other merch, while tabletop gamers can be among the first to demo Dungeon Crawler Carl Unstoppable, Renegade’s all-new co-op deck-building game. 

The Crawl Con room is home to a variety of ticketed Dungeon Crawler Carl events, such as the Unstoppable demos, as well as introductory adventures for the RPG. Throughout the day, keep your eyes peeled for author Matt Dinniman and audiobook narrator Jeff Hays, as they’ll be hosting panels, signing books, and even sitting down with fans to play the game. 

If you missed out on tickets, don’t worry! The best event of all is only a few clicks away.

On Friday, July 31, Dinniman, Hays, and a celebrity cast of crawlers will take the Main Stage for a live Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG actual-play. With TTRPG legend Xander Jeanneret as Game Master, the duo will dive into the dungeons for a campaign filled with chaos, conquests, and kooky capitalist conglomerates. Among the featured players are Colby Poulson (D&D Deep Dive), Taylor Robinson (Taylor’s Tavern Tales), Travis McElroy (The Adventure Zone), and Mayanna Berrin (D&D: Dungeon Masters). 

While the on-site event already sold out, fans can still experience the fun firsthand over on YouTube. Gen Con is taking the initiative to livestream the entire event on its channel, so crawlers in all corners of the world can tune in.

If you’re on a campaign for collectibles, clear a path to the Renegade Games booth, No. 1619. Here, fans can scavenge for all sorts of limited-edition gear, including themed dice bags and an oversized D20 with Samantha’s disembodied head embedded inside. 

You can also collect two con-exclusive miniatures: Mordecai in his Floor 7 slime form and a Moon Reaper from Floor 10. Although these figures will be available at other cons and to select Backerkit pledgers, Gen Con goers gain an extra achievement: being among the first fans to actually get their hands on them — that’s a reward in and of itself.

While you’re there, make sure to stop for pictures with the life-size Carl, Princess Donut, and Samantha statues, posing at the front of the booth!

Save some space in your inventory, though! There’s even more treasure dropping all over the con, from this year’s free swag bag, available at Will Call while supplies last, to enamel pins over at Foam Brain Games. At Booth No. 2658, fans can shop the company’s entire Dungeon Crawler Carl collection, including an exclusive Gen Con 2026 pin. As a bonus, those who show up rocking a DCC cosplay can score a pin for free.

You can also snag a copy of The Pop Insider’s Summer issue, which features an exclusive, collectible cover starring Playmates Toys‘ new Carl and Princess Donut action figures, photographed by Mitchel Wu Toy Photography.

And to top it all off, when fans head back to their safe rooms at the nearby Westin Hotel — equipped with new gaming skills, aching feet, and an inventory full of treasures, they’ll discover one more must-have piece of merch: a collectible Gen Con x Dunegon Crawler Carl keycard, the perfect send-off for the Best Four Days of Gaming 2026 has to offer. 

Whether you’re slaying monsters on the tabletop, hunting for legendary loot, or winning Best in Show in a cosplay contest, Gen Con 2026 is shaping up to be a critical hit. To experience everything the Dungeon Crawler Carl takeover has to offer, fans can purchase a full four-day Gen Con badge online for $164, or individual passes for between $41 and $112, depending on the day.

Better bring good shoes, you’re going to need them.