Exhibitors — Gamehole Con

Exhibitor Policies

Welcome

Gamehole Con 2026 Exhibitor Instructions

Thank you for joining us this fall for Gamehole Con 2026!

The Con is again being held in the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center, located at 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, Wisconsin 53713.

The Con will run October 15–18, 2026. The full calendar of events starts at 8 a.m. on Thursday. It ends at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Exhibition Hall Hours

✦10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
✦10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sunday (You are expected to stay until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday – it is unfair to Sunday-only attendees if the full Dealer Hall is not available.)

Logistics

Before the Con — Shipping Materials

If you are sending any materials to the Exhibition Hall prior to the conference, use the following mailing address:

Shipping Address

Gamehole Con
[Your company name, booth number]
1919 Alliant Energy Center Way
Madison, WI 53713

All Shipments Must Have:

✦A Bill of Lading or shipping label including the number of pieces and weight
✦Event name
✦Exhibitor name
✦Booth number

To arrange for the Alliant Energy Center to receive your materials, please visit alliantenergycenter.com/exhibitors and select "Order booth furnishings." Select "Go to Store" next to Gamehole Con on the next page, create or sign in to your AEC account, enter your booth number, and click "Ok."

Click "freight handling" from the next list and enter a description and total weight for your materials. Your materials will be stored near the exhibition area and delivered to your booth on the 15th.

Full instructions for inbound and outbound freight are available here; click the link for "Shipping Instructions" on that page. For additional questions regarding shipping and related costs, please contact the AEC at Service@alliantenergycenter.com.

Arrival

Set Up

Set-up time will begin at noon on Wednesday, October 15th, and last until 8pm. Limited time is available for setup on Thursday morning, so we encourage you to take advantage of the setup time on Wednesday.

✦Enter the Exhibition Hall from Rimrock Road onto Fairgrounds Drive. Take your first left after the Exhibition Hall and Administration Building, and follow that lane to the loading dock.
✦The exhibitor and artist area will be held in "Hall A." Please only use the rear entrance loading area — do not park in front of the Exhibition Hall entrance.
✦Your assigned exhibition space will be marked, and your badges will be located there.
✦Please move your vehicle to the parking lot immediately after unloading.
✦After setting up, please break down any unwanted boxes and hand them to a volunteer for recycling. Empty boxes may be stored in the storage room for later use, but please do not leave any materials in storage after the conference.

Booth Furnishings

Each booth will only include pipe and drape. If you require tables or any other furnishing you can either bring them in or order them from the facility using the same AEC Exhibitor page, selecting "booth furnishings" then "Furniture." (Please note this does not apply to demo row or artist/author tables.)

Internet & Power

Wireless internet access is available throughout the Exhibition Hall, but the free tier is not compatible with many payment processing devices. Dedicated wired connections and premium wireless access must be purchased separately via the AEC Exhibitor page. Power drops are also available through the AEC Exhibitor page.

On-Site

Parking & Meals

Parking: After unloading, you may park in the Exhibition Hall parking lot. Do not park in the front entrance to unload.

Meals: Food will be available from several concession areas within the Exhibition Hall. There are dozens of restaurants within a 1–2 mile radius of the Exhibition Hall, and food carts will be available immediately outside the north entrance.

Departure

After the Conference — Packing Up

The dealer's hall closes at 4 p.m. on Sunday at which time you can begin packing up.

✦If you would like the Exhibition Hall to ship your boxes after the Con, please provide prepaid shipping labels and schedule the pickup from the facility. Leave taped and labeled boxes ready for shipping in the Exhibition Hall.
✦Please break down any unwanted boxes and hand them to event staff or volunteers for recycling. PLEASE dispose of all trash and do not leave any materials in the exhibit area or storage room.

Administration

Booth Space Assignment & Badges

All space is assigned solely by Gamehole LLC and Exhibition Hall Management. Gamehole LLC's decisions about exhibitor space assignments are final and binding.

Exhibitor Badges

✦Exhibitors are allotted four complimentary exhibitor badges per dealer hall booth.
✦Crafter's Corner and Demo Row are allotted two complimentary exhibitor badges.
✦Artist and Author tables are allotted two complimentary exhibitor badges.
✦Badges will be available at your designated booth or table by noon on Wednesday, October 15th.
✦Requests for badges beyond the complimentary allotment must be submitted through the Gamehole Con exhibitor portal and will be granted within reason. They may incur a charge at the standard rate if deemed excessive.

Safety

Security

Security personnel will be present during all hours of the show and after hours; however, Gamehole LLC is not responsible for property loss. Please arrange your exhibit to discourage shoplifting. Show Management strongly encourages all exhibitors to take reasonable precautions to prevent theft and damages. If an incident occurs, please inform security staff immediately.

Rules

General Rules and Regulations

✦Handbill distribution is permitted only within the exhibiting company's booth or at exhibitor-sponsored events. No material may be posted on convention walls, fixtures, or furniture. Violators are responsible for all fees and damages incurred from the removal of such postings.
✦Adhesive stickers are prohibited in the Convention Center. Exhibitors are liable for all costs and expenses associated with sticker removal.
✦Absolutely no selling, soliciting, or handbill distribution is allowed outside of rented booth spaces.
✦Exhibitors must comply with all laws, ordinances, and regulations of the country, state, county, city, facility, and, whenever applicable, police and fire departments.
✦Authorized company representatives must staff exhibits during all exhibit hall hours.
✦No exhibitor or member of an exhibit may promote, display, or behave in a manner considered offensive to decency or good taste as determined by Show Management.
✦Demonstrations and all other activities must be confined to the limits of exhibitors' booths. Aisles may not be obstructed at any time.
✦Music may not be played without the proper license of copyrighted music. Volume must be appropriate as determined by Show Management.
✦Weapons on display must be secured to tables or displays for safety. Weapons purchased in the Exhibit Hall must be safely contained by the seller with all edges covered, and the purchaser must remove purchased weapons from the convention site at his or her earliest opportunity.
✦No one will be allowed into the Exhibit Hall during closed hours. Exhibitors will be allowed into the hall one hour before Exhibit Hall opens and may stay up to one hour after it closes.
✦Gamehole LLC prohibits the sale and/or use of games of chance (games in which a fee is paid for the opportunity to receive an item of value), except as a free promotion or giveaway.
✦Drug paraphernalia is prohibited at Gamehole Con and may result in removal from the convention.
✦The removal of exhibits and materials prior to the official close of the Exhibit Hall will not be permitted. Exhibitors must remain present and open until closing on the final day.

Display Standards

Banner and Display Standards

✦All exhibit decorations must meet fireproof standards and city fire ordinances. Applicable certification must be presented upon request.
✦Electrical equipment and wiring must conform to national and local electrical codes.
✦For any company whose booth includes constructed elements of greater than eight feet of elevation, the company must submit plan view (top-down) and elevation view (front-facing, showing height) designs.

Content Standards

Behavior Standards for Gamehole Con

✦Profanity — The gratuitous use of profanity and symbols considered vulgar by contemporary standards is not acceptable unless integral to a character or story. At the sole discretion of Show Management, such material may not be advertised, displayed, or sold.
✦Violence and Gore — Products depicting lurid scenes of excessive bloodshed, gory or gruesome crimes, depravity, lust, filth, sadism, or masochism are unacceptable. Products featuring unnecessary violence, brutality, gore, cannibalism, decapitation, evisceration, or similar content may not be advertised, displayed, or sold.
✦Sexual Themes — Displays containing sexual themes are not permitted. Products depicting rape and graphic lust may not be advertised or sold. Products featuring sexual perversion and/or sexual abnormalities are unacceptable.
✦Nudity — Displays or advertising containing nudity are not acceptable. Degrading or salacious displays are unacceptable. Explicit depictions or facsimiles of reproductive organs are not permitted.
✦Affliction — Advertising or selling items containing disparaging references to physical afflictions, handicaps, or deformities are not permitted.
✦Supremacy — Advertising or selling products that depict minority and/or nationalities as inferior to other races is not permitted.
✦Religion and Mythology — Actual, current religions are not to be depicted, ridiculed, or attacked in any way that promotes disrespect. Ancient or mythological religions may be portrayed in their historic roles. Satanic symbols, rituals, and phrases are not permitted in any advertisements or displays.
✦Addictions — Addictions should not be presented as glamorous or entertaining and should be shown as dangerous habits with harmful effects.
✦Costumes and Weapons — Advertising, wearing, and selling costumes is permitted if in good taste without hazard to others. All twentieth-century costumes or uniforms are prohibited. No one may carry weapons or weapon replicas. Weapons for sale must be inoperable and/or locked and/or encased.
✦Video Reproductions — You must be officially licensed to sell videos. Sales of reproductions (bootlegs) will not be tolerated.
✦Compliance — All exhibitors and advertisers are obligated to comply with these standards. Failure to comply will result in refusal of advertising materials, removal of unacceptable products, or closure of exhibits/displays, with no refunds issued.

Legal

Security and Liability

Exhibitors are solely responsible for paying all applicable city, county, state, and federal taxes on sales and promotional activities at Gamehole Con.

Gamehole LLC will arrange for personnel to control access to the Exhibit Hall but is not responsible for any injury to exhibitors' agents, servants, employees, or damage to or theft of property. Exhibitors hereby expressly agree to indemnify and hold harmless Gamehole LLC against any and all claims for such loss, damage, or injury.

Exhibitors are required to insure their own exhibits, display materials, merchandise, and personnel. Exhibitors agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Gamehole LLC against any and all claims for loss, damage, or injury associated with exhibitors' vehicles, property, personnel, events, and general conduct at the event.

Exhibitors are fully responsible for any loss, damage, or injury to the convention-site owners, Gamehole attendees, or personnel resulting from exhibitors' displays or actions.

Gamehole LLC reserves the right to cancel arrangements or close an exhibit whenever necessary for the safety or comfort of attendees, whenever the exhibit or material is objectionable, or whenever legal conditions or convention site requirements so dictate.

Exhibitors will comply with all laws of the United States as well as all applicable state or local ordinances, rules, and requirements, and will obtain all necessary permits and licenses with respect to their activities.

Use of the Gamehole Con trademark, logotype, or other trademarks owned by Gamehole LLC is prohibited without express written permission. All matters not covered by these terms are subject to the decision of Gamehole LLC Management.

Exhibitors acknowledge that they have read the preceding terms and conditions, expressly agree to comply with them, and authorize Gamehole LLC to enforce them.

Health Policy

COVID-19 Policy

As we have always done, we will continue to follow the guidelines and policies set forth by Public Health Dane County. The expectation is that we will not require either masks or proof of vaccination, consistent with current Public Health Madison & Dane County recommendations, but should circumstances change, we will continue to adhere to county guidance as the convention is held in a county-owned facility.

If you are not feeling well at the time of the show, please stay home and do not attend Gamehole Con. If you become ill in the week the show starts, please notify us by sending an email to marketing@gameholecon.com.

Get in Touch

Contact Us

Please email questions to Sean Riley and Andrew Hitchcock at marketing@gameholecon.com. Additional information about the con is available on our exhibitor website.

We look forward to seeing you soon. We are thrilled to have you all join us for Gamehole Con 2026!