FAQ

What is RuneFest? 

RuneFest is the world’s biggest and best real-world celebration of all things RuneScape. Meet with your favourite JMods, content creators and fellow players, engage in RuneScape activities, learn firsthand about upcoming content and immerse yourself in all things Gielinor. With big stage entertainment, parties, competitions, the Golden Gnomes awards, LAN zones, goodie bags, and merchandise stalls... it’s the XP of a lifetime! 

Where and when is RuneFest 2025? 

This year’s RuneFest will be held at Hall 20 of the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on the 1st and 2nd of March 2025. 

What are the show opening hours?

Doors open at 10am and close at 11pm on Saturday 1st March. On Sunday we are open from 10:30am to 5pm. You can exit and re-enter the hall at any time once you have your wristband. 

Main stage activities will be taking place all day Saturday with the Sunday shifting to more of a community focus with panel stages for each game and a community zone. 

Please note that skill chip activities, the merch store and the LAN area will be open for the entire weekend so there isn’t a rush to complete these on Saturday – take your time to enjoy all the event has on offer! 

How do admissions work?

Pre-scanning begins from 9am Saturday 1st March outside Hall 20 at the NEC, please join the queue as directed by our staff and be ready to show your QR code tickets. Please be there as promptly as possible at 9am so we can ensure everyone is pre-certified and ready to enjoy our Welcome to RuneFest performance at 10:30am in the main stage area. 

Please note we will be issuing goodie bags as people enter the hall; these are fairly sizeable backpacks so plan accordingly and use the cloakroom facilities outside the hall if needed. You will need items in your goodie bag to complete certain skill chip activities so keep them on hand! 

We are accepting the sunflower lanyard to allow people with difficulty standing for long periods to jump the admissions queue; please go to the front of the queue just before 10am and our staff will assist you. 

What is the schedule of events at RuneFest? 

We have all the show features you’d expect, from skill chip activities, to the merch store, to stages packed with cool stuff to see, as well as some surprises in store. Check out our stage schedules and more detail on show features here and check the booklet in your goodie bag on the day for a full list of all show features. 

Will the Golden Gnomes be at RuneFest this year?

Yes, the Golden Gnome awards will be held this year at RuneFest. They will be livestreamed for those unable to make it in person. 

What food and drink will be available at the event? 

There will be a cafe catering to a variety of dietary needs at the event. There are also plenty of restaurants, bars and shops in the immediate vicinity of the NEC. For more information click here.  

Can I bring my own food and drink? 

You are welcome to bring your own food and drink, but bringing alcohol into the venue is not permitted. 

Is there a night before party this year? 

There is no official Jagex​ ​organised night before party however there will be a Saturday night party held for all RuneFest guests in the main stage area as well as a 99 Achievement Party in the LAN area. 

Is there anywhere to leave/store luggage? 

Cloakrooms will be located near the hall entrance. They open 30 minutes before show open and will remain open up to one hour after show close if there are any items remaining to be collected. Anything not collected will be taken to lost property at the end of the day. Item costs are £2 per coat and £3 per bag. 

What disability access provision is available at the event?

We are taking multiple measures to ensure everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy what RuneFest has to offer. 

The venue and hall are fully wheelchair accessible and lifts are available to access the RS3 Panel Stage in the Gallery Restaurant on the Sunday. 

We are accepting the sunflower lanyard to allow people with difficulty standing for long periods to jump queues; please enter via the exit queue or go to the front and show staff your lanyard. 

There will be seating available marked as reserved for people less able to stand. 

Disabled toilets will be available both within Hall 20 and just outside in the Atrium. This will be clearly marked on the map in the event brochure in your goodie bag. 

If you have any specific needs that e.g. prevent you from completing a skill chip activity, please communicate this to our staff and they will do everything they can to help. 

Your wristband allows you to exit and re-enter the hall as many times as needed and there are plenty of spaces in and around the NEC to take a break from the busy show floor, including a designated ‘Quiet Space’ next to Hall 3. Please see the map here: https://www.thenec.co.uk/media/10470/piazza_atrium-master-map.pdf 

If you need any help for any reason at any time, our staff will be available to assist at the Help Desk. 

For more information on venue accessibility, including information on mobility aid hire, please see here.

Is there a prayer room available at the event?

There is a ‘Quiet Space’ next to Hall 3 in the NEC which guests are welcome to use for prayer. Please see this map.

If I need help during the event, where should I go?

On the event map the ‘RuneFest Help Desk’ will be clearly marked. Please head there if you need any help at all and our staff will be there to assist. 

What does my RuneFest ticket include? 

​​Your ticket includes full access to the entirety of RuneFest on both Saturday and Sunday and an exclusive RuneFest goodie bag.

How much are RuneFest tickets? 

​​​Tickets are priced at £150 for early bird (first 500 tickets) and £175 for standard. 

How do I buy RuneFest tickets? 

RuneFest 2025 tickets are now sadly sold out.

RuneFest tickets are exclusively sold through our official ticket vendor See Tickets and through the SeeTickets Fan to Fan Marketplace. Any tickets found on alternative vendors are unofficial and are not affiliated with Jagex or RuneFest. Please avoid these 3rd party vendors to avoid the risk of purchasing non-valid tickets or price-hiked (scalped) tickets. 

​​If you have any questions or need something from our ticket provider​, ​​​visit the support centre: ​​​​     ​​​​​ 

This includes topics such as: 

• Missing tickets 

• Refunds 

See Tickets customer service is available 24/7. Response times will vary based on the current workload of See Tickets Customer Service and they will respond as soon as possible. 

If you need something answered directly by the event organisers please email us at support@runefest.com.

We will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible but please be aware our working hours are Monday-Friday 9:00-17:00. 

Can I buy a ticket for one day of the event only? 

We only have full weekend tickets available this year to enable guests to enjoy all the different days have to offer. 

Do I need to print my tickets? 

No need to print – please have your ticket confirmation email handy and staff will scan your QR code on the door. 

I’ve given my tickets to someone else but it is my name on the ticket, will that matter? 

No, we check the barcode on the ticket and not the name, so this won’t matter. 

I’ve paid for my ticket but haven’t received an email, what do I do? 

If you received a confirmation email,​ your tickets should be attached to the email. If you still haven’t received them, ​visit the See Tickets ​support centre for more information.

Do I need to bring an ID? 

You do not need ID to check-in, only to purchase alcohol on site. 

Do you provide disabled/carer/companion tickets/discounts? 

We can provide a free carer ticket for those who receive Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payments. 

When you buy a ticket, you will be able to select a free Companion ticket. When you check out, you will be asked to supply evidence. 

Evidence Accepted: 

• Copy of DLA, PIP or Adult Disability Payment entitlement letter 

• Evidence of registered severely sight impaired (blind) 

• CredAbility Access Card (with +1 icon) 

• Copy of Attendance Allowance letter 

• Recognised Assistance Dog ID card 

• Any other relevant documentation* 

* Please note: If you are unable to upload appropriate documentation this may result in your order being cancelled. We appreciate your cooperation. 

Do I need to be with my child inside the event? 

Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 

Can I resell my tickets? 

The only legitimate way to sell your tickets is using SeeTickets fan-to-fan resale platform here: https://www.seetickets.com/content/fan-to-fan.

All other resale methods and selling for profit are strictly prohibited. 

Full See Tickets terms & conditions can be found at https://www.seetickets.com/content/partial/terms-and-conditions.

NEC Address:

NEC 
North Ave 
Birmingham B40 1NT 
UK 

​www.thenec.co.uk/visitors/getting-here/ 

By Train 

If you’re heading to RuneFest by train, you’ll find us located less than a ten-minute walk from Birmingham International Railway Station. You’ll find many train services connect directly to Birmingham International, however, if you’re travelling from further afield you may need to catch a connecting train at Birmingham New Street, which is only a 15-minute journey away. 

By Bus or Coach 

Coach services are operated by National Express and Megabus, with over 120 daily services from across the UK to Birmingham Airport. From here you can get to the NEC in a ​matter of minutes​​ on the free air-rail link. If you’re jumping on a bus in Birmingham City Centre you can take the 900 service (one every 15 minutes, takes 30 minutes) or the 97 (one every 30 minutes, takes 45 minutes). Local bus services also run every 30 minutes throughout the day to Solihull (service 966) and Coventry (service 900). 

By Car 

You’ll find the NEC and Birmingham International Airport both clearly signposted from all motorways and major routes including the M42,M40 and M6. If you’re using your trusty sat nav to get here simply enter the postcode B40 1NT, and follow signs for RuneFest. 

By Plane 

The NEC is just minutes away from Birmingham International Airport, making it ideal for our many international guests to get here. Simply jump on the free and fast air-rail link to Birmingham International Railway Station which only takes 90 seconds and runs every two minutes. When you arrive just head straight through to the NEC. 

How do I book parking? 

Parking is in the North Car Parks. A parking permit costs £5 per day and is only available to book online. You can find more information and book parking here: https://www.thenec.co.uk/visitors/parking-at-the-nec/.

How far is the parking from the event? 

Parking is on the NEC complex and not far to walk from the customer car parks to the Halls; there is also a free shuttle bus if you prefer. 

For all things relating to the venue, including any disabled support you require, we recommend that you head to www.thenec.co.uk.

Weapons and props must be approved by NEC security before being allowed into the RuneFest hall. The NEC reserve the right to reject or confiscate any weapon or prop that breaches site rules. Confiscated items that can legally be returned to you can be collected as you leave the event.

Props and costumes are brought to RuneFest at your own risk.

Rules:

• Live weapons are expressly prohibited, whether sheathed or peace-bonded. These include, but are not limited to; deactivated guns, Airsoft, metal knives, swords, axes, live bows or slingshots, bokken, hanbo.

• No pyrotechnics, gas canisters or incendiary items allowed.

• Any sensible material is permitted for use in your prop, such as foam, card, plastic, light wood etc but please ensure there are no sharp, protruding edges.

• Consider: if your weapon prop was to accidentally hit a person, would the prop break first? If no, reconsider bringing the prop, for the safety of other attendees and your hard work!

• Do not perform any action that may lead the public, other attendees or event staff to believe you are in possession of a real weapon.

• Jagex and the NEC reserve the right to eject anyone found to be behaving irresponsibly with props or carrying prohibited items from the event.

Travelling with weapons and props:

• Please be considerate of the size of your props as you travel to the RuneFest hall, especially on public transport and inside the venue.

Can I film/take pictures at RuneFest? 

Yes, you are welcome to take pictures or film within the event as much as you like, provided you do not plan to use anything for commercial purposes. However, if you are going to film other people we suggest that you get their permission first. 

Will there be photos taken of me at RuneFest? 

RuneFest will be photographed and recorded for promotional purposes. For general photography, you may appear in the background of some images or videos. However, if our photographer wants to feature you as the main subject, they will ask for your permission first. 

Any photographs or recordings taken will be stored securely and only used for event promotion. For further information on how Jagex uses your personal data, please view our Privacy Policy here. 

How will the NEC and RuneFest keep me safe? 

RuneFest and the NEC will be collaborating throughout the event to ensure the safety of every attendee. 

To ensure a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, all attendees are expected to comply with the Code of Conduct. Harassment, violence and drug and alcohol abuse will not be tolerated at RuneFest. 

If you need any help at the event of any nature, including first aid and incident reporting, or if you witness or experience any unacceptable behaviour, please go to the RuneFest Help Desk marked on your map or flag down a member of the roaming security team. 

The NEC Group has extensive knowledge and experience in ensuring the safe delivery of events, exhibitions and concerts across its venues, using a wide range of solutions. 

The NEC is constantly reviewing their measures to ensure that they remain effective and proportionate. 

West Midlands Police and Counter-Terrorist Security Advisors work in partnership with them at the venue, often deploying a variety of resources to work alongside those of our team. These include a number of overt and covert security measures, so whilst you may not see all operational security activity, you should be assured that it is ongoing, often behind the scenes, to prevent crime and keep you safe whilst you enjoy your visit. 

The NEC has multi-layered security measures and procedures in place including: 

• State of the art CCTV monitoring and communications centres 

• Walk Through Metal Detector security arches 

• Search and screening technology 

• Bag searches at venue entrances 

• A Response and Conflict Management team 

• Behavioural Detection team 

• Dedicated Security Dog team 

• An onsite West Midlands Police team 

• Vehicle checkpoints 

• Hostile Vehicle Mitigation protection 

The NEC periodically ​deploys​ highly-visible resources to deter, detect and disrupt a range of criminal activity, providing reassurance to our customers, so please don’t be surprised if you see both uniformed and plain-clothed officers in and around our venues. 

What can you do to help? 

We encourage you to arrive at the venue as early as possible, to allow more time for enhanced security checks. 

It is best for everyone to only bring essentials and note that bags and suitcases may be searched. The NEC does have on site storage facilities at an additional cost, but please check event pages on the NEC website ahead of your visit to see if there are any specific bag size policies. 

Their security teams work hard to keep you safe, please help them by cooperating with their requests. 

You have an important role to play in helping us by reporting anything that doesn’t feel right, for example any unattended items or someone acting suspiciously. You can report anything suspicious to any of our security officers or the Police. 

Remember: ‘See it. Say it. Sorted.’ 

What do I need to know about the merch store at RuneFest?

• The store is cashless so bring your card!
• If the merch store looks busy, keep in mind you can collect your pre-orders at any time over the weekend. The store closes at 9pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday.
• Help us to help you by having your pre-order email ready to show us and make a list of what else you want before you get to the front of the queue!
• To help save the planet we won’t be packing up your purchases in plastic or paper bags this year. Please bring your own bag(s) or use your RF rucksack to carry away your swag.
Alternatively you can purchase a reusable bag from the store!
• Collected all 8 skill chips? Pick up your coveted 9th skill chip from the team at the merch store once you have the other 8, with an option to buy a beautiful presentation box to store them in.