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 is the schedule of events at RuneFest? 

More information on content and schedule will be revealed closer to the event but you can expect a weekend of activities, reveals, and Gielinor-focused fun shared with ​like-minded​ fans. 

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. 

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 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, but do sign up to our mailing list using the link below to stay up to date on future events. 

RuneFest tickets are exclusively sold through our official ticket vendor See Tickets. 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.

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.’ 

When is RuneFest being postponed until? 

The 1st and 2nd March 2025. 

Why is RuneFest being postponed? 

With our sights set on RuneFest returning in 2024 we engaged Player1 Events, an experienced event supplier specialising in gaming events. Player1 Events' flagship event was the Insomnia Gaming Festival, one of the UK's most loved gaming events for the past 25 years, and their expertise was central in our decision to bring them onboard as the core delivery partner for RuneFest.   

As you may have seen reported in the news, Player1 Events laid off all its staff in May. Since the news broke in May, Player1 Events has been exploring potential insolvency arrangements and despite our best efforts, we received no official communication from Player1 Events about RuneFest or Insomnia, leaving us (and other suppliers and customers) in a very difficult situation.  

We explored several options to still deliver an event in September that would delight our players, but despite our best efforts, that goal has not been achievable. 

What will happen to my tickets? 

All tickets will automatically transfer and be valid for the new date. 

What if I can’t make it? 

For those of you who can no longer attend and wish to claim a full refund please lemail support@runefest.com. 

Is Insomnia still a part of the postponed event? 

We will now be running RuneFest as an independent event and we are confident to deliver great value for money to ticket holders. 

Will the event change as a result of the postponement? 

Nope! We are still planning on delivering the exciting, fun-filled RuneFest originally planned.