Thinking of making the trip to Milwaukee next year for AdeptiCon 2026…?

Every March, thousands of tabletop gamers descend on the US Midwest for the largest miniature gaming event in North America: AdeptiCon. For Star Wars: Armada players, it’s more than just a tournament—it’s a celebration of fleets of big ships going pew pew, bold tactics, and a passionate community that keeps this game flying.

As someone who’s made the journey over the last two years (from Canada), I wanted to share a comprehensive guide for fellow international players looking to attend, including some tips from mates who’ve travelled from Australia and the UK. With AdeptiCon now held at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, this guide reflects the new venue, travel tips, and almost everything you’ll need to make your first AdeptiCon mission a success, including a handy starter checklist.

Calculate Hyperspace Jump: Flights & Travel Logistics

If you’re flying in from anywhere, your destination airport is now Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE). While smaller than Chicago’s O’Hare or Midway, MKE is only about 10 minutes drive from downtown Milwaukee and the Baird Center.

If flights into Milwaukee are pricey or limited, flying into Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and then taking a train or shuttle to Milwaukee is a solid backup plan—it’s about 1.5–2 hours by Amtrak or coach. Some attendees even rent a car or split an Uber and drive up if flying into Chicago is cheaper. Set up Google alerts for cheap flights and even consider other routes that also might prove to be a lot cheaper than direct routes.

Remember to apply for an ESTA visa waiver or tourist visa at least 72 hours before travelling and make sure your passport is valid for the duration of your stay. Before arrival at your first US airport, also have the Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app downloaded and ready to go with your profile set up so you can be as efficient as possible at Border Control. Of course, I’ll caveat this info with the point that you should always check the applicable US immigration websites and your country’s travel advisory service for the most up-to-date information whenever you’re planning to travel.

If you’re driving to the Baird Center, there’s also ample parking underneath, with options for reserved parking on the website here.

Base of Operations: Where to Stay

With AdeptiCon moving to the Baird Center in downtown Milwaukee, accommodation options have shifted. The area around the convention centre is much more walkable than Schaumburg, and there are dozens of hotels within a few blocks.

Recommended stays include:

Hyatt Regency Milwaukee - 1min walk, skyway access to Baird Center, Starbucks
Hilton Milwaukee – 1min walk, skyway access to Baird Center, Starbucks, historical (Schroeder Hotel), under renovation in 2025
Springhill Suites Milwaukee Downtown (Marriott) – 1min walk, clean, convenient
Doubletree by Hilton Milwaukee Downtown – 3min walk, newer
Fairfield Inn and Suites Milwaukee Downtown (Marriott) – 5min walk, cheaper, across rd from 3rd st market, good coffee next door (Canary Coffee Bar)
Hyatt Place Milwaukee Downtown – 10min walk, upmarket, nicest place to stay
Airbnb options are also solid, especially for groups.

Rooms in the immediate area will book up quickly, especially after AdeptiCon hotel blocks open, so book as early as possible—even right now, but please make sure you check cancellation policies beforehand. If a better deal comes up from the Hotel blocks, you can always change or cancel.

Being downtown also means plenty of food, grocery, and nightlife options nearby—no more Ubering to Target just to get bottled water! I’ll mention some of those options further on.

Tickets & Registration: Don’t Miss the Jump

AdeptiCon registration usually opens in early January, and Star Wars: Armada events (especially World Championships slots) fill up fast.

Here’s how to stay ahead of the pack:

Create your AdeptiCon account in advance.
Review the event list when it drops (usually December).
Plan your schedule and prioritise must-play events, note back-up options.
Be ready when registration goes live—it’s a race! Especially if you’re keen on Advanced Badge registration or specific popular events! Log in on multiple devices and refresh like mad if you need to.
Don’t fill up your entire weekend! You’ll need time to explore the Con and have some downtime

Worlds invites aside (if applicable), many narrative and casual events are open to all, and there are always pick-up games happening during the weekend. Check related Discord or Facebook groups for the latest information applicable to your game system/s. The Armada crew usually uses an AdeptiCon Channel in the Armada Hub Discord.

Mission Prep: Getting Your Fleet Ready

Whether you’re aiming to turn up and win the whole thing or just have fun, preparation is key. For World Championships or narrative play, you’ll need:

A printed fleet list - One for the tournament staff (with objectives) and some copies for your opponents (without objectives)
All official components (dice, rulers, tokens, cards, etc.)
Familiarity with tournament play, current rules and errata
A willingness to make every game as fun as possible - for both yourself and your opponent =)

Packing your fleet for air travel can be stressful, but padded army bags inside a hard-shell suitcase works wonders. Foam trays are a solid option—just test your setup before flying.

Also, bring hobby supplies for emergency repairs, like:

Super glue
Hobby knife or clippers (in checked luggage)
Extra stands or bases, just in case

Aside from that, make sure your carry-on complies with airline limits. And double-check your luggage at check-in—miniatures are surprisingly heavy when packed together!

What’s in Your Kit?: Packing Essentials

Here’s my AdeptiCon checklist, refined after two years of adventures in the land of tabletop gaming:

Travel Tools:

Water bottle - Stay hydrated! There’s refill stations everywhere
Snacks (take with you or pick up on arrival)
US power adapter/s
Power bank/s
Travel SIM or eSIM (or US roaming plan)
Headache and cold/flu meds
Anti-chafe cream (soooo much walking)
Hand sanitiser
Comfortable shoes (you’ll do a lot of standing/walking)
Jacket/gloves/beanie - Temps range from 0-10 degrees Celsius in March, it might even snow

Extra stuff:

Sleep - I know it’s hard when you want to stay up playing games all night and/or partying, but I highly recommend making sure you get enough sleep to make the most of the following day/s.
Bring pins, patches, alt-art cards, stickers, or coins to trade with people you meet!
Set a budget - With all the expensive amenities and shiny game stuff, it can be easy to break the bank, especially when it’s in USD$!
Shower regularly and use deodorant – I know, I know… but we all know there are some people who do need the reminder

The Big Picture: Explore AdeptiCon & Milwaukee

With AdeptiCon now downtown, you’ve got much more within arm’s reach:

The vendor hall is still massive, filled with paints, minis, accessories, and exclusives.
Take a painting or terrain seminar—they're brilliant for sharpening your hobby skills, plus there’s plenty of ‘paint & take’ stalls throughout the vendor floor.
Check out other game systems: new and old, plus some real indie gems.
Have a look at the hobby showcases for Golden Demon and AMG’s Path of the Worthy. Every time there’s some truly impressive hobby work on display.

*Curse your sudden, but inevitable, betrayal!*

And if you have spare time, Milwaukee has plenty to offer:

Milwaukee Public Museum - Get you some culture (and dinosaurs)
Fiserv Forum - Catch a concert?
UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena - See an Admirals hockey or Panthers B-ball game
Miller High Life Theatre - Also a great spot to catch a concert
Harley-Davidson Museum - Rev-heads unite!
Lakefront Brewery Tour - A bit out of town but they come highly recommended as very fun tours

It’s a big improvement from Schaumburg’s isolation—everything’s just a short walk or scooter ride away.

Debrief and Cocktails: The local Bar and Restaurant Scene

One of the perks of AdeptiCon's new location in downtown Milwaukee is the abundance of dining and nightlife options within walking distance. Whether you're grabbing a quick feed between games or celebrating a hard-fought victory, there's something for every palate:

3rd Street Market Hall – various food vendors, bars & games all under one roof!
Major Goolsby’s Sports Bar - Had a great space out the back where we had our Armada pre-tourney meet & greet
Doc’s Smokehouse
Mo’s Irish Pub
Calderone Club Italian
Pilot Project Brewing (9 Breweries under one roof)

With so many options nearby, you'll have no trouble finding the perfect spot to relax and recharge with mates old and new during your AdeptiCon experience.

Debrief: Lessons from the Last two Years

Here are a few things I wish I’d known before my first AdeptiCon:

Arrive early if you can—jet lag is real, and giving yourself a day or two to settle in helps enormously.
Don’t overbook your schedule—leave breathing room for vendor browsing, hanging out, or last-minute games.
Bring snacks and water—lines for food can be long, and some venues charge airport prices for basics. It can be a lawless wasteland (eg. USD$16 for a can of beer!)

Also: bring a small Aussie flag or patch. You’ll be surprised how many people strike up conversations just because you came from overseas.

Starter Kit Checklist

Use this to get your planning started (it is by no means an exhaustive list!):

6-12 Months Before

Check passport expiry and renew if needed
Set flight alerts (Skyscanner, Google Flights, etc.)
Review Visa/ESTA requirements
Join AdeptiCon email list and Armada forums/Discord
Reserve hotel room/s
Begin fleet/squadron/army/deck/breakdance playtesting

4–5 Months Before (November–December)

Watch for AdeptiCon event list drop (usually December)
Finalise travel dates
Book flights now or earlier if you can (preferably into MKE or ORD)

2–3 Months Before (January)

Register for AdeptiCon events (early January!) - Log in immediately on open if you want Advanced Badge registration and to help ensure you get the events you want to attend. Have a back-up plan for other events.
Print/save event confirmations and schedule

1 Month Before

Finalise fleet and print list(s)
Test transport case for miniatures and tournament table transfer tray
Check airline luggage limits
Buy travel insurance
Order travel SIM/eSIM or roaming plan
Plan Milwaukee transit (Uber, shuttle, Amtrak from ORD if needed)

1 Week Before

Pack Armada kit: minis, dice, tools, rulers, cards, tokens, printouts, etc.
Pack glue, hobby tools (checked luggage. Don’t take flammables)
Power adapters, snacks, meds, water bottle, etc.
USD cash / travel card
Review event schedule and tourney rules

Set Course & Punch It

Yes, it’s a long haul (especially from Oz). Yes, it’s a big spend. But attending AdeptiCon—especially as a Star Wars: Armada player—is absolutely worth it. From the epic battles to the mates you make, there’s nothing quite like it.

AdeptiCon 2026 is locked in for 25–29 March at the Baird Center, and now’s the time to start planning. Book that time off, start checking out flight deals, and get your fleet ready.

Have questions? Need help sorting logistics? Drop a comment below or reach out via Discord or Facebook. I’d be more than happy to help, as would anyone else in the Armada Hub Discords or on Reddit. My lovely partner, Kate, is also a complete travel Guru so whatever I can’t answer, I’ll ask for her advice also.

I hope that the above info is useful for planning your big trip. Thanks again for reading!

Cheers,

Rosco 🥃