Are you ready to escape to planet rAge?

Every year tens of thousands of enthusiastic fans descend on rAge expo for three fun-filled days of gaming, technology, gadgets, and geek lifestyle entertainment. This is where long-time online friends finally meet in the flesh, and new friends are made over the weekend. Many call it the event of the year, where you can escape your reality and be surrounded by people who all share the same passion.

Whether you choose to lose yourself in video gaming’s many virtual worlds, or within the pages of a comic book, or playing dress-up as your favourite super hero, or if you envision yourself living in the future surrounded by hi-tech gadgets and robots, rAge has something that’ll get your Nerd-Sense tingling and send your excitement levels skyrocketing.

rAge is a celebration of all our favourite diversions; a vibrant, living ode to geek lifestyle and all its wondrous trappings.

Come and play in our world! 

Highlights from #rAgeExpo2024

Re-watch the rAge 2024 GES Cosplay Championship livestream here.

Re-watch the rAge 2024 GES Cosplay Masquerade livestream here.

Re-watch the rAge 2024 Mzansi Esports Champions Grand Final here.

Watch the rAge 2024 Mzansi Esports Champions documentary here.

Tune in here to discover how Mettlestate and Varsity Esports are shaping the future of gaming education.

FAQ – Visitors

rAge is South Africa’s longest running video gaming, technology, esports, geek culture and digital entertainment exhibition, which is held annually in Johannesburg. 

The BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer/Console) LAN is South Africa’s largest LAN, where gamers spend +50 hours playing games with and against each other on the same network. The BYOC LAN is an event that is held at rAge every year, and a separate ticket will need to be purchased (i.e. a rAge Expo ticket will not give you access into the NAG LAN). 

rAge Expo will be hosted at Johannesburg Expo Centre in Gauteng.

Tickets to attend rAge Expo will available to purchase online via our official ticketing partner, Howler.

Tickets to attend the BYOC LAN will be available to purchase online in July via our official ticketing partner, Howler.

By purchasing a ticket, you are agreeing to our Code of Conduct, Admissions Policy and our expo rules.

A weekend pass ticket gives you (1 person) access to the expo for all three days at a discounted price.

Weekend Pass tickets can only be purchased online vie our official ticketing partner Howler.

By purchasing a ticket, you are agreeing to our Code of Conduct, Admissions Policy and our expo rules.

Children under 6 are allowed free entry into the expo.

There is an additional fee of R40 that will be charged by Bfree for parking upon arrival. This cost is not included in your rAge Expo ticket price.

rAge Expo: 09h00 to 18h00 on Friday & Saturday // 09h00 to 16h00 on Sunday.

BYOC LAN General Pass: 06h00 on Friday to 15h00 on Sunday. 

BYOC LAN Super Pass: 18h00 on Thursday to 15h00 on Sunday. 

rAge is a family-friendly event so visitors of all ages are welcome to attend. Please do note that some gaming content on display at the various stands may be age restricted and not suitable for minors.

There is no age restriction for the BYOC LAN but we do suggest that young minors to be accompanied/supervised by an adult.

The on-site food & beverage vendors will be open for the entire duration of the expo.

Important to note: all food and beverage vendors operate a cashless system so please ensure you are able to pay with a credit card, debit card or SnapScan.

A number of food vendors are Halaal and the South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA) will be on site every day.

A detailed list of everything you need to know about the do’s and dont’s in the LAN can be found in our BYOC LAN FAQ and the precint map can be found here. f you’ve never been to the BYOC LAN before this video will give you a really good idea of what to expect. You can also join our Discord and ask a question in the BYOC LAN channel.

Parents are welcome to assist their children to settle in at the LAN and will be issued a Parent Pass wristband upon arrival and again on collection on Sunday.

No cancellations, refunds of unused tickets, changes, reprints or unpaid reservations can be made.

Bookings are final and tickets are treated as cash.

In the event of us having to cancel or postpone the event (due to government regulations or restrictions), refunds will become applicable.

Everybody is welcome to take pictures or video at the expo, but do note that some exhibitors may not allow photography or filming of their games/products on display and you may be asked to refrain from taking photos or filming.

Should you wish to attend the expo as accredited media, please do so by registering via the Press Accreditation link. Applications for media passes will be open from September. Please note that Media Passes are not transferable and will only be issued in accordance with the application procedures and requirements. 

For more information on the rAge Cosplay Competition visit the GES Cosplay Facebook page here or Instagram here.

You are more than welcome to come dressed up as your favourite character, but please do keep the following things in mind before selecting your outfit:

(1) rAge is a family-friendly event so we don’t allow cosplay that is revealing, explicit, lewd, pornographic or overtly sexual and inappropriate in any way. If we do find your outfit to be offensive we will have you escorted off the premises;

(2) No functional props or weapons are permitted at the venue – we don’t allow knives, swords, spears or guns of any kind. Any items found to be of a dangerous nature or have the potential to injure someone will be confiscated by security and only be returned to you when you leave; 

(3) Cosplay Is Not Consent – harassment of any kind, including stalking, deliberate intimidation, unwelcome physical attention, physical assault and battery, will not be tolerated at rAge. If it’s illegal outside the venue, it’s illegal inside the venue. Harassment and intimidation is grounds for removal from the expo without refund as well as potential legal action. We want rAge to be a safe, open and accepting environment for all fans, so please report any harassment to GES or the Organisers Office.

If you would like to enter the GES rAge Cosplay Competition you can find more information on the GES Cosplay Instagram page here

At the event – If you have lost any of your personal belongings at the expo or the LAN, please check in with our team at the Organisers Office in case it has been handed in.

After the event – Please send us an email with a detailed description of your item/s and we will let you know if we have it.

If this is your first time attending rAge you should check out our Video Gallery to watch videos from previous events. You can also browse our Photo Gallery. Both of the galleries will give you a very good idea of what rAge is and why you HAVE to be there! 

For more information on Johannesburg Expo Centre click here.

The visitor entrance to rAge will be via Gate 5/6.

No but you can make use of Uber and local taxi services. There is a dedicated drop-off and pick-up area near to gate 5/6.

We do offer a group discount if you are a teacher arranging a class trip on Friday on behalf of a school or college. Please email us for more information on how to book.

Student Pass – R160 per person (ticket valid for Friday only upon presentation of a valid university or college student card)

Scholar/School Groups – R160 per person (ticket valid for Friday only for school group bookings)

A Family Pass (set of 4 tickets) is valid for 2 adults + 2 children aged between 6 & 18 (kids under 6 are free) on any one day of the event. This ticket can be purchased online at Howler.

Be aware of people / websites / agents selling fake tickets to rAge Expo or the NAG BYOC LAN.  Our official partner and only ticketing agent is Howler: tickets purchased from a third party (i.e. you didn’t purchase it yourself directly via the Howler website) may be invalid and you could be refused entry. 

Every barcode on your ticket is unique – if you arrive at our visitor registration kiosk and the barcode has already been scanned, you will be declined entry.

rAge Expo and the BYOC LAN is a family-friendly event and the safety of all our visitors, exhibitors, gamers and staff is a top priority. If anyone is found to be in violation of the rules listed below, you will immediately be escorted out of the event by security, have your access badge/wristband removed, and will not be permitted to enter again. If you see anyone violating the Code of Conduct, please go to the Organisers Office and report this behaviour immediately.

Participation in this event is at your own risk. Right of admission reserved. The organizers and venue accept no responsibility whatsoever for injury, death, loss, or damage of any nature to persons, vehicles, or belongings, even in the case of negligence.

Weapons – attendees are prohibited from bringing weapons of any kind in to the venue. Security reserves the right to search all visitors, exhibitors, gamers and staff upon entry, and any weapons found will be confiscated and retained, and returned to you after you exit the venue.

Drugs – illegal substances are not allowed to be bought/sold or used at rAge Expo.

Alcohol – under-age drinking is not permitted. If any person who is under the influence of alcohol is found to be interfering with any other person and their ability to enjoy the event, they will be escorted off the premises by security.

Theft – theft or stealing of items or goods is strictly prohibited at rAge Expo.

Harassment/Abuse/Discrimination – harassment, abuse and discrimination of any kind relating to but not limited to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, nationality, age or religion, will not be tolerated at rAge Expo. This includes, but is not limited to, verbal and physical abuse, bullying, discrimination, threats of violence, ‘trolling’, stalking, filming or photographing any people against their wishes, inappropriate physical contact, unwelcome sexual attention and lewd behaviour.

Cosplay Is Not Consent – harassment of any kind towards cosplayers, including stalking, deliberate intimidation, unwelcome physical attention, physical assault and battery, will not be tolerated at rAge. When taking photos of cosplayers, their permission must be requested, and their consent must be given before proceeding.

Cosplay costumes/outfits – rAge Expo is a family-friendly event and all cosplay costumes and outfits must be appropriate for all ages. Clothing and props may not be revealing, sexual, obscene, pornographic or contain explicit and crude language.

Age restrictions – there are some games, activities, and areas that are open only to over-18’s. In these instances you will be required to produce some form of identification (ID, passport, or driver’s licence). Failing to produce proof of age may restrict your access to certain areas and/or activities.

Filming/Photography – you are welcome to take pictures or video at rAge, but do note that some exhibitors may not allow photography or filming of their games/products on display and you may be asked to refrain from taking photos or filming. Any footage or photographs taken by you are for your personal use only and are not to be used or exploited for any commercial purposes whatsoever. There will be filming and photography taking place throughout the event: by purchasing a ticket you allow organizers to make use of and publish any footage taken on the day.

Admissions – attendance of rAge Expo and the BYOC LAN is at your own risk, and by entering the event you agree not to hold its organizer, partners, sponsors, exhibitors, subsidiaries or parent companies liable for any damage or distress incurred at the event. The organisers reserve the right to refuse entry on any reasonable grounds.

Remember, if it’s illegal outside the venue, it’s illegal inside the venue. Violation of any of the above rules is grounds for immediate removal from the expo without refund as well as potential legal action. We want rAge to be a safe, open, fun and accepting environment for all attendees.

rAge Emergency Procedures