After two successful years at Gallagher Convention Centre, long-running gaming and technology expo rAge, a cornerstone of the South African geeky convention calendar, has made the move across Johannesburg to another big city venue – The JHB Expo Centre (a.k.a. NASREC).

This change in location is great news for attendees. Any Comic Con Africa guest can attest that there’s a much bigger selection of food and drink options for hungry attendees, courtesy of food trucks and other independent vendors; as well as plenty of outdoor chill space to escape the crowds in the busy halls.

To experience the Really Awesome Gaming Expo’s new environment first hand, we’ve got some tickets to give away. But before we get to the good stuff, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s event – which marks the 22nd for the Galaxy of Geek.

  • Dates: 29 November – 1 December 2024
  • Location: JHB Expo Centre (NASREC)
  • Times: Friday & Saturday: 09h00 to 18h00 | Sunday: 09h00 to 16h00*
    * rAge will close early on Sunday due to an event at FNB Stadium
  • Day pass: R200 per person, R600 for a 4-person family pass (2 adults + 2 children aged 6 -18)
  • Weekend pass (3 days): R420 per person
  • Kids under 7: Free
  • Parking: Paid parking is available at Johannesburg Expo Centre upon arrival.
  • Note: Ticket prices above exclude Howler fees. You can get your tickets online here.

Have any other questions about rAge? There’s a handy FAQ here covering everything you could possibly want to know about the event.

You can also read our coverage of the 2022 and 2023 expos if you need more of a taste of what to expect.

Lastly, here’s a quick rundown of everything you can look forward to:

Afro Geek Playroom: A brand-new addition to the expo is the Afro Geek Playroom. Curated by Afro Geek, the Playroom is an immersive experience in Afro-futuristic storytelling and tech, housing VR and indie games, homegrown card gaming, plus local vendors and creators in one designated Area. More details about what to find at the Playroom here.

NAG BYOC LAN: A forever feature of rAge, the NAG “bring your own computer/console” LAN is South Africa’s biggest three-day, twenty-four-hour celebration of gaming. This year, the BYOC LAN offers two packages, both of which also include a pass for the rest of the expo. You can choose between the BYOC LAN General Pass and the Super Pass, which grants early access to the LAN the day before. All the details on the BYOC LAN, including a link to ticket purchases, can be found here.

Esports tournaments: Once again, rAge 2024 will be hosting the finals of the Mamelodi Sundowns Esports Championship, where the top 8 EA Sports FC 25 players from across South Africa will battle it out for their share of the R200 000 prize pool. In addition to that, rAge will also host the finals of the Monster CoD Competition and the Mzansi Esports Champions, a 100% female Tekken 8 competition.

GES rAge Cosplay Competition: While cosplay is encouraged at rAge in general, more serious-minded cosplayers can still enter the annual rAge Cosplay Competition – you have until 27 November to get your entry in here. The rAge competition is known for being a great entry into competitive cosplay for locals of all crafting levels, and you can read more in the rule book here.

Artists Alley and Retailers: What would rAge be without its shopping opportunities and exclusive show deals? The expo is the perfect time to stock up on Christmas presents for the geeks and gamers in your life, whether in Artists Alley (home to loads of crafters, artists and small businesses) or via the big vendor stands.

Giveaway time

Thanks to the rAge organisers, we have 3 sets of double day passes to give away for rAge 2024. The 3 winners will be selected by lucky draw. As this is a social giveaway, you can enter on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram and Threads, by replying to the posts.

This year, we want you to describe a great day at rAge, only using emojis. Share/follow for bonus entries.

Ticket giveaway terms and conditions

  • Winners must be in Johannesburg during the period 29 November – 1 December 2024.
  • Travel and related accommodation costs are not included with this prize, winners must arrange their own transport to and from JHB Expo Centre.
  • Entries close at midnight on Tuesday, 19 November 2024.
  • Max three entries per person per social platform (this includes bonus entries).
  • Each winner will receive two tickets for the rAge 2024 day of their choosing – confirmed after the giveaway ends.

Good luck and game on!