The Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in Frisco, Texas, located at 7600 John Q Hammons Drive, played host to the highly anticipated 2026 Texas Pinball Festival (TPF) from February 20th to 22nd. This annual gathering, a cornerstone event for pinball enthusiasts and industry professionals alike, transformed the venue into a vibrant hub of flashing lights, rolling balls, and the unmistakable sounds of pinball machines. This year’s festival embraced a "dragon" theme, weaving this mythical creature through the event’s branding, merchandise, and even dedicated play areas.

The TPF has consistently grown in both scale and influence, attracting a diverse crowd of collectors, players, manufacturers, and enthusiasts from across the United States and internationally. The 2026 edition further solidified its reputation as a premier pinball event, offering a comprehensive experience that extended beyond mere gameplay, incorporating educational seminars, competitive tournaments, a bustling swap meet, and showcases of the latest innovations in the industry.

Pre-Festival Buzz and Early Arrivals

The TPF experience for many began even before the official opening on Friday. The Pinball News team, for instance, arrived in Texas earlier in the week, making a strategic visit to Houston to connect with the team at Barrels of Fun. This was followed by a northward journey to Round Rock to visit the Multimorphic factory and meet with Gerry Stellenberg and his crew. These pre-show engagements provided a valuable glimpse into the industry’s inner workings and set the stage for the main event.

The weather forecast for the show weekend promised a significant warm-up, with temperatures expected to peak around a sweltering 37°C (98.6°F), a stark contrast to the cold start experienced earlier in the week. This heat, however, did little to dampen the spirits of attendees eager to immerse themselves in the pinball world.

Wednesday: Setup and the Inaugural TechDay

By Wednesday evening, the venue in Frisco was already abuzz with activity, even though the public opening was still two days away. Setup in the main exhibition hall was well underway, with exhibitors strategically positioning their machines and booth structures. Paul McKinney, the organizer of the Texas Pinball Festival, had meticulously planned numerous enhancements for this year’s event, encompassing everything from the floor layout to the overall schedule of activities. These changes, detailed in a recent February Pinball Industry News PINcast, aimed to elevate the attendee experience.

A significant new addition to the TPF schedule was "TechDay," held throughout Wednesday. This innovative initiative provided machine owners with a unique opportunity to bring their pinball machines to the venue for professional diagnosis and repair. Allocated technicians worked directly with owners, fostering a collaborative learning environment where participants could gain hands-on experience in fault-finding and repair techniques. The $80 ticket for TechDay, coupled with discounted rates on replacement components, offered a cost-effective solution for many seeking to maintain or restore their prized machines. This practical approach underscored the TPF’s commitment to supporting the pinball community’s technical needs.

Thursday: The Show Floor Takes Shape

Thursday morning saw the main show hall continue to fill out, with a steady stream of machines and vendor displays arriving. The vibrant atmosphere was palpable as show banners were hung, signaling the imminent start of the festival. Major players in the pinball industry, including FUN! (representing Stern Pinball), Jersey Jack Pinball, and Pinball Traders, were actively setting up their stands, showcasing a wide array of their latest offerings. Warped Pinball was also present, preparing to demonstrate their innovative connected system. The continuous flow of exhibits through the loading doors highlighted the logistical effort involved in bringing such a large-scale event to fruition.

The event’s layout was clearly communicated via floor plans displayed prominently near the entrance, ensuring that both machine owners and vendors could easily navigate to their designated areas. The TPF’s footprint extended beyond the main hall, with additional machines and vendor booths strategically placed in the surrounding corridors, maximizing the available space and creating a dynamic, multi-level experience.

Upstairs, the dedicated Tournament Room was also being prepared. This area, distinct from the main exhibition space, would serve as the venue for the festival’s various pinball competitions. The room’s entrance featured a display of previous years’ winners, a testament to the TPF’s rich competitive history. The presence of the registration desk and the meticulously prepared trophies for the "Texas Wizards" tournament signaled the seriousness of the competitive aspect of the festival.

Thursday Evening: Tournaments and Networking

As Thursday evening approached, the TPF’s competitive schedule kicked off with two notable tournaments. The "Scrutinizers Tournament," held in the upstairs Tournament Room, served as a crucial warm-up event. Its primary purpose was to test the machines designated for the main tournaments, ensuring their optimal performance and identifying any potential issues before the high-stakes competitions began. Garrett Shahan emerged victorious in this preliminary event, with Randy Nelson, Jack Revnew, and Austin Trent securing the second, third, and fourth places, respectively.

Concurrently, on the main show floor, the "Media Mavens Tournament" brought together seventeen prominent media creators from the pinball community. This unique competition employed a strike-based elimination format, where players faced elimination after accumulating two strikes. The lowest two scorers in each game received a strike, creating a tense and engaging experience. Clark McCoy ultimately claimed the first place, followed by Neil McRae in second and Jamie Burchell in third.

Friday: The Public Grand Opening and Thematic Immersion

Friday marked the official public opening of the Texas Pinball Festival at 4 PM. However, the day’s activities commenced earlier, with tournaments and seminars beginning at midday. The corridors and main hall continued to be transformed as stands and machines were finalized, creating a visually stunning and immersive environment. Chris Munson was noted setting up his LeGrand PinCabs stand in the lobby area, contributing to the growing display of custom and specialized pinball offerings.

The new show entrance served as a showcase for the grand prize of the raffle – a highly coveted Harry Potter Arcade Edition pinball machine. This striking machine quickly became a focal point for attendees, attracting a steady stream of visitors eager to capture photos and videos. The dragon theme, a central element of this year’s TPF, was evident throughout the venue, from the event’s logo and merchandise to the captivating dragon sculpts strategically placed around the premises. This thematic consistency contributed to a cohesive and memorable festival atmosphere.

The Jui Long Lion/Dragon Dance Troupe delivered a vibrant performance shortly before the hall officially opened to the public, adding a dynamic cultural element to the proceedings. Their energetic routines, featuring elaborate dragon costumes, were a visual spectacle that resonated with the dragon theme.

The merchandise desk also opened its doors, offering TPF-branded apparel and accessories, allowing attendees to take home a piece of the festival experience. The selection included this year’s T-shirt designs, along with items from previous shows, providing a range of options for fans.

Seminars and Industry Insights

The festival’s seminar schedule provided a wealth of information and insights for attendees. On Friday, Brian Haskell kicked off the sessions with a presentation on leveraging affordable technology, specifically an Onn Google TV box and the AbleSign app, to create custom pinball leaderboards and displays. Following this, Eugene Mosh and Matthew Talley continued their popular educational series, offering advanced troubleshooting techniques for pinball machines, catering to both owners and restorers.

The evening saw further engaging seminars. Jersey Jack Pinball’s presentation featured Jack Guarnieri, Eric Meunier, and Dan Lachcik, who discussed the intricate process of developing the Harry Potter pinball machine, delving into its complex mechanisms and technical challenges. Barrels of Fun’s David van Es and Brian Savage shared the company’s journey of growth, highlighting the development of their games, from "Labyrinth" and "Dune" to the surprise success of their latest release, "Winchester Mystery House." The day concluded with a seminar from Multimorphic, featuring a panel discussing the P3 pinball platform, its appeal to owners and developers, and its often-underappreciated features. Outside the Seminars Room, the Scoma Jazz Band provided a pleasant musical backdrop for attendees enjoying refreshments.

Saturday: Swap Meet, Seminars, and Industry Networking

Saturday commenced early with the highly anticipated Swap Meet, organized by the DFW Pinball & Arcade Club. The official start time was moved forward to 7 AM, but early birds were already present by 6 AM, eager to secure the best deals on pinball parts, machines, and memorabilia. The Swap Meet, held in the parking lot, offered a treasure trove of items, from rare manuals and translites to complete machines, underscoring the diverse ecosystem of the pinball hobby.

Back inside, the seminar schedule continued with American Pinball’s presentation, "Something New." Owner Bryan Vincent introduced the company’s new team and outlined production plans for original designs and their series of "reimagined" Williams/Bally titles, beginning with "Cirqus Voltaire." The "Owning Your First Pinball Machine" seminar, featuring Imoto Harney of Marco Specialties and Craig Hassell from Fun! Superstore, provided practical advice for new collectors on machine inspection and maintenance.

The "Ask Us Anything!" tech Q&A panel offered attendees a direct line to industry experts, allowing them to pose technical queries and receive problem-solving guidance. Brad Oldham of Evolution Mods presented on integrating interactive lighting and servo motors into pinball machines using the Pinnunciator system, showcasing the possibilities for enhancing gameplay. Aaron Davis, co-founder of FAST Pinball, hosted a "Making Pinball, Making Friends" seminar, inviting homebrew game creators to share their innovative projects, highlighting the growing creativity within the DIY pinball community. The afternoon concluded with a tutorial on mastering the new Stern Pinball "Pokémon" game, led by its software lead, designers, and a competitive player, offering strategies for achieving high scores.

The "Autograph Session" provided a unique opportunity for fans to meet and interact with industry legends, including Steve Ritchie, Jack Guarnieri, Brad Albright, Dennis Nordman, Eric Meunier, Christopher Franchi, Jack Danger, Tanio Klyce, George Gomez, Mike Vinikour, Brian Savage, and David van Es. The "So You Think You Know Pinball?" trivia quiz, hosted by Martin Ayub of Pinball News and Jonathan Joosten of Pinball Magazine, tested attendees’ knowledge with a series of engaging questions and prize giveaways. Todd Tuckey’s "Fireside Chat" offered a retrospective on his extensive career in the coin-op industry and his work with TNT Amusements, illustrated with numerous videos from his popular YouTube channel. The day’s events were further enhanced by live music performances from Pinball Rod and The Extra Balls, creating a lively atmosphere. The final seminar featured the Stern Pinball team discussing the development of their latest release, "Pokémon," with insights from George Gomez, Jack Danger, Tanio Klyce, and Jerry Thompson.

Sunday: Tournaments, Awards, and the Grand Finale

Sunday was dedicated to the conclusion of major tournaments and the highly anticipated closing ceremony. The "Texas Takedown," a women’s pinball tournament, saw 72 competitors battle it out. After qualifying rounds, Emily Cosson emerged as the champion, followed by Dawnda Durbin in second, Ariel Dutton in third, and Rebecca Salam in fourth. The "Texas Wizards" main tournament reached its climax with Jack Revnew securing first place, Tim Hansen second, Steve Bowden third, and Nick Mueller fourth.

The closing ceremony commenced at 2 PM, drawing a large crowd eager to learn the results of the "Best in Show" awards and the grand prize raffle. The "Best in Show" awards, judged by a panel of six experts, recognized outstanding machines across various categories, including Best Antique, Best 1960s, Best 1970s Electromechanical, Best Solid State categories, Best DMD, Best Modern, Best Original, Best Newcomer, Best Restoration, Best Custom (Homebrew), and Best Classic Arcade. Peter Batterton clinched the coveted "Grand Champion: Best in Show" award for his "Tales of the Arabian Nights."

The main raffle prize, a Harry Potter Arcade Edition from Jersey Jack Pinball, was drawn by the game’s designer, Eric Meunier. While the initial winner, Chris Engberg, was not present to claim his prize, American Pinball owner Bryan Vincent generously awarded a second Houdini 100th Anniversary machine to him after Nicole Schulte, the initially drawn winner, accepted her prize. The raffle winner for the Harry Potter machine was Adam Breakey.

Looking Ahead: TPF 2027

As the festival drew to a close, attention turned to the future, with banners already announcing the dates and location for the 2027 Texas Pinball Festival: March 19th-21st, 2027, returning to the Embassy Suites Frisco Hotel & Conference Center. The event’s continued growth and the positive reception of new initiatives like TechDay suggest that the TPF will remain a significant fixture in the pinball calendar for years to come. The inclusion of musical performances and the expansion of the homebrew section further demonstrate the festival’s commitment to evolving and catering to the diverse interests within the pinball community. The next TPF promises another exciting convergence of enthusiasts, manufacturers, and the latest innovations in the world of pinball.