This past weekend, 128 Sorcerers from across Europe and beyond gathered in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, for SorceryFest 2026, the third Grand Contest of the 2026 Organized Play season.

Some travels only a few hours, others crossed countries to be there. Regardless of how far they came, they arrived with the same goals in mind, to compete, to meet artists, to reconnect with old friends, and to spend an entire weekend immersed in Sorcery.

By the time the Grand Contest had concluded, 

 had once again proven why it has become one of the community’s most beloved annual traditions.

Grand Contests celebrate competition, but SorceryFest has always been about something larger. Throughout the weekend, players filled the hall not only for the Grand Contest, but for Alpha Drafts, Gothic Drafts, King of the Hill multiplayer games, artist signings, casual play, and countless conversations between rounds.

While many competitors arrived with months of preparation behind them, others were attending their first major Sorcery event. Veterans sat across from newcomers. Rivals became trading partners. Spectators became friends.

As always, the matches were only part of the story.

While SorceryFest celebrates the entire community, the Grand Contest also represents one of Europe’s premier tests of mastery.

Congratulations to Geoffrey Tejedor, whose Archimago claimed victory after navigating a field of 128 competitors. One of the weekend’s most remarkable storylines came in the finals themselves. Geoffrey and Kirran had already faced one another in the championship match of a London event just one week earlier. Against all odds, they met again with the SorceryFest title on the line.

Every Grand Contest offers another glimpse into an evolving metagame, and SorceryFest continued that trend. With more than 125 competitors, players brought an extraordinary range of strategies to the tables.

Necromancer led the field with fourteen pilots, while Archimago, Geomancer, and Pathfinder each attracted twelve competitors. Sorcerer and imposter followed closely behind.

Perhaps most excitingly, more than twenty different Avatars were represented in the the Grand Contest. From Bladedancer to Corruptor, Dragonlord to Avatar of Water, competitors continued to demonstrate the creativity that defines Sorcery deckbuilding. Archimago proved the breakout story of the weekend, claiming four of the Top 8 positions; more than any Avatar has achieved at a Grand Contest so far this season. It gives players around the world another fascinating puzzle to study before Melbourne later this month.

Competitive play may bring players together, but community is what keeps everyone coming back.

Beyond the championship tables, players filled casual drafts and multiplayer events while the Top 8 played out on stream. Rather than ending when players were eliminated, SorceryFest simply transformed into another opportunity to keep playing.

One especially memorable moment came after the finals, when commentator Robert was surprised live on stream with the Community Uncut Sheet in recognition of everything he has done for European Sorcery coverage.

None of this happens without the people working behind the scenes. Our sincere thanks go to Ron Dijkstra, Richard Boonstra, the Trolls of the Realm team, the judges, volunteers, artists, photographers, commentators, and everyone whose countless hours made SorceryFest possible.

Every Grand Contest creates stories that will be retold long after the standings are forgotten.

A Pirate Ship dealing fifteen damage. A Coy Nixie, Lord of Lies and Whirling Blades combination for eighteen damage. A Courtesan Thais stealing an opponent’s turn and using their own Major Explosion to finish the game. When asked about the unforgettable defeat, the defeated player simply smiled and replied, “If you lose like this, you can only smile.”

Those are the moments that define Sorcery.

Whether it was spectacular gameplay, incredible topdecks, unforgettable drafts, or conversations that started over a trade binder and ended in lasting friendships, SorceryFest reminded us once again that the best stories are often the ones nobody could have predicted.

Creativity has always been one of Sorcery’s defining pillars, and at SorceryFest it extended well beyond the tables.

 spent the weekend meeting players, signing cards, sharing stories behind their work, and offering original paintings and prints. For many attendees, these moments became just as memorable as the matches themselves. With players eager to have favorite cards signed, discover new pieces of artwork, and thank the illustrators whose work has helped shape the world of Sorcery, conversations often lasted far longer than the signatures themselves, turning brief encounters into lasting memories.

Three Grand Contests are now in the books, each telling a different story.

Washington DC introduced Organized Play 2026. Las Vegas showed the metagame refusing to settle. SorceryFest demonstrated just how vibrant the European community has become.

 on July 25-26 before the Organized Play season continues at 

, where both Limited and Constructed Grand Contests await. 

The realm keeps growing and we’ll see you at the next table.

 SorceryFest 2026: The Third Grand Contest of the Year

Alan Pollack

For more than three decades, Alan Pollack has helped define the look of fantasy gaming and this year, we’re thrilled to welcome him back to Gen Con, where he’ll be meeting players, signing cards, and debuting a brand-new Gen Con exclusive art print featuring art from 

Every Sorcery illustration starts the same way, with a brief, in this case the 

. The prompt called for it to feel like a spiritual successor to 

, one of Alan’s personal favorites. “It also said it was to be a Viking shapeshifter. That’s what I focused on. It’s not really a complicated piece,” Pollack shares, “I just tried to get the pose right. Basically, a berserk Viking bear! It doesn’t get much more fun than that, right?!”

That confident silhouette became the heart of the painting, capturing the raw, bestial fury that defines Bearserker.

While the towering figure came naturally, the environment required a different approach. “I wanted there to be detail, but I also wanted to keep the contrast low. I tried to keep the overall palette subdued and muted, which isn’t something I do very often,” Pollack emphasizes.

The results are a painting that immediately draws your eye to the central figure, while still providing the context necessary to give it firm footing in the realm, creating the perfect icy conditions for a minion found in the Frost Mage deck.

While Alan is adept at both digital and traditional media, for Sorcery, with our emphasis on hand-painted art, he notes that traditional painting offers several significant advantages, sharing “I’m way more comfortable with traditional mediums, it allows me to paint the underpainting in acrylic in a very loose, textural way. Then when I apply oils over them, I can adjust the transparency, allowing some of the texture to be visible. It almost creates an effect that’s hard to decipher.”

This year’s convention marks Alan’s first Gen Con in more than two decades, and he’ll be bringing his limited-edition Bearserker prints to the Erik’s Curiosa booth to celebrate his return, alongside Sorcery artist Drew Tucker.

Whether you’re looking to have your Sorcery cards signed, revisit artwork from across his remarkable career, or take home this exclusive print, this is a rare opportunity to celebrate the return of one of fantasy gaming's influential artists to Gen Con.

Meet Alan Pollack at Gen Con 2026

Mattias Frisk

Join us for a quick, informal check-in with the Erik’s Curiosa team as we catch up on all things 

 with Jesse, chatting with Erik Olofsson himself, and revealing fresh art with 

Round the Realm - Studio Check in (April)

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SorceryFest 2026: The Third Grand Contest of the Year

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