Insomnia 72: UK’s Biggest Esports Festival Just Keeps Getting Better

It’s no big secret that gaming conventions and expos are still recovering from the pandemic-driven shutdown that effectively laid waste to in-person events. One event that managed to pull its way out of lockdown quite spectacularly is the Insomnia Gaming Festival, the largest event of its kind in the United Kingdom. It’s a twice-yearly event that welcomes tens of thousands of visitors, and while it’s not at the level of its pre-COVID grandeur, it’s getting better with every iteration.

I took myself up to Birmingham to attend Insomnia 72, the spring edition of 2024’s IGF circuit, celebrating my tenth year attending the show. There are high expectations for the summer showcase that typically takes place in August or September, but the spring celebration certainly didn’t disappoint.

Don’t Sleep on Insomnia

If you’re a gamer living in (or near) the United Kingdom, the Insomnia Gaming Festival is a must-see showcase. It’s the ultimate event for gamers and esports fans, boasting exhibitions from some of the biggest names in gaming, esports events on a grand stage, cosplay parades, and a diverse merchandise marketplace. There’s a place for almost every competitive game in the esports industry at Insomnia – this weekend alone, the following titles are being represented with tournaments, many of which boast cash prizes:

• Call of Duty
• Overwatch 2
• VALORANT
• Counter-Strike 2
• Rocket League
• League of Legends
• Fortnite
• Tekken 8
• Tarkov Arena

I was particularly pleased to see Escape from Tarkov Arena well represented at Insomnia 72. As one of my favourite titles, I was blown away by the reception laid out by HUNT, an esports organisation with a keen focus on the Escape from Tarkov ecosystem. There was a large, themed area that welcomed players, hosted mini-tournaments, and allowed fans to network with creators and talented gamers.

I’m proud to say that I competed in my first Tarkov Arena LAN tournament and won without dropping a single round – not bad!

It’s not all just about esports, though. There’s a huge section for tabletop games, family-friendly areas, VR booths, career guidance panels, and so much more.

All About The Games

Insomnia is a gaming event through and through. There’s such a solid vibe at the showcase, that it’s hard to not fall in love with the event. From Monster handing out hundreds of free cans to top-tier hardware companies running competitions throughout the weekend, there’s a lot to gain at Insomnia without spending any extra money. Everyone is having a blast, and it’s a hugely accessible and welcoming event.

There’s a special commendation to be handed to the cosplayers at Insomnia 72. I attended the showcase on Friday and treated myself to a listen-in of the ‘Cosplay Masquerade’, which saw talented creators take to a stage and flaunt their outfits and performance skills in front of an audience of hundreds. It was electrifying and hugely entertaining.

I’m eager to get back to the showcase in September with the next iteration. It should be a celebration of the event’s twenty-fifth anniversary, so we’ll see how it goes!

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