The PennZone

HERNDON, Va. - PennZone -- American Mensa will bring one of the country's most respected tabletop game competitions to the Washington, D.C., area April 16–19, as Mind Games^® 2026 takes place in Herndon, Va.

The four-day event, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Washington Dulles Airport, brings together Mensa members and their guests from across the country to evaluate and select the year's best new board and card games. At the conclusion of the competition, seven standout titles will be awarded the coveted Mensa Select® seal. This year's event is being sponsored by the Mensa Foundation.

A Mensa Admission Test session will be held prior to the event from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. The test is offered at a 50 percent discount. Learn more and register.

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Founded in 1990, Mind Games has become a trusted benchmark within the tabletop industry. Winning games are recognized for their originality, play appeal, clarity of rules, and overall value — and often go on to become bestsellers.

Judges at the event play and evaluate a curated group of new-to-market games, providing detailed feedback directly to manufacturers. The process offers companies meaningful consumer insights while giving participants a first look at emerging titles. While the atmosphere is energetic and social, the evaluation process is rigorous. Hundreds of experienced players assess each game across multiple criteria, ensuring that Mensa Select winners reflect both quality design and lasting enjoyment.

The global board game market continues to grow, driven by renewed interest in social, in-person play. Events like Mind Games highlight the creativity and innovation shaping the industry.

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Winners of the 2026 Mensa Select awards will be announced following the conclusion of judging.

About Mensa Select^®: Awarded annually by judges comprised of Mensa members, the Mensa Select seal indicates that a game is distinctive, challenging, and thoughtfully designed. These games are a good value for the price, easy to comprehend and play, and, above all, fun! Look for the Mensa Select seal when shopping.

About American Mensa: American Mensa is an organization open to anyone who scores in the top 2 percent on an accepted standardized intelligence test. Mensa has 45,000 members in the United States and more than 140,000 members globally. For more information about American Mensa, visit americanmensa.org.