Houston Arcade Expo 2026: Free Play Until 2am and Why My Feet Already Hate Me

I’m heading to Houston for the 24th annual Arcade Expo (Nov 13–15 at the Marriott Westchase) and my body is already filing a formal complaint. Hundreds of pinball machines, classic and modern arcades, consoles, and penny machines all on free play. Plus a Barrels of Fun factory tour, tournaments, late-night bands and DJs, cosplay, a free parking-lot swap meet, and the usual beautiful chaos of way too many grown adults who still get excited about skill shots. This one’s the pre-show hype episode. What I’m looking forward to, what I’m hoping to film and stream, who I want to talk to, and the very real possibility that I will over-commit to “one more game” until 2am and regret it by breakfast. Same energy as the Pinball Expo debriefs, just with more Texas humidity and fewer excuses about being “just walking the floor.”If you’re going, come find me. If you’re not, listen anyway and judge my life choices from the comfort of your own couch.