From Duncan to Sam Lenz, get the inside scoop on the AdeptiCon’s 2026 AdeptiCup Army Showcase, who can enter, and who’s judging it!
If you’ve ever drybrushed until your wrist cramped or spent an entire weekend building a display board with more foam than actual miniatures, the AdeptiCon 2026 AdeptiCup Army Showcase is your kind of party.
It’s where the best-painted armies across all game systems now square off; not with dice, but with dazzling paint jobs and show-stopping setups.
We’re breaking down who’s painting, who’s judging, and why Long War Doubles (we can hope) might just be the sleeper hit that brings home the trophy.
- The AdeptiCup got cleaned up for 2026: the packet is tighter, the rules are clearer, and a lot of the old fuzzy bits look way easier to follow.
- The awards got a real hobby upgrade: Best Display Board is now Best Display, and Best Painted is finally its own category instead of getting buried inside the bigger showcase score.
- The Showcase moved upstairs: after sitting in the first-floor Grand Ballroom Foyer in 2025, the 2026 event heads to Exhibit Hall E on the third floor.
- The judge lineup is stacked: Sam Lenz, Courtney DeVries, Jason Craze, Duncan Rhodes, and Dave Taylor are handling the big calls, so yeah, the paint standards are not exactly casual.
- Long War Doubles gets two shots at glory: the event can nominate two teams to the Showcase, which gives it a legit chance to sneak in, show off, and maybe walk off with the traveling trophy.
What Is the AdeptiCup Army Showcase Anyway?
Updated on March 12th, 2026, by Rob Baer, with the latest from this year’s showcase.
Every year, AdeptiCon rolls around, and hobbyists start furiously highlighting their armies, stress-flocking bases, and constructing display boards that defy the laws of gravity and good sense. And this year? It’s shaping up to be an absolute feast for the eyes.
One of the standout events to keep an eye on is the AdeptiCon 2026 AdeptiCup Army Showcase; a celebration of craftsmanship, creativity, and, let’s be honest, probably some very tired airbrush compressors.
What’s Changing for the 2026 AdeptiCup?
The biggest change for the 2026 AdeptiCup is how much cleaner the packet feels. The structure is tighter, the language is more direct, and a lot of the fuzzy gray areas from before have been spelled out. The core idea is still the same, though. The best-looking armies from participating events make the Showcase, present to the judges, and one team still takes home the big traveling trophy. The difference now is that the process is much clearer.
Awards Get a Useful Update
The prize list got a small refresh for 2026.
- Best Display Board is now just Best Display
- Best Painted is a brand-new award
That first change feels more like housekeeping than a major shake-up. The real story is Best Painted getting its own category, which finally gives pure hobby and paintwork its own spotlight instead of forcing it to compete entirely inside the broader display category.
Event Rules Are More Specific
The event packet also does a better job of laying out how armies get considered for the Showcase.
- Teams at participating events are automatically considered unless they opt out
- Organizers still nominate the standout armies
- Showcase slots now depend on event size, available space, and army quality
That extra detail makes the whole system feel a lot more polished and easier to follow.
New Showcase Location for 2026
There is also a location change this year.
- 2025: First-floor Grand Ballroom Foyer
- 2026: Exhibit Hall E on the third floor
Plus, with a no-gifts-for-judges rule, the 2026 packet comes across as a much more buttoned-up version of the event.
New Judges for 2026
The panel has changed from 2025, with Duncan Rhodes and Dave Taylor returning while Louise Suggs, Eric Locke, and Victoria Lamb rotate out for a new mix of heavy hitters.
This panel isn’t your average bunch of hobby nobodies. These are the big names:
- Sam Lenz – Competition painting wizard with Golden Demon and Crystal Brush chops to back it up.
- Courtney DeVries – International instructor, competition judge, and a big believer in creativity, storytelling, and strong technical basics.
- Jason Craze – Monument Hobbies founder, airbrush ace, and a guy who knows exactly how build quality and theme can make or break an army.
- Duncan Rhodes – Yes, that Duncan. Two Thin Coats himself.
- Dave Taylor – If it’s got paint on it, he’s probably painted one, or 12,000, just like it.
This squad has seen it all. They’re looking at your work with equal parts appreciation and laser-focused scrutiny. And they’re not just checking for clean lines, they’re taking in the whole story your army tells, from the paint and presentation to the board, theme, and overall wow factor.
A Whole Lot of Game Systems, One Giant Spotlight
So, what makes the AdeptiCup Army Showcase such a big deal? Simple. It’s the only event at AdeptiCon where the best-painted armies from across tons of game systems square off, not in a dice-fueled battle, but on pure aesthetic excellence. We’re talking:
- A Song of Ice and Fire Team Tournament
- Star Wars: Shatterpoint: Team Premier Showdown
- Marvel: Crisis Protocol Teams Tournament
- Star Wars: Legion Doubles
- Adeptus Titanicus: Doubles – The Ruin of Maerdan
- BattleTech Alpha Strike 350 Doubles Tournament
- Bolt Action Doubles
- Halo: Flashpoint Duos Tournament
- Horus Heresy: Grand Team Event
- Infinity Fireteam Duo Tournament
- Judgement Team Event
- Middle-earth SBG Friendly Doubles Tournament
- SAGA Grand Melee – Historical Doubles
- Warhammer 40,000 Kill Team Doubles Tournament
- Warhammer 40,000 Team Tournament
- Warhammer 40,000: The Long War Doubles
- Warhammer: Age of Sigmar Team Tournament
- Warhammer: The Old World Doubles
- Warmachine: 2-Player Doubles Tournament
- Warmachine: Americas Team Championship
It’s a mash-up of miniatures, paint styles, and game worlds that really shouldn’t make sense together; and yet, somehow, it totally does.
Adepticon Showcase: How It All Works
Army From AdeptiCon 2024
Each participating event sends forward its most jaw-dropping armies, handpicked by its tournament organizers. These aren’t casual nods. These are selections based on visual punch, storytelling, craftsmanship, and pure hobby swagger.
On Saturday night, things get real. Finalists gather in the Exhibit Hall E on the third floor, where the whole thing kicks off:
- 6:30 PM: Pre-Showcase Instructional Meeting
- 7:00 PM: Set-up for Showcase Finalists
- 8:00 PM: Viewing, Judging, People’s Choice Voting
- 10:00 PM: Awards Ceremony
- 11:00 PM: Tear-down
Showtime For Your Army
Each team will have a time slot to present their army to a panel of three judges. After all presentations, the judges will huddle up and pick the winner based on the full package.
What are they looking for? Everything that makes your display pop, including:
- Creative flair
- Paint job quality
- Storytelling on the table
- Eye-catching wow factor
- Technical skill
What Can You Win? Glad You Asked.
Army From AdeptiCon 2024
We all say it’s not about the prizes… but c’mon. The AdeptiCup Best of Show is a massive, traveling trophy awarded to the overall winner. And it gets displayed with pride at the winning game system’s event for the entire next year.
There are also awards for:
- AdeptiCup Best of Show: Overall Top Winner
- AdeptiCup Reserve Best of Show: Overall Runner-Up
- Commended Entries: Deserving the highest level of praise
- Best Skirmish: Best of small-format game systems
- Best Display: Display board earning the highest marks
- Best Painted: Focused on the painting of the miniatures
- People’s Choice: Voted on by event attendees
- Judge’s Choice: Each of the five judges’ personal favorite
Why We’re Stoked for the Long War Doubles
Army From AdeptiCon 2024
Let’s get selfish for a second: the Long War 40k Doubles is our jam. It’s a blast to run, full of wild teams, clever lists, and beautiful armies. But this year? We’re especially excited because we get to nominate two teams from our event to the Showcase (see last year’s awesome armies here!).
Two chances to represent. Two opportunities to stand among the best-painted armies at AdeptiCon. And if one of them takes the trophy home? Oh yes, we’re absolutely displaying it with a smug grin in 2027.
So, Should You Care? Absolutely.
Army From AdeptiCon 2024
If you’re heading to AdeptiCon with a lovingly painted army, don’t sleep on this. Even if you’re not aiming for the Showcase, knowing what’s possible can be a huge inspiration.
And if you do get tapped to join the Showcase? That’s no small thing. It means your work stands out in a sea of incredible talent. So bring your A-game, charge your camera, and maybe pack a lightbox.
We’ll be there, trying not to drool on your display board.
See All the Details on AdeptiCon 2026 Here!
Are you excited to check out all the amazing armies that will be on display for the Adepticup?
