May 1st – 2nd, 2026
Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Update 12/18/25: Please note, due to unprecedented demand, North American Premodern Champs 2025 sold out in a mere 90 seconds. We honestly did not expect this and are doing our best to make adjustments based off what happened on 12/14. A new Hardcast episode has been released to talk about some changes we are making, namely:
- Refund window for attendees (first time in LC history)
- Waitlist information and window
- Plans for the future
You can find the episode at any of the following links:
Apple Music: https://tinyurl.com/26tkm25h
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/ytncb2k7
Youtube: https://youtu.be/CRXTtZsjwHQ
Thanks everyone ❤
WHAT IS LOBSTERCON?
LOBSTERCON is a community-driven Magic: The Gathering event held in Greater Boston, celebrating the Old School and Premodern format. Since 2018, it has stood as New England Old School’s premier gathering and an annual charity fundraiser for Room to Grow, a Boston-based nonprofit organization.
In recent years, Premodern has become a defining part of the LOBSTERCON experience—and in 2026, Duress Crew returns to run the North American Premodern Championship at LOBSTERCON!
(Please note that this is not the standard Old School LOBSTERCON event, happening on September 18-19, 2026.)
An entry fee of $95 grants access to all LOBSTERCON activities, including the two-day MAIN EVENT—the North American Premodern Championship—on Friday, May 1st and Saturday, May 2nd, as well as two side events on Saturday, May 2nd: Premodern Unchained (hosted by the Rochester Royals) and Enemy Fetch Premodern (hosted by Order of the Sacred Torch).
Registration for Premodern LOBSTERCON 2026 will open at 12:00 PM EST on Sunday, December 14th, 2025. Registration will be capped at 320 players and will be handled via Spicerack.
EVENTS SCHEDULE:
Thursday, April 30th:
Pre-LOBSTERCON Premodern Precursor hosted by the Red Line Treefolk:
Arriving in Boston early and want to warm up before the main event? Join the Red Line Treefolk at Pandemonium Games for a standard Swiss tournament with a cut to Top 8.
Details on entry fee and prizing to come.
Please note that this event is separate from LOBSTERCON 2026 registration and is not covered by LOBSTERCON registration.
FAQ:
- Where is the shop? How do I get there? Pandemonium is about a 20-minute walk from the Dante. If you’re taking the T, it’s roughly a 3-minute walk from Central Square on the Red Line.
- Are gold-bordered cards legal? Yes! In true Premodern style, gold-bordered cards will be legal to play at the event.
Update 12/18/25: Due to unprecedented demand this event is SOLD OUT. We will be looking to see about setting up a social event for attendees who will travel in on Thursday and missed registration.
Friday, May 1st:
North American Premodern Championship hosted by Duress Crew:
10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
The largest Premodern event in North America returns for the 2026 North American Premodern Championship! This year, the main event will span two days.
- Day 1 (Friday): 9 rounds of Swiss
- Cut to Day 2: Players with 18 match points advance
- Day 2 (Saturday): 5 rounds of Swiss followed by a cut to Top 8
Deck construction follows official Premodern rules. Gold-bordered (WC, CE/IE) cards are allowed, and reprints are permitted. No proxies.
At approximately 2:00 PM, a consolation bracket will be available for players who do not qualify for Day 2. The number of rounds will depend on registration size.
Saturday, May 2nd:
Premodern Unchained hosted by the Rochester Royals:
10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Want to push the boundaries of the format? Play with banned Premodern cards by adding up to four copies of one banned non-ante card to your deck. Standard Swiss pairings with a cut to Top 8.
Proxy policy: Proxies are only permitted for banned-list cards in this event. The eligible cards include:
Balance, Brainstorm, Channel, Demonic Consultation, Earthcraft, Entomb, Flash, Force of Will, Goblin Recruiter, Grim Monolith, Land Tax, Mana Vault, Memory Jar, Mind Twist, Mind’s Desire, Mystical Tutor, Necropotence, Strip Mine, Tendrils of Agony, Time Spiral, Tolarian Academy, Vampiric Tutor, Windfall, Worldgorger Dragon, Yawgmoth’s Bargain, Yawgmoth’s Will.
Enemy Fetch Land Premodern hosted by the Order of The Sacred Torch:
10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Ever wanted to play Premodern with an upgraded mana base? Now you can—with enemy-color fetch lands!
Proxy policy: Proxies are only permitted for the following fetchlands:
Arid Mesa, Bloodstained Mire, Flooded Strand, Marsh Flats, Misty Rainforest, Polluted Delta, Scalding Tarn, Verdant Catacombs, Windswept Heath, Wooded Foothills.
North American Premodern Championship Day 2 hosted by Duress Crew:
10:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Day 2 continues for players who cut with 18 points or greater. There will be 5 rounds of Swiss followed by a cut to Top 8.
Deck construction follows official Premodern rules. Gold-bordered (WC, CE/IE) cards are allowed, and reprints are permitted. No proxies.
At approximately 2:30 PM, a consolation bracket will be made available for all players who dropped from events. Round count will depend on registration volume.
Proxy Requirements for Side Events:
All proxies must meet the following requirements:
- Full color
- Original Magic art
- Clearly identifiable as a proxy
We are working to provide up to four proxies for players in the side events. To facilitate this, we will send a survey to all registered attendees in the coming months—keep an eye on the email you used for registration.
FOOD AND BEVERAGES
Friday: Lobster rolls from Kelly’s Roast Beef will be available for preorder approximately 10 days before the event.
Saturday: Complimentary pizza for all paid registrants.
All other meals are bring your own food, and a full-service bar will be available throughout the weekend.
VENDORS
We’re excited to welcome Tales of Adventure as our vendor this year, offering excellent deals on your favorite Premodern cards! A wide selection of staples and playables will be available for purchase and trade throughout the weekend (Friday and Saturday).
You can also place event pickup orders online and collect them at LOBSTERCON: https://www.toamagic.com
ARTISTS AND ALTERISTS
We’re thrilled to welcome several renowned Premodern-era Magic artists to Premodern LOBSTERCON 2026! These artists will be available for signatures, card alters, and merchandise sales, and will share their experiences with the community.
More artists to be announced soon – stay tuned!
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Closest airport: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
We have secured a hotel block at the Boston Marriott Cambridge with a base rate of $209 per night (excluding taxes and fees). Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis—book early, as the block will sell out quickly. Rooms can be booked here: https://app.marriott.com/reslink?id=1762453433399&key=GRP&app=resvlink
The tournament venue is located in Kendall Square, easily accessible via the MBTA Red Line.
All-day parking is available at One Kendall Square Garage, which offers parking validation for LOBSTERCON attendees.
REGISTRATION LINK AND INFORMATION
Registration opens at 12:00 PM EST on Sunday, December 14, 2025, and will close once the 320-player cap is reached. A waitlist will be available for late signups.
We highly encourage reviewing our Registration FAQ.
Registration will be available here via Spicerack.
FUTURE OF NORTH AMERICAN PREMODERN CHAMPIONSHIP
As much as we love the Dante and the space they provide for us, demand for the North American Premodern Championship is higher than ever and we are quickly hitting capacity for the venue year after year. There’s a real possibility we have to move to a larger venue.
We’re gathering feedback for what the future of what the NA PM Champs will look like in 2027 and beyond. We value everyone’s feedback so please fill out this survey. For further details, listen to Nick and Jay discuss on our mid-year update “The State of The Crewnion” on Hardcast. The episode can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, and via RSS.
Thanks everyone! We’ll see you in Cambridge!
The Sentinel 