# TEXAS PINBALL FESTIVAL 2026 **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2026-03-19 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2026/03/19/texas-pinball-festival-2026/ --- ## Analysis Pinball News provided comprehensive coverage of Texas Pinball Festival 2026 setup and preparation (February 20-22 in Frisco, Texas). The show featured a dragon theme, introduced a new TechDay event for machine diagnostics and repair education, and showcased exhibits from major manufacturers including Stern Pinball, Jersey Jack Pinball, and Warped Pinball. The article documents the setup process from Wednesday through Thursday, highlighting venue layout, vendor preparations, and tournament infrastructure. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Texas Pinball Festival 2026 dates are February 20-22, 2026 — _Article title and opening section explicitly state dates_ - [HIGH] The venue is Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center in Frisco, Texas — _Opening section provides full address: 7600 John Q Hammons Drive, Frisco, TX_ - [HIGH] Paul McKinney made numerous changes to show floor layout and events schedule for TPF 2026 — _Article explicitly states McKinney 'had made numerous changes to all aspects of the show'_ - [HIGH] TechDay was a new event introduced at TPF 2026 offering machine diagnostics and repair with owner education — _Dedicated section describing TechDay as 'a new event' with $80 ticket price and discounted replacement components_ - [HIGH] Expected temperatures for show weekend peak at around 37°C (98.6°F) — _Article states 'temperatures for the show weekend expected to peak at around 37°C (98.6°F)'_ - [HIGH] Tournament directors for TPF 2026 are Elizabeth Dronet, Kevin Stone, Louis Marx, and Ken Kemp — _Article explicitly names all four tournament directors_ - [HIGH] Pinball News visited Barrels of Fun and Multimorphic facilities before attending TPF 2026 — _Opening narrative: 'we could visit David van Es and the team at Barrels of Fun, before driving north via Multimorphic's factory'_ - [HIGH] The dragon was the theme motif for TPF 2026, incorporated into logo, merchandise, and venue decoration — _Article states 'The theme of this year's show was dragons' with multiple references to dragon imagery_ ### Notable Quotes > "The theme of this year's show was 'dragons'. The event logo was based on a dragon, dragon-themed pinballs have their own section of the show, dragons are on the show merchandise, while dragon sculpts were visible around the venue." > — **Pinball News**, Opening section > _Establishes the creative theme for TPF 2026 and its integration across multiple show elements_ > "A new event, TechDay, ran throughout Wednesday. This allowed machine owners to bring their pinball to the show where an allocated technician would diagnose and, where possible, repair the faults there and then." > — **Pinball News**, Wednesday section > _Describes a significant new service offering at TPF 2026 combining technical repair with owner education_ > "The machine's owner was involved in the repairs, so that they could learn the fault-finding and remedial techniques for themselves." > — **Pinball News**, Wednesday section > _Clarifies the educational component of TechDay as a learning opportunity, not just repair service_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Texas Pinball Festival | event | Major annual pinball industry trade show and tournament held in Frisco, Texas on February 20-22, 2026 | | Paul McKinney | person | Texas Pinball Festival organizer who made significant changes to show floor layout and events schedule for 2026 | | Barrels of Fun | company | Boutique pinball manufacturer visited by Pinball News crew before TPF 2026; David van Es mentioned as team member | | Multimorphic | company | Pinball manufacturer with factory in Round Rock, Texas; visited by Pinball News crew before TPF 2026 | | Gerry Stellenberg | person | Associated with Multimorphic factory operations | | Stern Pinball | company | Major pinball manufacturer exhibiting at TPF 2026 through Fun! vendor stand | | Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Premium pinball manufacturer with exhibit and machines displayed at TPF 2026 | | Warped Pinball | company | Pinball company demonstrating connected system at TPF 2026 | | Pinball Traders | company | Vendor setting up stand at TPF 2026 | | Elizabeth Dronet | person | Tournament Director for TPF 2026 | | Kevin Stone | person | Tournament Director for TPF 2026 | | Louis Marx | person | Tournament Director for TPF 2026 | | Ken Kemp | person | Tournament Director for TPF 2026 | | Pinball News | organization | Pinball media outlet providing live coverage and reporting from TPF 2026 | | Fun! | company | Vendor showcasing latest Stern Pinball machines at TPF 2026 | ### Topics - **Primary:** Event logistics and setup, TPF 2026 venue and theme, TechDay service event, Manufacturer exhibits and vendor participation - **Secondary:** Tournament infrastructure and organization, Pre-show manufacturer facility visits ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) ### Signals - **[event_signal]** Paul McKinney implemented significant changes to TPF 2026 floor layout and event schedule, suggesting strategic evolution of show format and attendee experience (confidence: high) — Article states McKinney 'had made numerous changes to all aspects of the show, from the floor layout to the events schedule' - **[event_signal]** Introduction of TechDay as new show event offering machine diagnostics, repair, and owner technical education at $80 per ticket with discounted parts pricing (confidence: high) — Dedicated TechDay coverage describing technician-led repairs, owner involvement, and pricing structure - **[event_signal]** Dragon theme integrated across show branding, merchandise, venue decoration, and machine categorization, suggesting strategic creative direction (confidence: high) — Article describes dragon motif in logo, merchandise, venue sculptures, and machine sections - **[market_signal]** Major manufacturers (Stern Pinball via Fun!, Jersey Jack Pinball, Warped Pinball) and vendors (Pinball Traders) actively exhibiting and setting up at TPF 2026 (confidence: high) — Multiple references to vendor setup activities for Stern, JJP, Warped, and Pinball Traders - **[content_signal]** Pinball News conducting comprehensive on-site coverage including pre-event manufacturer facility visits (Barrels of Fun, Multimorphic) and detailed show setup documentation (confidence: high) — Article documents multi-day coverage from manufacturer visits through Thursday setup, with plans for continued coverage - **[event_signal]** Four designated Tournament Directors (Elizabeth Dronet, Kevin Stone, Louis Marx, Ken Kemp) managing multiple tournament formats with dedicated upstairs venue space (confidence: high) — Article explicitly lists tournament directors and describes separate tournament room with registration and trophy infrastructure - **[community_signal]** TPF 2027 dates already announced during 2026 setup phase, suggesting early calendar planning for attendees (confidence: medium) — Article notes 'banners were already announcing the dates for the 2027 show' --- ## Transcript HomeSHOWSTEXAS PINBALL FESTIVAL 2026 Date: 20th - 22nd February 2026 Location: Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center, 7600 John Q Hammons Drive, Frisco, TX, USA Welcome to the Pinball News coverage of this year’s Texas Pinball Festival. We are back in Frisco at the Frisco Convention Center and the adjoining Embassy Suites hotel. We got to Texas on Monday, flying in to Houston so we could visit David David Van Es and the team at Barrels of Fun, before driving north via Multimorphic’s factory in Round Rock to meet Gerry Stellenberg and the crew. After a cold start to the week, things are warming up nicely, with temperatures for the show weekend expected to peak at around 37°C (98.6°F). Wednesday We arrived in Frisco on Wednesday evening, although the show doesn’t open to the public until Friday afternoon. Even so, set-up in the main hall had begun. Texas Pinball Festival organiser, Paul McKinney, had made numerous changes to all aspects of the show, from the floor layout to the events schedule. ![Paul McKinney](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/002-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) Paul McKinney You can hear him talk about those and his plans for this year’s Texas Pinball Festival in our February Pinball Industry News PINcast, available right now in our PINcasts section. The theme of this year’s show was ‘dragons’. The event logo was based on a dragon, dragon-themed pinballs have their own section of the show, dragons are on the show merchandise, while dragon sculpts were visible around the venue, as we will see a little later. ![The dragon motif is included on all this year's branded merchandise](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/006-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) The dragon motif is included on all this year’s branded merchandise A new event, TechDay, ran throughout Wednesday. This allowed machine owners to bring their pinball to the show where an allocated technician would diagnose and, where possible, repair the faults there and then. The machine’s owner was involved in the repairs, so that they could learn the fault-finding and remedial techniques for themselves. ![TechDay repairs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/003-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) TechDay repairs ![TechDay repairs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/004-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) TechDay repairs A ticket for TechDay cost $80, while replacement components were charged for at a discounted rate. ![More TechDay repairs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/005-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) More TechDay repairs Thursday By Thursday morning the main show hall has begun to fill out, with more machines and stand furniture arriving and the show banners hung from the ceiling. ![The show hall on Thursday morning](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/101-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) The show hall on Thursday morning ![Fun! were setting up their stand to showcase the latest Stern Pinball machines](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/112-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) Fun! were setting up their stand to showcase the latest Stern Pinball machines ![Jersey Jack Pinball machines are here too](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/114-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) Jersey Jack Pinball machines are here too ![Pinball Traders were setting up their stand](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/113-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) Pinball Traders were setting up their stand ![Warped Pinball will be demonstrating their connected system](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/115-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) Warped Pinball will be demonstrating their connected system The loading doors were in constant use and vehicles disgorged their contents before quickly vacating the space to allow the next exhibitor to enter. ![Unloading some of the stand decoration](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/102-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) Unloading some of the stand decoration The show floor plan was displayed by the entrance, guiding machine owners and vendors to their specific areas. ![The floor plan by the entry doors](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/103-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) The floor plan by the loading doors The show isn’t confined to the main hall though. There are multiple machines and vendors in the corridor outside. ![Setting up machines and vendor stands in one of the corridors](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/104-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) Setting up machines and vendor stands in one of the corridors ![What fearful beast might be lurking inside this packing material?](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/105-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) What fearful fiery beast might be lurking inside this packing material? There is another, lesser-seen area for the Texas Pinball Festival, which is located upstairs in the Convention Center. This is where the many pinball tournaments are held. These are run by the Tournament Directors, Elizabeth Dronet, Kevin Stone, Louis Marx and Ken Kemp, When we visited the room on Thursday around midday, most of the tournament machines were yet to arrive. ![The previous years' winners are displayed outside the tournaments room](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/107-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) The previous years’ winners are displayed outside the tournaments room ![Inside the tournaments room](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/109-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) Inside the tournaments room ![The registration desk](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/110-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) The registration desk ![Trophies for the top four in the Texas Wizards tournament](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/108-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) Trophies for the top four in the Texas Wizards tournament Although this year’s Texas Pinball Festival had yet to begin, banners were already announcing the dates for the 2027 show. ![Put the dates in your diary now](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/shows/texas-pinball-festival-2026/106-texas-pinball-festival-2026.jpg) Put the dates in your diary now We’ll be back shortly with much more from the set-up and the opening of the 2026 Texas Pinball Festival in Frisco, Texas. 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