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Whether you’re a gamer or not, everyone can (and should) grab a brush and paint a miniature at some point in their lives. Yet not everyone can win a Golden Demon; the annual award from Games Workshop that celebrates the true master artists of Warhammer miniature painting.
Recently, GW announced all the categories for the 2024 Golden Demons, as well as offering more info on when and where the awards will be taking place.
So grab your primer can and get your sprues ready, as we apply two thin coats to all the details.
What are the Golden Demons?
First started in 1987 in the UK, The Golden Demons are an annual Warhammer painting competition put on by Games Workshop in conjunction with their Citadel Paints brand. The awards are open to painters of all skill levels from the UK, Europe and North America, with categories focused on individual miniatures, dioramas and squads from the world of Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar and other Games Workshop properties.
The panel of judges comes from GW’s studio staff and ‘Eavy Metal painting team and assess each entry on technical skill, atmosphere, quality, consistency and narrative. Winners in each category receive the coveted Golden Demon trophy (with Silver and Bronze statutes for runners up) with an overall best-in-show winner receiving a life-sized blade known as the Slayer Sword.
When and Where are the 2024 Golden Demons?
The 2024 Golden Demon Awards will take place in two rounds. The first round will occur at AdeptiCon in Schaumburg, Illinois, from March 20th – 24th. The second round will be held in at SPIEL Essen (also known as the Essen Game Fair) in Essen, Germany from October 3rd – 6th.
Notably, AdeptiCon is one of the world’s largest annual Warhammer gaming conventions, while the Essen Game Fair is one of the largest overall gaming conventions. Both receive tens of thousands of visitors and are major venues for announcing new Games Workshop products and books.
What are the Golden Demon 2024 Categories?
According to Games Workshop, the 2024 Golden Demon awards will have 14 categories in total, as follows:
- Single Miniature (Warhammer 40K)
- Unit or Kill Team (Warhammer 40K)
- Large Miniature or Vehicle (Warhammer 40K)
- Single Miniature (Age of Sigmar)
- Unit or Warcry Warband (Age of Sigmar)
- Large Miniature or War Machine (Age of Sigmar)
- Warhammer Underworlds
- Warhammer: The Horus Heresy
- Warhammer: The Old World
- Middle-earth
- Blood Bowl
- Necromunda
- Epic Scale
- Diorama & Duel
There will also be two bonus categories. The first is Youngbloods, which is open to painters under the age of 15. The second is The Open Competition, where painters can submit single miniatures, busts, larger scale miniatures, small armies or themed collections and pretty much any other type of entry that doesn’t fit anywhere else. Interestingly, this latter category is also open to Games Workshop employees. And while both categories will include Gold, Silver and Bronze Golden Demon trophies, winners are not eligible for the Slayer Sword.
Notably, 2024 will also be the first time that Kill Team and Warcry Warbands have been included in the awards. Additionally, Vehicles and Large Models are now grouped together to be able to include options from related Games Workshop games, including: Necromunda, Blood Bowl, Legions Imperialis, Adeptus Titanicus and Aeronautica Imperialis.
You can find the full category list with more detailed descriptions on the Citadel website.
How do you enter the 2024 Golden Demon Awards?
Anyone can enter the 2024 Golden, but there are a few things to bear in mind. First, entries must be made out of Games Workshop products (although conversions and scratch-builds are allowed). The models don’t have to adhere to in-game rules but must be fully built, attached to a base and submitted in-person (at either AdeptiCon or SPIEL Essen) along with a completed form. You can only submit one entry per category (although you can enter into numerous categories).
Additionally, it’s worth noting that winners must be in attendance at the final award ceremony in order to receive their trophy or be given the coveted Slayer Sword.
If you’re interested in submitting your entry, you should definitely read Game’s Workshop’s Terms & Conditions and you can find the official Golden Demon entry form here. GW has also put together a detailed article that offers some Tips & Tricks for entrants.
Who Won the Golden Demon Slayer Sword in 2023?
In 2023, the Golden Demon Slayer Sword went to Albert Moreto Font, a Spanish painter and sculptor based in London and Tokyo. Font won with his “King of Lumineth” miniature, which had claimed Gold in the Age of Sigmar Single Miniature category.
You can see the full list of 2023 winners here.
Final Thoughts
The Golden Demon Awards are really a unique experience in that they show just what Warhammer’s fan base is capable of achieving, and serve as incredible inspiration for new and experienced painters alike.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on the 2024 entries and announcing winners here later in the year. In the meantime, below is a video from Games Workshop that offers a bit more information on what to expect with this year’s Golden Demons.
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Rebecca Meyer is a Senior Writer located in Boston. Her favorite Warhammer 40K faction is a toss up between Adepta Sororitas and Genestealers. When she’s not reading, writing or painting miniatures, she spends time hiking with her dog Chewie.
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