Last updated on March 6, 2025
Command Tower | Illustration by Ryan Yee
Magic: The Gathering's CommandFests are set to return in 2025, offering players worldwide opportunities to engage in the Commander format. As per the Wizards of the Coast (WotC) article, the currently announced events for the 2025's CommandFest Lineup are:
- April 18–20, 2025, in Orlando: Hosted by CoolStuffInc.
- May 17–18, 2025, in Birmingham, England: Hosted by Axion Now
- May 24–25, 2025, in Shanghai: Hosted by Kadou.
- June 28–29, 2025, in Sydney: Hosted by Let's Play Games
- July 11–13, 2025, in Bonn: Hosted by JK Entertainment
- July 11–13, 2025, in Worcester: Hosted by TJ Cafe and Games
CommandFests are conventions dedicated to Commander – Magic's most popular format – and tailored to accommodate a wide range of player preferences, from ticketed events to free-play areas designed for spontaneous matches.
CommandFest Promotional Cards
Command Tower | Illustration by Evan Shipard
Exclusive promotional cards are one of CommandFests' highlights. For the early 2025 CommandFests, non-foil and traditional foil versions of the Reliquary Tower promo card, illustrated by Carissa Susilo, will be available while supplies last.
EDIT: According to the official announcement, different promos will be available for later events this year.
CommandFests are also a great place to meet Magic's best artists, and a chance to get your card signed by your favorite illustrator!
Spotlight on CoolStuffCon Orlando
CommandFest Orlando will be part of CoolStuffCon Orlando, scheduled for April 18–20, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando.
The CoolStuffCon itself is free to enter. The Tier 1 CommandFest Package costs $79.99, and the Tier 2 (which also includes entry to the cEDH $5k on Saturday 19th) is priced at $99.99.
CommandFest Orlando's featured artists include:
- Jason Engle
- Kieran Yanner
- Chris Seaman
- Nana Qi
CommandFest Shanghai by Kadou
Kadou, a notable MTG event organizer in China, will host the Shanghai CommandFest on May 24–25, 2025. Their website is in Chinese; from an automatic translation, it looks like there aren't too many details published yet (like which artists will attend, or what events will take place).
Late April: Commander Brackets Playtesting at CommandFests?
Commander Brackets, introduced on February 11, 2025, as detailed in WotC's Introducing Commander Brackets article, are an optional pre-game discussion system designed by Wizards of the Coast and the Commander Format Panel. The Commander Brackets system categorizes EDH decks into five power levels (Exhibition, Core, Upgraded, Optimized, and cEDH) to facilitate balanced games and rule 0 conversations, particularly in untrusted play settings.
In the announcement, WotC's Gavin Verhey said about the timing: “The goal here, provided the system works, will be to come back with one big article in late April that both rolls out the full system and any unbans all together.”
Since the Brackets are currently in beta testing, and WotC is actively seeking feedback to refine and improve it, it seems very plausible that CommandFest events may serve as testing platforms for this new system. In their “Commander Brackets: Your Deck Is More Than a Number” article, Commander Format Panel member Charlotte Sable specifically mentioned CommandFest as a good place to use the Commander Brackets.
CommandFest Orlando might be the first time people actually play with cards currently on the banlist, so the weekend might end up being a battleground to test out the fully unveiled Bracket system.
Towering Conclusion
Reliquary Tower | Illustration by Carissa Susilo
CommandFests provide something for everyone, and the possibility to potentially playtest the new Commander Brackets system adds an interesting twist to the 2025 events.
As per WotC's official announcement, there will be more events later this year – but for now, mark your calendars:
CommandFest Orlando: April 18–20, 2025, presented by CoolStuffInc
CommandFest Birmingham, England: May 17–18, 202, presented by Axion Now
CommandFest Shanghai: May 24–25, 2025, presented by Kadou
CommandFest Sydney: June 28–29, 2025, presented by Let's Play Games
CommandFest Bonn, Germany: July 11–13, 2025, presented by JK Entertainment
CommandFest Worcester: July 11–13, 2025, presented by TJ Cafe and Games
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