Conventions can be overwhelming — believe us, we know! With Destination Star Trek Birmingham approaching we've been feverishly double-checking our schedules to make sure we don't miss a moment. The premiere European Star Trek convention will begin this week, running from October 25-27 at the NEC in Birmingham in the UK. Tickets can be purchased here, and it's best to do so now before you miss out!

Just last week, StarTrek.com was the first to announce that Sir Patrick Stewart, Wilson Cruz, and Anthony Rapp will be among the convention's attendees. They join George Takei, Anson Mount, Ethen Peck, Brent Spiner, and so many other members of the Star Trek family who will be making the trip across the pond.

Below, we've put together some of our must-see attractions, areas, guests, and more, to ensure that your DST experience is as fruitful as possible!

We are very pleased to announce that Hero Collector will be returning to Destination Star Trek to showcase the latest in the Star Trek The Official Starships Collection. Along with retailing the most comprehensive range of Starships ever sold, they will be previewing a variety of new issues, as well as a convention exclusive that European fans will want to line up for. Over the weekend you will be able to meet talented individuals who are responsible for the collections, as well as join in on some amazing signings that will be taking place on their stand. In addition to their booth, they will also be taking to the stage for some exclusive panels and announcements that will also be taking place over the weekend, and will be a must-see for all collectors!

The 200th UK edition of Star Trek magazine will be available first exclusively?at this year’s DST, this long running title can be found on the Forbidden Planet stand.?

Plus don’t miss the exclusive subs incentive of a free t-shirt when you subscribe. The t-shirt is exclusive to the show and isn't currently available anywhere else in the UK.

Forbidden Planet will be at DST with a great range of Books and Merchandise - including a massive selection of show-exclusive lines! Items are available to pre-order now.

We are excited to announce that Smiffys will be attending DST, exclusively selling official Star Trek dress-up. As a family business with over 125 years of business expertise, and with a 7000 strong product base and offices in China, Australia, and Europe, it’s easy to see why Smiffys has cemented itself as an industry favorite. As the UK’s leading retailer and distributor of all things dress-up and party, their Star Trek range is set to delight fans at the event this coming October.

To celebrate our second visit to DST in Birmingham we are releasing two limited edition metallic prints to celebrate our attendance. These limited edition metallic prints are exclusive to DST customers and are on a limited print run of only 100 each — each limited edition print is individually numbered. Alongside this, we have some exclusive products never before seen including some exclusive products in the UK for new series Picard. We will also be bringing brand new wall art products never before released in the UK again exclusively for DST visitors.

Just can't get enough Star Trek in your lives? Now you can watch some of your favorite episodes during the event! Episodes will play in the DST screening room throughout the convention. Check out the schedule to see if your favorite episode will be featured!

Even the most hearty warriors need to recharge from time to time. At DST you can just head over to our Klingon Zone, grab a bit to eat, and get ready to set off on your next mission. Don't forget to book your tickets so you don't have to miss out on all the fun your fellow Star Trek fans will be having!

We are delighted to announce that the Board Gaming Zone will be back bigger and better than ever! There will be a whole host of games to play across the weekend and all included for free as part of the event!

In addition, there will be an area for painting your own Attack Wing spacecraft and if you don’t have one then we can provide one for you which you can keep once painted, while stocks last! We will also have the Star Trek Role Playing game taking place all weekend for those wanting a longer challenge! All in all, the Destination Star Trek Board Gaming Zone is definitely a place to stop by, enjoy and maybe even end up crowned a tournament winner!

In addition to the awesome tabletop gaming there will also have our Retro Gaming Zone with consoles for free play throughout the weekend! You'll be able to test your skill on some of these titles:

The Museum returns with original props, costumes, artwork and production items used in the creation of Star Trek throughout the years including several new items joining the museum this year.

Jean-Luc Picard: The First Duty is a special exhibition showcasing original props, costumes, and other artefacts tracing Picard’s life and Starfleet career. Items on display include his cherished Ressikan flute, the legendary Picard family album, his Starfleet uniforms, models of ships Picard captained and all that remains of the “Borg Queen.” The gallery also features exclusive first looks at costumes and other items featured in the upcoming series, Star Trek: Picard.

Teaching with Trek features scholars and scientists from around the world who use Star Trek in the classroom and in the real world. Sessions will show how Star Trek is used to teach critical thinking skills, sensitivity to gender issues, empathy to ALS, real-world collective computing and more.

Una McCormack is the author of seven previous Star Trek novels: The Lotus Flower (part of The Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Hollow Men, The Never-Ending Sacrifice, Brinkmanship, The Missing, the New York Times bestseller The Fall: The Crimson Shadow, and Enigma Tales. She has written numerous short stories and audio dramas. She lives in Cambridge, England, with her partner of many years, Matthew, and their daughter, Verity.

She will be signing at the Forbidden Planet stand Saturday 2pm to 2.30pm and Sunday 11.30am to Noon.

A BAFTA nominated New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon #1 bestselling author of over fifty books, James Swallow is proud to be the only British writer to have worked on a Star Trek television series, creating the original story concepts for the Star Trek: Voyager episodes ‘One’ and ‘Memorial’.

His most recent work was the critically-acclaimed Star Trek: Discovery novel Fear Itself, and his other Star Trek writing includes the Scribe award winning novel Day of the Vipers, along with The Latter Fire, Sight Unseen, The Poisoned Chalice, Cast No Shadow, Synthesis, the novellas The Stuff of Dreams and Myriad Universes: Seeds of Dissent, short stories for Seven Deadly Sins, Shards and Shadows, The Sky’s The Limit and Distant Shores, the Star Trek: Invasion video game and hundreds of articles in Star Trek magazines around the world.

He will be signing at the Forbidden Planet stand Saturday 2pm to 2.30pm and Sunday 11.30am to Noon.

Rick Sternbach has been a space and science fiction artist since the early 1970s, often combining both interests in a project. His clients include NASA, Sky and Telescope, Data Products, Random House, Smithsonian, Analog, Astronomy, The Planetary Society, and Time-Life Books. He is a founding member and Fellow of the International Association of Astronomical Artists (IAAA), which was formed in 1981. He has written and illustrated articles on orbital transfer vehicles and interstellar flight for Science Digest. Beginning in the late 1970s Rick added film and television illustration and special effects to his repertoire, with productions like Star Trek: The Motion Picture, The Last Starfighter, Future Flight, and Cosmos, for which he and other members of the astronomical art team received an Emmy award, the first for visual effects. Rick also twice received the coveted Hugo award for best professional science fiction artist, in 1977 and 1978. With the rebirth of Star Trek, beginning with The Next Generation, Rick was one of the first employees hired to update the Trek universe. He created new spacecraft, tricorders, phasers, and hundreds of other props and set pieces. Using pencil, pen, and computer, Rick added Deep Space Nine and Voyager to his spacecraft inventory, and kept his hand in real space design with Voyager’s Ares IV Mars orbiter (blessed by planetary scientist Dr. Bruce Murray). Rick contributed graphic designs for the Star Trek: Nemesis feature film, including the new Romulan bird of prey and Senate chamber floor. He also provided computer playback graphics and animation elements for Steven Soderbergh’s Solaris.

Rick will be signing at the Hero Collector Stand on Friday, Saturday & Sunday - Signing times to come.

Ryan Dening is a concept artist who has worked on Star Trek: Discovery since season one, specializing in the designs of the ships. He has over 14 years work experience cultivated in AAA game and entertainment design studios and his primary expertise is designing environments, props and architecture.

Ryan will be signing at the Hero Collector Stand on Friday, Saturday & Sunday - signing times to come.

J.K. Woodward is a comic book artist known for illustrating the monthly series Fallen Angel, published by IDW Publishing. Woodward has employed painting, digital assistance, as well as the more traditional pencil-and-ink and CMYK color method in his work.  He has illustrated several Star Trek comics throughout his career including IDW's Star Trek: The Next Generation and Doctor Who crossover miniseries.

We are pleased to welcome the return of the Science & Education Zone and our friends at the European Space Agency to Destination Star Trek! This will be even bigger than last year so you will want to make room in your schedule to check it out. This will be a great chance to hear some mini lectures directly from the ESA scientists right in the Zone.

ESA astronaut Frank De Winne will be joining DST for Friday only. He will be signing for free in the ESA Science & Education Zone and doing a stage talk. Frank was the first ESA astronaut to command a space mission when he served as commander of ISS Expedition 21, and Belgium's second person in space. He is currently serving as Head of the European Astronaut Centre of the European Space Agency.

Have your picture taken on an impressive reproduction of the Classic Bridge, sit on the captain’s chair or have your picture taken with George Takei, you even have the option of a Tribble infested bridge as well!

Take your seat on the latest Captain’s chair as featured in the latest incarnation Star Trek: Discovery, your print will be produced with the Discovery bridge inserted in the background giving you an amazing keepsake.

The Enterprise-D's bridge is iconic, and you now have the chance to have your picture taken sat in the Captain’s Chair.  Make it so, with a print that inserts you onto the bridge of The Next Generation’s flagship.

A throne fit for the greatest empire, a chance to become part of the warrior race when you take command on the Klingon Throne, a great set piece for fans of Klingon’s and power!

DST Birmingham takes place October 25-27, 2019 at the NEC. Tickets can be purchased here.