Raleigh Open August 7th-9th

Raleigh Open 2026 is being held Friday, August 7th through Sunday, August 9th, 2026! Come join us for competition and camaraderie celebrating our shared martial art.

This year’s event will include six tournaments:

• Rookie Longsword

• Tier A Longsword

• Tier B Longsword

• Sidesword with Mixed Companion

• Broadsword & Sabre (& Spadroon)

• Spear & Partisan (new!)

Event Information

Longsword:

Longsword will be divided into three tiers: Rookie, Tier B, and Tier A. If you want to participate in the Rookie Tournament, please add "Longsword (Rookie)" to your cart. For Tier A and B, please add “Longsword (Tier A & B)” to your cart. You will be notified of your tier placing and be given the chance to verify you are in the correct event.

Rookie Tournament: you qualify if you (1) have been practicing HEMA for less than two years as of August 2026, (2) have competed in two or fewer HEMA longsword tournaments, and (3) have not made it out of the pools in a longsword tournament. The Rookie Longsword Tournament will have a maximum of 32 competitors. 

Tier A: If you (1) have placed in the top 8 (or quarterfinals) in a longsword HEMA event with 40 or more competitors, OR (2) have placed in the top 4 in an event with 10 or more competitors, then you will be placed in Tier A Longsword (maximum 32 competitors).

Tier B: All other longsword competitors will be placed in Tier B (max 64 competitors). 

All Other Tournaments:

Sidesword with Mixed Companion (max 64 competitors), Broadsword & Sabre (max 48 competitors) and Spear & Partisan (max 32 competitors) are open tournaments. Broadsword & Sabre and Spear & Partisan will have loaner weapons available. Spear & Partisan loaner partisans were made possible by our generous sponsors at Descendant Armory.

Rules and Equipment:

Please check out the Raleigh Open Rules and Equipment Requirements here.

Spectators:

Spectators are welcome, but will not be allowed on the field.

Registration Information

Cost: Rookie Longsword is $45, all other tournaments are $60 each.

We are also selling T-shirts that are available for purchase with Registration! T-shirts are $25.

As part of registration you are required to complete the electronic waivers that are linked in the registration window.

Registration will close on July 31st, 2026 at midnight EDT, this will also be the final deadline to request a refund.

Volunteering

The volunteer sign-up form can be found here. This event runs on volunteers, so consider helping out!

Tentative Schedule*

*Schedule is subject to change.

Friday Evening, August 7th:

Broadsword & Sabre (& Spadroon)

Saturday, August 8th: 

Tier B Longsword (morning)

Rookie Longsword (early afternoon)

Tier A Longsword (late afternoon/evening)

Sunday, August 9th:

Sidesword with Mixed Companion (morning)

Spear & Partisan (afternoon)

Event Location

Address:

SoFive Apex (new!) 

1016 Investment Blvd, Apex, NC 27502

(Please note that this is a new location from past years, due to ongoing renovations at the previous venue.)

Directions & Parking:

The venue has ample free on-site parking. 

Located directly off of US-1, the venue is roughly 20 minutes away from the RDU airport.

Where to Stay:

The closest hotels are clustered at the intersection of NC-55 and US-1, roughly 1 mile away from the venue. 

The town of Apex has plenty of rental locations, roughly 1.5 miles away.

Questions?

Contact us at raleighopentournament@gmail.com.

Join us for the Carolina Campaign, celebrating all things saber, broadsword, and small sword. This multi-day event will bring in great instructors from a range of specialties for a weekend of teaching, learning, and fun. We’re excited to have the following instructors join us this year:

• Chris Treichel

• Walker Skaggs

• Kevin Rezac

• Christian Büttner

Your registration will cover lodgings, all classes, as well as Friday night dinner, Saturday lunch, and Saturday dinner. You have to choice to reserve a spot in a cabin or camp out nearby the facilities for the weekend in tents.

Schedule for the event is linked here.

Event Information:

Dates: Friday, May 8th - Sunday, May 10th 2026

Registration Cost: $150 for cabins, $100 for camping

Location: Camp Royall, 250 Bill Ash Rd, Moncure, NC 27559

Schedule: Linked here

If you have any questions, please contact us at contact@triangleswordguild.com

FAQ:

What do I need to bring with me?

Bring your fencing gear as well as extra food and snacks for any of the other meal times that your registration doesn’t cover. The cost covers Friday dinner, Saturday lunch, and Saturday dinner, so Saturday and Sunday breakfast you’ll need to provide on your own. There is extra space in the facility’s fridges if you need to bring anything that needs to be refrigerated.

If you’re staying in cabin, make sure to bring pillows, sheets, blankets, and/or a sleeping bag to sleep in.

If you’re camping, bring your tent and other gear for camping in a field.

When should I arrive?

The camp will open for people to start arriving at 3 pm on Friday, May 8th. Your registration will be checked on arrival and you’ll be directed where to park.

What kinds of classes/activities will happen at this event?

The Carolina Campaign will have classes focused on broadsword, saber, and small sword, as well as historical dance and conditioning. There will also be a period music jam session, so bring your instruments and fun outfits for that!

What kinds of facilities are at Camp Royall?

There is a covered pavilion, a full kitchen and cafeteria, gymnasium, and plenty of fields and outdoor space for camping and fun. The are showers located in the cabins that campers can also access.

What is the Compagnia Call?

Sound the horns and gather 'round for the first compagnia call: the path to arms study of armor 2026 comes! Mark your calendars, this April 17-19th, join us in the journey of armor and the chivalric art of combat.

Whether you are new to armor, a seasoned practitioner in armor, or curious about historical armored fighting, this event dives into the foundations of armored combat and trains the skills that help in developing the path of arms. Join us for a series of classes, lectures, and the Deed of the Triangle.

You do not need armor to participate in the compagnia call.

This event is hosted by the Flower Shop Armizare team of Triangle Sword Guild.

Registration (Officially Closed for this Event):

You have the option to camp or reserve a spot in one of the cabins at Camp Royall. There are only 60 spots available for this event, so make sure to register as soon as you can.

Camping: $150

Cabins: $205

Other Info:

Food will be provided for the following meals:

Friday: Dinner

Saturday: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Sunday: Breakfast

Note: Breakfast will be fairly light so feel free to bring some of your own food. There is some fridge space available to use.