Official D&D Dungeon Master University Coming in 2026
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If you’ve ever thought about upping your skills as a DM, then you may just be in luck. Assuming that is, you’re willing to spend a few days of your life and some serious gold pieces on a new officially licensed D&D “Dungeon Master University” that’s now accepting students.
The event, which is described as a “two day symposium” will be taking place in January 2026 near Atlanta, Georgia and offers a range of courses taught by professional DMs and TTRPG luminaries. Notably, the program is being run Tabletop Vacations, which is best known for their popular D&D in a Castle events.
So is Dungeon Master University worth enrolling in? We hit the books and to try and find out.
What is Dungeon Master University?
Dungeon Master University is two-day, conference-style retreat focused on the art of DMing. The event, which uses the official Dungeons & Dragons brand license from Wizards of the Coast, features four streams of learning:
- Skill Building
- Campaign Building
- World Building
- Career Building
Courses are taught by a range of experienced professional DMs and TTRPG designers and run for 2 hours each morning and afternoon, for a total of 8 hours of instructional time. Seminars are 45-minutes, and are offered throughout both days of the event. Game Lab events takes place in the evening and allow students to run D&D games with faculty in order to receive feedback. Students can also sign up for Office Hours with, for a half hour of one-on-one questions and answers.
Who is Dungeon Master University for?
While the event is billed as a learning experience for DMs all levels of experience, the curriculum seems like it’s geared more towards already established DMs looking to up their game and possibly get into the publishing, paid DMing and actual play streaming side of the game (it’s hard to imagine someone who doesn’t have at least some experience with Dungeons & Dragons signing up for the program).
All that being said, it’s definitely not a typical academic experience and also is meant to capture the same vacation vibes of events like D&D in a Castle.
Who are the instructors are Dungeon Master University?
The program includes the following faculty:
- Monte Cook: An industry veteran with over 30 years experience, Cook has worked on hundreds of TTRPG products and is the founder of Monte Cook Games.
- Keith Baker: Best known as the creator of the Eberron D&D setting, Baker has also worked for Atlas Games, Goodman Games, Paizo and Green Ronin.
- Amanda Hamon: A Senior Designer at Wizards of the Coast, Hamon was also an Editorial Director for Kobold Press and is the co-creator of the Starfinder RPG by Paizo.
- Mike Tinney: A veteran game designer who has been in the TTRPG industry since the 90s, he is best known as the former CEO of White Wolf Publishing.
- Elisa Teague: A 24 year veteran of the TTRPG and board game industry, Teague worked on hundreds of products, including Dungeons & Dragons.
- Clint McElroy: Co-creator of The Adventure Zone D&D podcast (and spin off graphic novels), McElroy has also written several titles for Marvel comics.
- B. Dave Walters: A popular actual play DM, Walter has also worked for Wizards of the Coast and written and developed multiple TTRPG products.
- Kelly Lynne D’Angelo: A writer and professional actress for film and television, D’Angelo has also appeared as a professional DM in numerous actual play series.
- Hunter Fell: A professional DM for almost a decade, Fell has run hundreds of games and actual play events and is currently employed by StartPlaying.
- Kage Freudigmann: A bestselling TTRPG writer, designer, and DM, Freudigmann has also worked for both DriveThruRPG and Roll20.
How much is Dungeon Master University?
There are three tiers of attendance:
- Sliver Tier Registration ($995 USD): Includes your choice of one Primary Course, access to all seminars, breakfast, lunch and dinner on all instructional days, entrance to the Keynote Address and the opportunity to play in “Game Lab'” evening one-shots run by fellow students and participated in by Faculty.
- Gold Tier Registration ($1500 USD): Includes everything from the Silver Tier, plus early access to sign up for Game Lab, one appointment for Office Hours (a half-hour, one-on-one session with a Faculty member), admission to the Welcome Reception on January 1, and a welcome gift pack including a custom Dungeon Master University backpack valued at over $250. Notably, there are only 100 Gold Tier slots available.
- Platinum Tier($2,250 USD): Includes everything in Silver and Gold Tiers, plus a Game Audit (with faculty providing feedback on your game), a Dungeon Master University exclusive Varsity Jacket (valued at $175) and first access, before all other students, to choose Office Hours with the Faculty of your choice.Notably, there are only 32 Platinum Tier slots available.
When does Dungeon Master University take place?
DMU will take place from January 2nd to 3rd, 2026. For those registering with the Gold or Platinum options, there is a Welcome Reception with Faculty on the evening of January 1. Students should plan to be at the event from from Thursday, January 1 to Sunday, January 4 in order to be present for all programming.
Where does Dungeon Master University take place?
Dungeon Master University takes place Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia. All Courses, Seminars, Presentations, Meals and Game Lab will take place on Campus. The Welcome Reception, for all students registering at the Gold or Platinum Tiers, as well as Registration Check-in for all students, and hotel partner accommodations will be at the JWC Marriott in Buckhead, Atlanta, which is connected to the Campus by the MARTA Train. All students will receive a train pass allowing them to travel freely between the Hotel and the Campus throughout the Event.
Final Thoughts
The idea of learning from professional DMs and TTRPG pros sounds like an amazing experience, but the cost and time involved suggest this isn’t likely an event that just anyone is going to be able attend. It’s also unlikely to be something that will appeal to first time DMs.
That being said, if you have the cash and inclination, it’s likely to be an entertaining and enlightening event. You can register now on the official DM University website.
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Cameron Nichols is a Senior Editor who lives in Boston, Massachusetts, and has been playing D&D since the early 90s, when he was introduced by his older brother and cut his teeth on AD&D 2nd Edition. Since then he’s played virtually every RPG he could get his nerdy little mitts on (including a weird Goth phase in the early 2000s when he rocked Vampire: The Masquerade pretty hard). His favorite D&D campaign setting is the Forgotten Realms and his favorite character to play was a Half-Orc Barbarian named Grug (who was unfortunately devoured by a gelatinous cube).
