Gamescom 2026 to host record exhibitors and major industry announcements

Gamescom 2026 is set to take place from August 26 to 30 at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany. The event is expected to reach record numbers, with over 1,600 exhibitors from 67 countries occupying 233,000 square meters of exhibition space. The week will officially kick off with the Opening Night Live showcase on August 25, hosted by Geoff Keighley.

Major industry players including Nintendo, Xbox, Ubisoft, Capcom, and SEGA have confirmed their participation. Speculation is high regarding Xbox, with industry insiders suggesting a major announcement involving a sequel to a known Microsoft-owned franchise, potentially developed by an external studio.

The event also features a growing focus on the indie gaming sector, with the indie area expanding to over 420 companies. Additionally, the convention will host various specialized programs, including the gamescom dev developer conference, the gamescom congress—which will be opened by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier—and the gamescom city festival in downtown Cologne.