gamescom 2026 sets new international records

gamescom 2026 drew 368,000 visitors from 131 countries and 1,743 exhibitors from 66 countries, and reached a digital audience of more than 624 million views by Saturday evening, including 78 million for gamescom Opening Night Live alone; the gamescom awesome indies show grew its views by more than 670 percent. 72 percent of exhibitors came from abroad, around 50 percent of the more than 36,000 trade visitors were international, and six percent more international visitors travelled to Cologne than the previous year. Frank-Walter Steinmeier became the first German Federal President to visit gamescom, opening the gamescom congress, where more than 1,100 participants discussed the potential of games and their role in society. Koelnmesse CEO Gerald Böse said it was an extremely successful gamescom and that its strong international character shows the event's growing importance as a leading platform for games. The next edition runs from 23 to 29 August 2027 in Cologne.