Gamescom has sold out all available exhibition space for the first time ever.
The organizers of Gamescom announced today, July 21, that they had filled all available expo space at the conference. This marks the first time Gamescom has fully booked its floor amid what organizers describe as record-breaking exhibitor demand. Koelnmesse and Game — the German Games Industry Association, which co-organizes the event — said it is already exploring expansion plans for 2027 to accommodate future growth and improve the Gamescom visitor experience.
“That Gamescom is completely booked up is a strong signal for the entire industry,” said Gamescom director Tim Endres in a statement. He noted the show expanded its footprint in 2025 and said organizers are continuing to invest in new formats for fans and communities, framing Gamescom’s mix of business and community experience as a particular strength of the conference.
Felix Falk, managing director of Game and Gamescom co-organizer, said in a press release that exhibitor demand at the conference is higher than it has ever been, pointing to a packed program that includes Gamescom Opening Night Live, an expanded indie showcase, and the European debut of Games Done Quick as highlights building anticipation weeks ahead of the show.
Newly confirmed Gamescom exhibitors for 2026 include Konami, Tencent Games, Embark Studios, Level Infinite, Giants, and Aerosoft, which are joining a previously announced lineup that includes Xbox, Nintendo, EA, Ubisoft, and Capcom. The event’s broader roster of exhibitors, partners, and sponsors now spans dozens of companies across the international games industry, including CD Projekt Red, Sega, Bandai Namco, HoYoverse, Krafton, NetEase, and The LEGO Group, reflecting what organizers described as the diversity of the global games business.
Gamescom’s Opening Night Live event is slated to return on August 25, once again hosted by Geoff Keighley alongside co-host Eefje “sjokz” Depoortere. Organizers teased news on Metro 2039 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Songs of the Past, both expected to release in 2027, among the announcements, premieres, and updates planned for the show.
Gamescom is also expanding its community-facing programming this year. The event’s organizers are developing the Gamescom Awesome Indies show further in partnership with IGN, with the goal of giving independent studios additional international visibility. Games Done Quick is bringing its speedrunning marathon to Europe for the first time with Gamescom GDQ, offering nearly ten hours of live programming daily across the show’s Friday-to-Sunday run, streamed on GDQ’s channels, with donations benefiting the “Gaming for Democracy” initiative.
Gamescom’s cosplay village is also returning as a central meeting point for fans and cosplayers, with revised costume design rules developed alongside industry and community representatives, plus simplified accreditation guidelines meant to ease participation. The event arena will also host a DidYouKnowGaming panel quiz and other community programming across the show’s four days. Organizers additionally highlighted accessibility upgrades to the show’s location finder, which now lets attendees filter the map for amenities like accessible restrooms and free water dispensers, alongside the standard display of exhibitor booths.
Gamescom 2026 runs between August 26–30 in Cologne, Germany, with August 26 designated as the event’s trade visitor and media day. The broader Gamescom week kicks off on August 24 with the Gamescom Dev developer conference. Alongside Gamescom’s flagship Cologne event, the event’s organizers continue to run Gamescom LATAM in São Paulo and Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show in Bangkok as international extensions of the conference.