The largest global event dedicated to video games, Gamescom, has officially opened ticket sales for the 2026 edition, and the organizers are already recording exceptional results. At the end of the early-bird period, a new record was set for the number of registered exhibitors, which is even 15 percent higher than in 2025.
According to Felix Falk from the game – The German Games Industry Association, this year's Gamescom will once again be one of the most important moments in the gaming industry. Special emphasis is placed on a stronger connection between the gamescom dev event and the fair itself, which will give the development community even greater visibility and importance throughout the entire week of events.
Operational director of Koelnmesse, Oliver Frese, highlighted that this is the third consecutive year that Gamescom is breaking the record for the number of registered exhibitors in the early-bird phase, further confirming the global importance and popularity of the fair.
Tickets for Gamescom 2026 already on sale
This year's Gamescom will take place from August 26 to 30, 2026 in the city of Cologne, while the developers' conference gamescom dev will start two days earlier, on August 24 and 25. Additionally, the gamescom congress will be held on August 27.
Visitors can purchase tickets exclusively through the official online store, and the organizers warn that tickets should not be purchased through unofficial platforms.
Fans have various types of tickets available:
- day ticket
- evening ticket (from 4:00 PM)
- family ticket
- Wildcard ticket for access to trade and media day
- Green ticket with a voluntary contribution to climate initiatives
- Superfan packages that include a ticket for Opening Night Live
New Business Ticket category
A new category of gamescom Business Ticket has been introduced for industry professionals, allowing flexible access to the business part of the fair and the developers' conference.
Three options are available:
- Business 5 Days – access to the entire business week including gamescom dev
- Business 3 Days – entry from Wednesday to Friday
- Business 1 Day – one-day business access
All Business tickets include access to the business area, entertainment section of the fair, and the B2B platform gamescom biz.
Global event with record international participation
Gamescom 2026 is already confirming a strong international character. Companies from over 40 countries have registered to participate, while national pavilions have been confirmed from as many as 23 countries, including Canada, France, Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom, and the USA.
Due to the increasing international participation, the organizers have decided to abolish the concept of a single official partner country. Instead, they will introduce new programs and formats that will provide all international partners with greater visibility and better networking opportunities.
Everything indicates that Gamescom 2026 will once again be the central global event of the gaming industry, with a record number of exhibitors, strong international participation, and a rich program for fans, developers, and industry professionals.
