GamesBeat Latam 2026 draws record 154,000 visitors to Sao Paulo, Brazil

Gamescom Latam 2026, the Latin American edition of the world’s largest gaming event, drew more than 154,00 visitors last week, up from 130,000 a year ago.

Gamescom said the show was a major success, setting new records in its third edition and further cementing its position as the leading gaming event in Latin America. Held from April 29 to May 3 at the Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, the event surpassed 154,000 visitors — the highest attendance ever recorded — representing a 17.5% increase compared to the previous edition.

gamescom latam 2026 in numbers

Gamescom Latam drew big crowds to Brazil’s Distrito Anhembi convention center. Source: GamesBeat/Dean Takahashi

• more than 154,000 visitors
• more than 400 games featured
• over 60 new releases
• 175 exhibitors from 23 countries
• more than 700 studios
• 1,100 B2B companies from 59 countries
• more than 13,000 business meetings held
  • a 46% increase compared to the previous year
• an estimated US$180 million in new business
• 1,230 brands present at the event
• 122 partner institutions

Business environment strengthens as companies connect globally

Brazil’s Abragames and Brazil Games showed off 38 games at Gamescom Latam. Source: GamesBeat/Dean Takahashi Reinforcing its role as one of the leading business platforms for the games industry in South America, Gamescom also said the 2026 show delivered strong results in its B2B environment. In total, more than 1,100 companies participated in the event alongside over 1,230 exhibiting brands on the show floor.

Over three days of networking, more than 13,000 business meetings were facilitated between companies, publishers, studios, and industry professionals. These connections are expected to generate more than $180 million in new business in the coming months, strengthening Brazil’s position as a strategic hub for the global games industry, the company said. 

“With more than 1,000 game development studios distributed across Brazil, the country demonstrates a unique reach, with creative hubs spread throughout all regions. Brazil is already the leading hub for the games industry in the Global South and an extremely strong consumer market. At Gamescom Latam, our role is to strengthen and expand this ecosystem — connecting investors, buyers, publishers, accelerators, and studios from around the world. That’s why we bring the best of both national and international production to our audience, while also taking the best of Brazil abroad, boosting IP exports and bringing our stories to a global stage”, said Eliana Russi, partner and head of B2B at Gamescom Latam, in a statement.

Launches and activations put the audience at the center of the experience

The crowds are huge at Gamescom Latam, which is in its third year. Source: GamesBeat/Dean Takahashi The 2026 edition brought together some of the world’s leading players in the games industry, including Arc System Works, Big Uncle Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Capcom, Electronic Arts, Level Up! Games, Nintendo, PlayStation, Remedy Entertainment, Riot Games, Roblox, SEGA, Skybound Entertainment, Supercell, The Pokémon Company, and Warner Bros. Games.

Visitors had access to hundreds of titles, ranging from major releases to independent games — many of them available for early hands-on gameplay before reaching the market.

Highlights included titles such as Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Invincible VS, Phantom Blade Zero, and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, showcased through exclusive playable experiences. Interactive activations reinforced this proximity, placing fans at the center of the experience and directly connecting communities with brands and franchises.

“Gamescom Latam is a major celebration for the gaming community, bringing together leading global brands and offering fans the opportunity to discover games and, most importantly, get hands-on with upcoming releases. This is only possible because of our DNA, which began with a focus on fostering industry business and has since expanded into a comprehensive experience hub,” said Gustavo Steinberg, CEO of Gamescom Latam, in a statement.

In addition to gaming companies, non-endemic brands such as Banco do Brasil, Bauducco, Claro, Fanta, Piticas, and Seara, were also present, connecting with the gaming audience and creating experiences that bridge games and their products.

Content brings together major industry names and highlights trends

Cosplayers were especially plentiful on Saturday at Gamescom Latam. Source: GamesBeat/Dean Takahashi With more than 300 hours of programming, gamescom latam offered a diverse agenda aimed at both general audiences and industry professionals.

Throughout the event, more than 500 speakers — including over 120 international guests — took part, featuring names such as Brendan Greene, Charles Marcolim, David Wise, James Salmon, and Maxence Cazorla. (Me as well). The event also welcomed influencers and content creators such as Cellbit, as well as groups like Creative Squad and Arkanis, totaling more than 2,000 creators and influencers. More than 1,000 cosplayers also participated, delighting visitors throughout the venue.

The program included panels on industry trends, workshops, competitions, and meet-and-greet sessions. Highlights included updates on Control Resonant, the finals of the CONMEBOL eLibertadores 2026, and Mortal Kombat tournaments organized by Retro League. 

The event also marked the debut of Versus One, a new competitive circuit focused on fighting games, reinforcing the growth of the competitive scene in the region.

Among the digital highlights, the Gamescom Latam countdown featured announcements and exclusive content, broadcast in three languages — English, Spanish, and Portuguese — through partnerships with Flow Games, Latin American Games Showcase, MCR Agency, and Webedia. The program also included Gamescom Latam highlights by FYNG, expanding coverage and curating key moments from the event.

Gamescom Latam BIG Festival celebrates global creativity in independent games 

Mikhail Kasurinen, creative director for Control Resonant, at Gamescom Latam. Source: Remedy Entertainment gamescom latam BIG Festival reaffirmed its role as one of the leading showcases for independent game development worldwide.

In 2026, the festival received more than 960 game submissions from 75 countries. A total of 81 titles were selected as finalists across 18 categories.

Brazil accounted for 451 submissions, demonstrating a strong and consistent presence on the international stage. In Latin America, countries such as Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Uruguay also showed significant participation, with 28 projects among the finalists.

Among the finalists, there was a wide diversity of approaches, ranging from author-driven narratives to experimental gameplay mechanics and aesthetics.

Visitors were also able to experience some of these games, bringing audiences closer to developers and increasing the visibility of independent projects in the global market. Gamescom took over the show, the BIG Festival, three years ago. The first version in 2024 drew 100,000 people.

The next Gamescom events are:

Gamescom Dev, Cologne, Germany, 23 – 25 August 2026
Gamescom, Cologne, Germany, 26 – 30 August 2026
Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show, Bangkok, Thailand, 29 October – 1 November 2026
Gamescom Latam, São Paulo, Brazil, 2027

Disclosure: Gamescom Latam paid my way to Sao Paulo, where I moderated two sessions.

The post GamesBeat Latam 2026 draws record 154,000 visitors to Sao Paulo, Brazil appeared first on GamesBeat.