Gamescom 2026 draws 368,000 visitors from 131 countries

Gamescom 2026 didn’t set a record for attendance, but it grew from last year and was more international than ever with 386,000 visitors from 131 countries.

The number was 6% higher than the previous year’s 357,000 (up 11,000) but it fell short of the 373,000 record set in 2019. The celebration of the diversity of gaming culture drew a record number of international visitors.

Combined with a rise in trade visitors and 624 million views, gamescom once again underscored its global appeal and relevance for the international games industry. The gains were remarkable in the context of the continuing difficulty the game industry has seen, with jobs declining in North America and growing in Asia. That fact was visible at Opening Night Live, where 29 of 55 games came from China, South Korea and Japan.

Asked about the hard times the industry has had in recent years with layoffs, Felix Falk, managing director of Game — the German game industry association — said in a press briefing that the game industry always look ahead at opportunities, rather than backward.

“The past years have been tough for the industry, so we are really happy to provide a stage for the industry to think about what’s coming next and where the next dynamic growth for the industry is coming from,” Falk said. “Gamescom is a great signal and sign that this year we are already breaking records with exhibition space and growth by companies and internationally. So I think that’s a good indicator that the industry is preparing for new growth, and even when it’s tough times for studios connected also to our central theme, they are positively looking ahead and looking for the next big thing.”

Gamescom drew 368,000 visitors. Source: GamesBeat/Dean Takahashi
A total of 1,743 companies from 66 countries – 11 % more than in 2025 – exhibited across a sold-out show floor of around 233,000 square meters (about 33 soccer pitches), a first for the event. A record 72% of exhibitors came from abroad, with 48 country pavilions representing 41 countries.

More than 36,000 trade visitors traveled to Cologne, with around 50% from abroad. The strongest growth came from Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands and the US. Alongside this growth, the share of top management also rose – further underscoring gamescom’s relevance as a business platform.

Image credit: GamesBeat By Saturday evening alone Gamescom’s digital content reached more than 624 million views around the world – including 78 million for Gamescom Opening Night Live.

The Gamescom awesome indies show grew its digital reach by over 670 percent to 302,000 views. Gamescom Epix, the digital community adventure, also drew greater interest from players worldwide, generating 6.2 million page views – an increase of around 9% over the previous year.

Gamescom GDQ marked the European premiere of the international speedrunning format Games Done Quick, highlighting the power the gaming community can achieve together. In recognition, the format received this year’s Gamescom Heart of Gaming Award.

Cosplayers showed up in force at Gamescom 2026. Source: GamesBeat/Dean Takahashi Falk of Game said in a statement, “In 2026, Gamescom has delivered an impressive statement about its role as the central platform for the international games industry. Many of last year’s record figures were surpassed, especially in terms of international participation and the number of exhibitors. The drive for the future can be felt here – it’s what again propels the industry forward this year despite the challenges – and what makes the Gamescom atmosphere so unique.

Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse: “Gamescom brings people from all over the world together, combining the economic and social significance of games on a scale like no other. This was an extremely successful Gamescom and we are delighted by the event’s strong international character. It shows Gamescom’s ever-growing importance as the leading platform for everyone who plays, develops and creates games.”

Amir Satvat gave the opening keynote at Gamescom Dev. Source: GamesBeat/Dean Takahashi With Gamescom Dev now more closely integrated into Gamescom week, the developer conference saw a 15% jump in registered participants to 6,200. The final report for Gamescom dev 2026 can be found here.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier – the first Federal President of Germany to attend gamescom – opened the Gamescom congress, where over 1,100 attendees discussed the potential of games. The final report for Gamescom congress 2026 can be found here.

Gamescom 2027 will take place the week of August 23 to 29. The event kicks off with gamescom dev on August 23 and 24, followed by gamescom Opening Night Live on the evening of August 24. August 25 is Business and Media Day. Wildcard holders are granted access starting at 1 p.m. The event opens to the general public on August 26.
gamescom 2026 at a glance:

● 368,000 visitors from 131 countries
● Over 36,000 trade visitors, with strongest growth from Brazil, Canada, the Netherlands and the US
● More than 624 million views for the entire show program (as of Saturday evening)
● With more than 78 million views for gamescom Opening Night Live
● With more than 302,000 views for gamescom awesome indies show
● 6.2 million page views for gamescom epix (as of Saturday evening)
● 1,743 exhibitors from 66 countries, with a foreign share of 72 percent
● 48 country pavilions from 41 countries
● Approximately 233,000 square meters of gross exhibition space
● Around 80,000 people at gamescom city festival

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