Stay connected and inspired. Whether you prefer crowds or screens, local or global, entry-level or industry-level, you can find something to attend to here.
📆 Quick Reference Table 2025
|
Event Name |
Dates & Format |
Why Attend |
|---|---|---|
|
Global Game Jam |
January 20 - 26 |
Prototype fast, connect, learn |
|
GDC |
March 17 - 21 |
Learn, network, pitch, grow career |
|
Summer Game Fest |
June 6 - 9 |
Game reveals, indie spotlight |
|
Gamescom / Devcom |
August 20 - 24 |
Previews, publisher access, deals |
|
GDCoCExpo |
September 16 - 19 |
Diversity celebration, panels |
|
Game Connection |
October in Paris & Brasil |
Pitch, connect, do business |
|
Nordic Game |
May/November |
Network, Nordic indie dev scene |
|
Games for Change |
TBD |
Social impact, XR, networking |
🌐 Major Annual Conferences & Festivals
Game Developers Conference (GDC)
World’s premier game dev meetup with sessions for all disciplines: programming, design, audio, art, production. Expect 750+ talks, career summits, Independent Game Festival (IGF) showcase and networking in San Francisco. Typically takes place in March.
Gamescom + Devcom
Massive consumer expo paired with a dev-focused event. Expect trailers, publisher showcases and global networking every August in Cologne, Germany.
Summer Game Fest
Geoff Keighley’s digital and physical showcase in June; featuring AAA announcements, indie spotlights and developer interviews.
Global Game Jam
Worldwide 48-hour creativity marathon. Great for prototyping, collaborating and learning. Typically takes place in January.
Game Devs of Color Expo (GDoCExpo)
Celebrating diversity with online panels, watch parties, job boards and grants for creators of colour. Typically takes place in September.
A three-day spring event offering global keynotes, networking and the Nordic Game Awards. Typically takes place every May in Malmö, Sweden.
Business-to-Business (B2B) matchmaking, dealmaking, masterclass. Perfect for devs looking for publishing or service patterns. Held online and multiple locations such as China, Paris, Brazil and San Francisco.
📌 Developer-Centric Events & Jams
Part of Gamescom, you can find industry-level panels at Devcom.
Global Game Jam // PirateSoftware Game Jam // GMTK Game Jam // Itch.io Game Jams
There is an abundance of game jams, so take your pick.
Focused on social impact and XR, workshops and networking. Active on LinkedIn.
🎫 Virtual & Hybrid Options
Panels, direct game showcases and networking.
Indie-focused streams - IndieCade showcases // Future Games Show
Free global jams with active online collaboration.
🌍 Showcases
Culture rich events for all developers. These events are held annually in Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia, and Melbourne.
Brasil Game Show & Tokyo Game Show
Regional expos for demos and networking.
🧭 How to Choose What’s Right for You
-
Want learning and networking? Start with GDC, Devcom, GDCoCExpo
-
Pitching deals or business? Check out Game Connection or Gamescom
-
Looking for fun and fast prototyping? Try Global Game Jam or indie jams
-
Care about diversity and inclusion? GDCoCExpo, Games for Change, community game jams
-
Prefer online? Many offer virtual passes; GDC, Summer Game Fest, GDCoCExpo offer live streaming.
🪜 Next Steps
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Decide your goals - learning, networking, pitching, playing
-
Prioritize events that match your discipline and budget
-
Set reminders and get early bird tickets, they may sell out fast
-
Prepare. Have a business card, portfolio link and an elevator pitch ready.