When is Gamescom? 2026 dates, schedule, location and ticket info revealed
Gamescom 2026 is set to be another whistlestop tour of everything going down in the game industry for the next year or so.
From our first glimpse of The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past expansion, to Grand Theft Auto VI’s Extended Preview happening at the same time, it’s all kicking off this August.
Below is everything you need to know about the event and how you can get involved, though be warned you’re running out of time.
When does Gamescom 2026 take place?
Gamescom is a week-long event, but some of the festivities will be off-limits depending on why you’re going.
From August 23 to August 25, the developer conference will be in full swing, allowing the best and brightest to meet up, show off their games, and generally have a nice time.
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The white whale of Gamescom, however, is definitely Opening Night Live, which takes place on the evening of August 25. Hideo Kojima-afficionado Geoff Keighley will take to the stage once again with a variety of announcements, teasers and trailers for games coming out this year and beyond.
On August 26, Gamescom opens to trade and media attendees, which is where we’ll be checking out some upcoming releases before turning them into juicy previews for your enjoyment.
Finally, the meat and potatoes of the event. August 27 to August 30 is when the doors open to all attendees, allowing those with tickets to roam through the halls and go hands-on with whatever is on offer.
Where does Gamescom 2026 take place?
As always, Gamescom will return home to the Koelnmesse exhibition center found in Cologne, Germany.
Gamescom Ticket Info
Tickets are still available for all days of the event, allowing you to either pick and choose which days you fancy or go for the lot.
Full day tickets for August 27, August 28 and August 30 will set you back €31.50 for standard entry, €22.50 for children/students/elderly etc, €69.50 for a maximum family of five, and €10.50 if you only plan on attending from 4pm onwards.
August 29 is Saturday, so that’s a little more expensive. Day tickets cost €41.00, reduced-cost entry is €32.00, family tickets are €86.00, and for 4pm onwards it’s €13.00.
Unfortunately, tickets for Opening Night Live are entirely sold-out, but you’ll still get to tune in online via YouTube, Twitch, etc.
What do you do while you’re at Gamescom?
This is entirely up to you, as Gamescom has an enormous offering that can’t be seen in its entirety, even if you attend every day of the event.
While we know companies like Nintendo and Xbox will be setting up shop somewhere at the venue, the locations haven’t been made public as of yet, so you’ll need to find out which games are located where and decide which ones are worth seeing.
Gamescom 2026 officially kicks off on August 27 for members of the public, so grab your tickets now if you’re able to attend.
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