Attendance at the 2026 GDC Festival of Gaming has decreased by 30%, with the event drawing 20,000 visitors

The GDC Festival of Gaming experienced a significant drop in attendance this year, with only 20,000 visitors, marking a 30% fall. This turnout is the lowest since 2011, except for the dip following the event's return post-COVID.

In 2011, the gathering at San Francisco's Moscone Center saw 19,000 attendees. Attendance figures previously increased to 28,000 in 2023 and set records in 2024 with over 30,000 participants, a level maintained last year.

The decline in this year's attendance has been linked to the high cost of participation and concerns regarding US immigration policies, particularly affecting international visitors.

Reports indicate some companies chose to allocate resources to alternative events, including Develop Brighton and Tokyo Game Show, either reducing their presence at GDC or opting not to attend.

This was the inaugural year for the newly branded GDC Festival of Gaming, featuring over 700 sessions from 1,100 speakers and more than 300 exhibitors.

Nina Brown, president of GDC, expressed satisfaction with the event: "This was the first year of a bold new concept for GDC. We are thrilled that 20,000 unique attendees representing our global community showed up from over 85 countries and trusted us with this evolution."

She emphasized the vibrancy of the festival, highlighting the packed sessions and numerous meetings as evidence of the industry's collective strength in learning, collaborating, and shaping the future of gaming. Brown added that plans are underway to continue adapting the GDC Festival of Gaming, based on community feedback, with a look towards 2027.

The GDC Festival of Gaming is set to return next year, running from March 1 to March 5 at San Francisco's Moscone Center.