The London Games Festival is relocating to a central location for its 2027 event

Games London has shared that the London Games Festival will be relocated to a central location in 2027.

This annual gathering will be hosted at the Business Design Centre, aiming to offer a more accessible platform with an expanded professional agenda.

The Business Design Centre will accommodate the New Game Plus showcase, the B2B Games Finance Market, as well as multiple industry conferences and networking events.

While some events like the Ensemble exhibition and Screen Play conference will occur at alternative locations, the BAFTA Game Awards is set to return to the Queen Elizabeth Hall at Southbank Centre.

A special Friday night event dedicated to gaming will take place at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

The festival will continue to feature its Official Selection, presenting a carefully chosen list of games for audiences worldwide, both onsite and online.

Scheduled from April 12 to April 19, 2027, the festival will have events at the Business Design Centre from April 15 to April 17.

Michael French, the London Games Festival director, commented, "We're thrilled to congregate a larger array of events in one venue next year, easing access to key festival components and providing room for expansion, while sustaining a diverse range of cultural events across London through collaborations with BAFTA, V&A, and BFI."

He noted that "The Business Design Centre is notably significant for the UK gaming sector, having hosted the inaugural UK video games trade shows nearly four decades ago. It will be an excellent representation of a contemporary, creative, and curated international games exhibition in this notable setting."

Justine Simons, the Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, remarked, "London stands among the top global cities for game developers, and the London Games Festival has significantly contributed to that triumph."

She continued, "Over the past ten years, the festival has gained momentum, drawing numerous gamers, developers, and industry influencers to the city. Transitioning to the Business Design Centre is a testament to this progress, offering the opportunity to enhance the festival further and accommodate more guests."

"This move is yet another crucial step towards reinforcing London as a central hub for the gaming industry, enhancing our mission to develop a thriving London for all."

Details regarding keynote speakers will be unveiled later this year, coinciding with the start of ticket sales.

Applications for the Games Finance Market, Official Selection, and Ensemble 2027 will become available in October, along with broader calls for speakers.

Earlier this year, London Games Festival orchestrated 30 events citywide, drawing an audience of over 100,000 people from 61 countries.

Attendees included 36% from Greater London, 49% from elsewhere in the UK, and 15% international participants, with a substantial presence of more than 8,000 B2B delegates.