NZGDC 2026: New Zealand's games conference returns to Auckland after nearly a decad

The New Zealand Game Developers Conference (NZGDC), the country’s premier games industry event, will return to Auckland for the first time in nearly ten years. Organised by the not-for-profit New Zealand Game Developers Association (NZGDA) and supported by Auckland Council, the conference runs from 30 September to 3 October 2026 at the newly opened New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), under the theme “Shaping Our World”.

The four-day programme targets professionals at every stage of the industry, from emerging developers to established studios. It includes keynotes, panels and hands-on workshops across design, programming, art and business development, plus premium 2–3 hour masterclasses focused on practical outcomes. The flagship Kiwi Games Zone will showcase more than 100 New Zealand-developed games across three conference days, with a public open day on Saturday welcoming players, families and students.

For investors and publishers, NZGDA has designed two exclusive events. An invite-only VIP International Meet and Greet on 1 October will connect international delegates, publishers and studio scouts with developers inside the Kiwi Games Zone.

On 3 October, a curated live pitch event supported by CODE will put six investment-ready New Zealand studios on stage for 10-minute pitches followed by Q&A sessions. Participating investors and publishers will select the studios through an advance voting round based on their pitch decks. Studios that are not selected for the live pitches may still receive facilitated introductions to investors and publishers who have expressed interest in their projects.

Auckland Games Week (26 September – 3 October) will surround the conference with showcases, talks and community meetups across the city. Registration and programme information is available on the official NZGDC website.