WN Istanbul ’26 is happening very soon — June 18-19

At the beginning of summer, WN Istanbul’26 will open its doors on the shores of the Bosphorus. This will be a landmark event — the tenth Istanbul event for game developers and publishers hosted by WN Media Group.

WN Istanbul’26 will span two days — June 18 and 19 — focusing on networking rather than traditional lectures. Attendees will engage in group work and roundtable discussions, enabling them to establish connections, delve deeply into topics of interest, and exchange opinions.

The event’s format will differ between the first and second days. June 18 will be under the theme Explore & Connect, offering participants the chance to meet each other, explore games from the teams present at WN Istanbul’26, and schedule meetings. The following day, themed Focus & Exchange, will be more intimate. On June 19, guests will divide into small groups for closed discussions — all roundtables will take place on this day.

The full program for WN Istanbul’26 is still being finalized, and we will share more detailed information closer to the date. However, it is already known that the event will include:

an indie games exhibition;
an expo area with sponsor booths;
an indie pitch — presentations by independent developers to experts;
a closed investor breakfast with the investment syndicate GameXCap;
a networking poolside dinner at the end of the first day, where participants can continue their conversations in a casual setting.

Remember, developers participating in either the exhibition or the indie pitch gain free entry to the event. They must apply in advance, before June 11. Importantly, projects for the indie pitch will be selected separately from the showcase.

For other guests, entry will be charged. Ticket prices for WN Istanbul’26 start at 399 euros for developers and publishers, and 999 euros for service providers. This is the standard ticket price, excluding the networking dinner. Please note that tickets are currently being sold at a reduced rate, and prices will rise later.

WN Istanbul’26 will take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel, located in the Şişli district, which is essentially the business center of Istanbul. Organizers expect more than 500 attendees.

The event’s sponsors will include Xsolla, ByteDance, “Yandex.Games,” Yandex Ads, Playhop, Greencode, ReklamUp, RoasUp, Brightika, Verve Group, Appier, Malpa Games, and other companies.

All information on other aspects of the upcoming event can be found on the WN Istanbul’26 website.