The number of attendees at Gamescom 2026 increased by 6%, reaching a total of 368,000 visitors

In 2026, Gamescom welcomed 368,000 guests from 131 different nations, marking a 6% increase compared to the previous year.

This year, 1,743 exhibitors from 66 countries participated, representing an 11% rise from 2025. Participants from outside the host nation made up 72% of the exhibitors, with 48 different country booths showcasing 41 countries.

The highest visitor growth was seen from Brazil, Canada, and the United States. Among the over 36,000 trade visitors, around 50% traveled from outside Germany.

Attendance at Gamescom Dev increased 15%, reaching 6,200 attendees. The event, which occurred before Gamescom, featured 397 speakers over 238 sessions on 18 stages.

Participation included more than 2,500 enterprises from 95 countries, along with 57 collaborators and exhibitors. These were part of both Gamescom Dev and its indie exhibition.

GamesIndustry.biz engaged with Gamescom Dev managing director Frederik Hammes regarding this year's Gamescom Dev survey results. The discussion highlighted that the biggest potential for expansion in the gaming sector lies with smaller studios.

Gamescom’s digital content achieved over 624 million views globally by Saturday night, with Opening Night Live receiving 78 million views. The Gamescom Awesome Indies Show saw its viewership soar by over 670% to more than 302,000.

The interactive digital experience Gamescom Epix recorded 6.2 million page views, an increase of around 9% from last year.

"This year, Gamescom has once again reinforced its status as a pivotal platform for the worldwide gaming community," stated Felix Falk, the managing director of the German Games Industry Association.

"The spectacular participation figures, notably the international involvement and exhibitor numbers exceeding last year's, underline the momentum driving the future of the industry, which can be strongly felt at the event despite prevailing challenges," he added, emphasizing Gamescom's distinctive atmosphere.

Gerald Böse, president and CEO of Koelnmesse, remarked, "Gamescom succeeds in uniting people globally, mirroring the vast economic and social influence of video games like no other event. The remarkable international presence underscores Gamescom’s prominence as a primary hub for gamers, developers, and creators worldwide."

Looking ahead, Gamescom 2027 is scheduled for August 25 through 29, with Gamescom Dev slated to occur from August 23 to 24.