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| L-R: Koelnmesse President and Chief Executive Officer Gerald Böse; State of North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst; European Commission Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen; Vice Chancellor and Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil; Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space Dorothee Bär, game – The German Games Industry Association Managing Director Felix Falk; game – The German Games Industry Association Executive Board Chairman Lars Janssen (Image Source: game – The German Games Industry Association) |
gamescom 2026 has officially opened last August 25, 2026 and kicking off the latest edition of the world's biggest games event with its Political Opening featuring high-profile political guests of honour including European Commission Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen; Vice Chancellor and Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil; Federal Research, Technology and Space Minister Dorothee Bär; and North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst who underlined the enormous relevance of games as a cultural asset, a driver of innovation and an important economic factor. The framework conditions for the games industry are therefore set to improve further, both in the EU (European Union) and in Germany.
The Political Opening was followed by a tour of gamescom, giving the guests of honour the chance to see the latest developments and trends in the games industry for themselves and to talk with representatives from across the industry. Vice Chancellor Klingbeil stated, “gamescom highlights the great potential of this key sector: for the economy, for education, for collaboration and for good jobs in Germany. It is crucial for us to keep improving the policy conditions that strengthen Germany’s position as a magnet for the games industry and the entire digital economy. That’s why we have more than doubled federal funding for the games industry since 2024. This shows that we are committed to boosting the innovative capacity of digital businesses in Germany. We’re investing billions of euros in our digital infrastructure. We’re making major cuts to red tape in order to create more space for creativity and initiative. We’ve enshrined the non-profit status of eSports in law. We’re improving financing conditions, especially for startups and scaleups. And we’re recruiting the best talent from around the world.” Minister-President Wüst of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia commented, “Every year, gamescom turns North Rhine-Westphalia into the global stage of the international games industry. This is where creative minds, innovative companies, and hundreds of thousands of gamers from all over the world come together. The record number of exhibitors, especially in economically challenging times, is a strong commitment to the industry’s future viability – and to North Rhine-Westphalia as a leading hub for the games industry. Games are far more than just an economic factor: they open up new worlds, spark new ideas, and drive innovation. With a powerful and diverse network of independent studios, internationally active gaming companies, the creative industries, technology, and research, North Rhine-Westphalia offers best possible conditions for developers.” Virkkunen shared, “I am very happy to attend this year’s gamescom, the world’s largest gaming event. Gamescom highlights the growing importance of this industry, which is central to European sovereignty and our shared cultural heritage. Videogames are an integral part of our daily lives and a driver of our economy, in areas such as entertainment, education, health and even defence. EU policy builds on this competitiveness, protecting minors while fostering growth and innovation”.
Minister Bär remarked, “Games wow us, move us, surprise us and captivate our attention. At gamescom, this becomes more clear than anywhere else in the world, thanks to creative and innovative teams that put their passion and talent into developing new games and continue to push the boundaries of our imagination. Their technologies and innovations reach beyond the games sector already today and leverage potential in the areas of innovation, research and industry. We need favourable conditions and reliable funding to ensure that games continue to be developed in Germany and that we can tell our own stories. As games minister, I see it as my responsibility to create the best possible preconditions for ensuring the success of the games industry. I am convinced that our whole society stands to benefit from a strong German games ecosystem.” game – The German Games Industry Association – Managing Director Felix Falk stressed, “In times of hesitation and pessimism, we need excitement for the future. The games community, the studios, the entire industry – we are all looking ahead. This is exactly the energy that Germany's economic transformation needs, too. When it comes to games market revenue, we rank fifth in the world. That has to be our ambition in games production as well. For that, we finally need reliable and comparable competitive conditions. With the success of their tax incentives, other countries have long been showing us how it's done. If we are serious about strengthening Germany as a games location, we must introduce this international standard now.” Koelnmesse President and Chief Executive Officer Gerald Böse echoed, “When it comes to the future of the global games industry, there is no way around gamescom. It brings together business, politics and communities unlike any other event in the world. gamescom has seen continuous growth for years and is continuing this success story in 2026 with international exhibitor participation and political presence at an all-time high. This is striking proof of gamescom’s international appeal and of Cologne’s importance as its host city for the global gaming industry.”
Capping off the opening day, gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 delivered one of the most spectacular international shows of the year where producer and host Geoff Keighley and co-host Eefje “sjokz” Depoortere graced the gamescom event arena to present a packed lineup of world premieres, new trailers and glimpses of gameplay across various titles. Key highlights featured a new look at Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the antagonist reveal for Gears of War: E-Day, and the reveal of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs Of The Past. Over 5,000 fans were able to watch the show live and on-site, joined by millions from around the world via livestream. The show gave fans a sneak peek at the new releases and events coming to gamescom in the days ahead. More than 1,700 exhibitors are taking over the halls of Koelnmesse for the first time ever. This sets a new record, topping the 1,600-plus exhibitors initially expected. Additional registrations from group participations have recently increased the number of exhibiting companies significantly. Together with the exhibition space of 233,000 m² which is fully booked for the first time this year, this underscores the event’s global significance as the world’s biggest gaming event. Over the next few days, visitors can look forward to a diverse program of new releases, shows, community events, indie titles and cosplay – plus a wide range of opportunities for business, networking and professional exchange. Many of the program highlights, including the Political Opening and gamescom Opening Night Live 2026, can be streamed online for free on gamescom’s official YouTube and Twitch channels.
