gamescom congress 27.08.2026 #gcc

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gamescom congress 2026

Call for Submissions

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Submit topics for the gamescom congress 2026 now!

The gamescom congress 2026 is Europe’s leading conference on the potential of computer games, showcasing how games and game technologies drive innovation across business and society. With this Call for Submissions, we invite contributions for two tracks: “Level Democracy”, exploring games for civic education, participation and democratic resilience, and “The Games Effect”, highlighting the use of games in fields such as health, education, business and the public sector. Further information on the submission process and the gamescom congress can be found in the FAQ below.

Submission-Focus 1: "The Playing Field of Democracy"

Subtitle: The potential of games for civic education, participation, and democratic resilience

Games strengthen democracy — how can society harness this opportunity?

From civic education to participation, from media literacy to trust-building — games, game technologies, and game design methods are changing how people understand, participate, and work together.

We seek perspectives from science, education, politics, culture, business, NGOs, and the games industry - concrete projects, studies, and use cases with tangible results:

  • Civic Education & Media Literacy (schools, youth work, adult education, misinformation defense, and more)
  • Participation & Citizen Engagement (serious games, voting tools, civic tech, co-creation, and more)
  • Trust-Building & Crisis Communication (shared narratives, resilience against polarization, social cohesion, and more)
  • Regulation & Responsibility (youth protection, media regulation, societal impact, and more)
  • Historical Memory & Remembrance (museums, archives, historical education, and more)
  • Radicalization Prevention (games against extremism, and more)

Submission-Focus 2: "The Games Effect"

Subtitle: The potential of games and game technologies in society, business, and innovation

Where do games' potential reach beyond entertainment?

Games, game technologies, game mechanics, and game thinking open new possibilities in medicine, architecture, science, corporate culture, education, and much more.

We seek perspectives from science, education, politics, culture, business, NGOs, and the games industry - concrete projects, studies, and use cases with tangible results:

  • Health, Therapy & Wellness (rehabilitation, training, and preventive applications)
  • Education & Training (simulations, learning formats, professional training)
  • Architecture, Planning & Urban Development (visualization, citizen participation, participatory design, playtesting)
  • Creative Industries & Culture (film, television, music, art, storytelling, new production methods)
  • Research & Scientific Methods (games as research tools, citizen science, experimental validation)
  • Corporate Culture, HR & Organizational Development (change management, agile methods, user-centered design)
  • Industry, Logistics & Operations (simulation, optimization, training)
  • Commerce, Retail & Customer Experience (engagement, customer loyalty, innovative formats)
  • Public Administration & Government (process optimization, citizen participation, skills development)
  • Sustainability & Society (games for behavioral change, transformation)
  • Artificial Intelligence & Future Technologies (new forms of human-machine collaboration)

General FAQs about the Call for Submissions and the gamescom congress

What is the gamescom congress?

The gamescom congress is Europe's leading conference on the potential of games. It brings together three worlds: companies and institutions from sectors such as health, education, architecture, and industry that harness game technologies; representatives from politics, science, NGOs, and public administration; and the games industry itself. The congress demonstrates how game technologies help inspire innovations and master digitalization in nearly all economic and social spheres. Since 2009, the congress takes place annually as part of gamescom in Cologne.

Is this a game development conference?

No. Even though gamescom congress covers subjects like design and new technology, this is always in relation to the broader subject of the potential of games. If your talk is solely about the development of a game or the financial success of it, it is better suited for gamescom.dev (formerly devcom).

From an audience perspective, gamescom congress can be very interesting for developers who have an interest in the potential of games in a broader sense.

Can game studios or developers submit?

If your talk covers the broader subject of the potential of games and not focuses on the entertainment value, it can definitely be interesting for gamescom congress. Please check the more extensive explanation of this year's theme, for examples.

What do you mean by "broader subject" and “potential of games”?

This refers to applying technologies, methods, or mindsets from the games industry to other purposes - health care, urban planning, democracy, education, science, etc. We seek functioning practice with tangible results, or topics that come from a clear visionary perspective.

What is NOT a good submission?

- Pitch for new games

- Applied game talks without tangible results (unless they from a clear visionary perspective)

- Pure product presentations

- Talks about business models talks without the broader potential of games approach

- Entertainment game talks without the broader potential of games approach

What exactly are the two focus areas?

1. THE PLAYING FIELD OF DEMOCRACY - How games inform voters, strengthen participation, combat extremism, build trust, foster media literacy, etc.

2. THE GAMES EFFECT - How game technologies work in medicine, architecture, corporate culture, research, public administration, etc.

Who organizes and curates the gamescom congress?

The congress is organized by Koelnmesse GmbH. The program is curated by curatomic in collaboration with game e.V. - Association of the German Games Industry. The conference is sponsored by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Where can I find more contact information?

All contact details:

https://congress.gamescom.global/en/contact/