London Game Festival 2026: Expanding Venues and Industry Horizons

London has long served as a dynamic hub for the video game community, bringing together industry professionals to explore new innovations, exchange ideas, and forge valuable connections. This annual celebration continues to grow as a premier event in the heart of the city.

The festival is scheduled for mid-April 2026, set between the 13th and 19th. With plans to move into a more expansive facility that can welcome additional studios and a larger audience, this edition promises to be the most substantial one yet. Notably, the primary segment of the festival, known as New Game Plus and taking place from April 16 to 17, will now be hosted at a venue in White City that is about twice as large as its predecessor.

Attendees will enjoy a variety of offerings. Among these is a sector-focused segment from April 14 to 15, designed for industry professionals to engage in studio-to-investor interactions while also highlighting collaborative and independently published projects. A one-day event on April 15 will further integrate discussions on gaming, film, and television, creating a multidisciplinary environment for creative exploration.

Other scheduled activities include side events organized by partners, community groups, and gaming companies. Additionally, an esteemed awards ceremony known as the BAFTA Games Awards is set to take place on a designated Friday event day, marking another highlight of the festival.

A senior city official in charge of culture and creative industries emphasized the festival’s impressive evolution over more than a decade. This growth reflects its success in attracting a global audience and fostering robust business exchanges in London, thereby reinforcing the city’s status as an international leader in the gaming world.

Supported by the city’s mayor, the London event plays an essential role in driving investment within the UK gaming sector, having facilitated deals reportedly worth around £110 million since its inception in 2016.