🔄 Update — Event concluded
Gamescom 2026 officially closed its doors on August 30. Find the complete report here: 7 World Premieres announced at Opening Night Live (FF7 Revelation, Nodusfall, Gears of War: E-Day…), the Awards winners and the event’s highlights. See the closing figures ↓
Next event: Check out our complete PAX West 2026 guide!
Gamescom 2026 took place from Wednesday, August 26 to Sunday, August 30, 2026, at the Koelnmesse exhibition center in Cologne, Germany. It was preceded on Tuesday, August 25, by the Opening Night Live ceremony hosted by Geoff Keighley and Eefje “sjokz” Depoortere. For the first time in its history, the event filled all 230,000 m² of exhibition space—a record following the 2025 edition, which had already attracted 357,000 visitors from 128 countries.
Gamescom 2026 closing recap and figures
Gamescom 2026 ended on Sunday, August 30, marking another year of growth for the Cologne event. Although the all-time record was not surpassed, the show consolidated its position as Europe’s undisputed leader.- Attendance up: 368,000 visitors from 131 countries, a 6% increase over the previous year.
- Record space: For the first time, Koelnmesse filled all 233,000 m² of its floor space.
- Exhibitors: More than 1,700 companies attended, setting a new event record.
- Digital reach: 624 million combined views for the various conferences and livestreams.
- Professionals: The gamescom congress attracted more than 1,100 participants, while gamescom dev attendance rose 15% to 6,200 international professionals.
Gamescom 2026 at a glance
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Public event dates | Wednesday, August 26 → Sunday, August 30, 2026 |
| Opening Night Live | Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 8:00 p.m. CEST |
| gamescom dev | August 23 → 25, 2026 (Confex) |
| gamescom congress | Thursday, August 27, 2026 |
| Location | Koelnmesse, Messeplatz 1, 50679 Cologne, Germany |
| Organizers | Koelnmesse GmbH and game — Verband der deutschen Games-Branche |
| 2025 edition (reference) | 357,000 visitors, 128 countries, 1,568 exhibitors |
| Ticketing | Online only at gamescom.global |
Complete Gamescom Week 2026 schedule
| Date | Highlight | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sun. August 23 | gamescom dev (side events) | VIP meetings and speakers ahead of the main program |
| Mon. August 24 – Tue. August 25 | gamescom dev | Developer conference at Confex; 220+ sessions and 390+ speakers in 2026 |
| Tue. August 25 | Opening Night Live | 8:00–10:00 p.m. CEST, Hall 1 (Event Arena); counters from 2 p.m., entry 5:45–7:30 p.m. |
| Wed. August 26 | Professional/press day | 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; reserved for professional badge holders and Wildcard holders (access from 1 p.m.) |
| Thu. August 27 | Public opening + gamescom congress | 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; the congress brings together decision-makers, educators and public-sector representatives |
| Fri. August 28 | Public opening | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. |
| Sat. August 29 | Public opening + Cosplay Contest final | 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; final at 5 p.m. CEST, Social Stage (Hall 1); Business Area closed |
| Sun. August 30 | Public opening | 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; Business Area closed |
Opening Night Live: program and access
Opening Night Live on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, streamed free worldwide on YouTube, Twitch and Steam, remains the week’s most watched event. It is co-hosted for the first time by Geoff Keighley and Eefje “sjokz” Depoortere.A confirmed highlight: Square Enix announced that a new segment dedicated to Final Fantasy VII Revelation will be presented on stage by game director Naoki Hamaguchi—a format suggesting more than a simple trailer, potentially an interview or further announcements. The game, the final installment in the Remake trilogy, is scheduled for release in the first half of 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 and PC.
On-site ONL access
- Strictly limited to people aged 18 and over.
- Access-stamp collection counters open from 2 p.m. in the Confex foyer.
- Entry to Hall 1 only between 5:45 and 7:30 p.m.; final closure after this time.
- Unreserved seating (first come, first served); arrival before 6 p.m. recommended.
In-person ONL tickets are already sold out. The livestream remains free and accessible to everyone without a ticket.
Opening Night Live 2026: complete announcement recap
On August 25, 2026, Opening Night Live, co-hosted for the first time by Geoff Keighley and Eefje “sjokz” Depoortere, delivered two hours of major reveals. Below is every announcement verified through official sources (Square Enix, CD Projekt Red, Konami, 4A Games…).📋 In brief: 7 World Premieres · 8 dated releases · 3 major expansions · Indie focus. Information verified on August 27, 2026.
World Premieres and major announcements
| Game | Studio / Publisher | Planned release | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nodusfall | HoYoverse | Not announced | Not announced (F2P) |
| Final Fantasy VII Revelation | Square Enix | Spring 2027 | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, PC |
| The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past | CD Projekt Red / Fool's Theory | 2027 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 |
| Gears of War: E-Day | Xbox Game Studios / The Coalition | October 6, 2026 | Xbox Series X|S, PC (Game Pass Day One) |
| Silent Hill: Townfall | Konami / No Code / Annapurna | September 24, 2026 | PS5 (6-month exclusive), PC |
| Rainbow Six Tactics | Ubisoft (Mario + Rabbids team) | 2027 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Metro 2039 | 4A Games / Deep Silver | February 2027 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
Nodusfall — HoYoverse opens the show with a dark fantasy F2P game
Nodusfall opens the conference with a surprise reveal: a co-op action RPG built in Unreal Engine 5, far removed from Genshin Impact. Players take on the role of Weavers in a world where divine authority has collapsed, hunting colossal creatures in teams, with gameplay reminiscent of Monster Hunter and Elden Ring. It is a free-to-play game without character gacha. No date or official platforms have been announced at this stage.Final Fantasy VII Revelation — Multiplatform, FITS system and the return of the Weapons
Final Fantasy VII Revelation (Square Enix) concludes the Remake trilogy with a gameplay trailer revealing the FITS system (special outfits granting unique roles: Tifa as a Black Mage, Cloud as a Warrior…), the return of the legendary Weapons (Emerald, Ruby and Ultimate) as endgame bosses, new summons including Typhon, and exploration mechanics such as a grappling hook, parachute and Chocobo. It launches in spring 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 and PC (Steam and EGS)—with no PlayStation exclusivity.The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past — New region, silver chain and Gwent’s return
Co-developed by CD Projekt Red and Fool's Theory, Songs of the Past introduces the Letten region, a rural territory hiding a dark secret, a new weapon (silver chain), new mutagens, monsters and quests—and confirms the return of Gwent. The expansion is expected in 2027, with ambitions comparable to Blood and Wine. It will also be available on Switch 2. The free Remastered edition launches on September 29, 2026. For full coverage, see our The Witcher 3 Remastered and Songs of the Past feature. Also see our feature on The Witcher 4.Gears of War: E-Day — Emergence under Unreal Engine 5
An explosive Unreal Engine 5 campaign trailer focused on the first 24 hours of Emergence and the initial confrontation with the Locust commander. Releases on October 6, 2026, Day One on Game Pass. Our analysis: Gears of War: E-Day — the prequel that could change everything.Silent Hill: Townfall — Cast revealed, temporary PS5 exclusivity
Konami presented the official Cast Reveal Trailer: protagonist Simon Ordell, played by Jovan Adepo, alongside Kezia Burrows (Zoë) and Terry O'Quinn (Richard). The game is an FPS set in the fictional Scottish town of St. Amelia, featuring the CRTV, a device that captures unstable signals to solve puzzles. Releases September 24, 2026—a six-month PS5 console exclusive, with Xbox expected in March 2027.Metro 2039 — “Renegade” trailer and February 2027 window
The Renegade trailer introduces the protagonist, a lone former Spartan known as The Stranger, infiltrating Moscow under the rule of the authoritarian Novoreich regime. Development has been strongly influenced by the studio’s experience during the war in Ukraine. Playable demo at the show (Hall 9.1). Releases in February 2027.Dated releases, demos and expansions
| Title | Studio / Publisher | Date | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy | Focus / Asobo | August 27, 2026 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series |
| Hitman: WoA — Snoop Dogg Target | IO Interactive | August 27, 2026 | PC, PS5, Series, Switch 2 |
| Onimusha: Way of the Sword (Demo) | Capcom | September 4, 2026 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series |
| Control Resonant | Remedy Entertainment | September 24, 2026 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series |
| Rayman Legends Retold | Ubisoft | October 1, 2026 | PC, PS5, Series, Switch |
| Showa American Story (EA) | NEKCOM Games | October 23, 2026 | PC, PS5 |
| Path of Exile 2 — Expansion | Grinding Gear Games | December 11, 2026 | PC, consoles |
| Ananta | NetEase Games | January 15, 2027 | PC, consoles, mobile |
Additional announcements
WARLOCK: Dungeons & Dragons (Wizards of the Coast, 2027) — dark fantasy action RPG presented by Maggie Robertson. Crazy Taxi: World Tour (SEGA) — open-world, multi-city reboot. Mega Man: Dual Override (Capcom, 2027) — dynamic 2.5D return. Indie games included Perceptum (horror through time mirrors), Gravhounds (co-op space shooter) and Sea of Remnants (fantasy naval combat). Also featured were a remake of Heroes of Might and Magic 3, the Early Access launch of 1666: Amsterdam and the world premiere of the FPS roguelite PUBG DED.NET.Sources — Opening Night Live 2026
- gamescom.global — Official ONL 2026 program
- VGC — FF7 Revelation at ONL (Square Enix)
- CD Projekt Red — Witcher 3: Songs of the Past and Remastered 09/29/2026
- Konami — Silent Hill: Townfall 09/24/2026
- Ubisoft News — Rayman and Rainbow Six Tactics
- GamesBeat — Gamescom 2026 recap
- shattered.io — Complete lineup
Future Games Show and announcements from August 27–28
Following Opening Night Live, Gamescom continued with the Future Games Show and various studio presentations on August 27 and 28, highlighting numerous anticipated titles:📋 In brief (August 27–28): Nearly 40 games presented during FGS, with a strong focus on sequels, spin-offs and action-strategy games.
Future Games Show highlights
- Worms Galactic Tactics: A new strategy spin-off (2027), alongside the announcement of a new mainline Worms game in development.
- Onimusha: Way of the Sword: Highly anticipated cinematic trailer, with release confirmed for September 4, 2026. Since its release, we have published our beginner’s guide to Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
- Wolcen II: Sequel to the acclaimed action RPG, planned for Early Access in 2027.
- The Walking Dead: Streets of Survival: New gameplay showing Negan’s arrival, releasing September 18, 2026.
- Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy: Final gameplay trailer before its August 27 release.
- Other notable games: DIOXIDE (soulslike FPS), Greak 2: Alliance of the Storms, Graveyard Keeper II, The Sinking City 2 and Kingdom III: Rising Realms.
Community events and Saturday, August 29 highlights
Beyond game announcements, these days marked the launch of major community events, including the Games Done Quick (GDQ) Gamescom special (August 28–30) and the grand Cosplay Contest final on August 29 at the Social Stage.- IGN Gamescom Studio: Live coverage continued with in-depth interviews and presentations of Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Persona 4 Revival, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Dragon's Dogma 2 Dark Arisen.
- Incidents and thefts: Behind the scenes, organizers issued an official statement after several equipment thefts, including PCs, were reported by independent developers at their booths, prompting local police intervention.
2026 tickets and prices
| Ticket type | Thu. / Fri. / Sun. | Saturday | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tagesticket (standard day) | €31.50 | €41.00 | Full access to the Entertainment Area |
| Reduced rate (students, schoolchildren, disabled visitors) | €22.50 | €32.00 | Proof required at entry |
| Abendticket (access from 4 p.m.) | €10.50 | €13.00 | Late entry until closing |
| Family ticket (1–2 adults + 1–3 children aged 7–12) | €69.50 | €86.00 | Maximum 5 people |
| Wildcard (Wednesday 08/26 from 1 p.m.) | €65.50 | — | Only non-professional Wednesday access; sold out |
| Reduced Wildcard (disability card) | €32.75 | — | Limited allocation, disabled visitors only |
| gamescom congress | €111.00 (€40 reduced) | — | Access to the August 27 congress only; separate event ticket required |
Confirmed games and publishers
| Game | Publisher / Studio | What is confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy VII Revelation | Square Enix | New Opening Night Live segment with director Naoki Hamaguchi |
| Gears of War: E-Day | Xbox Game Studios / The Coalition | Playable campaign demo ahead of its planned October 6, 2026 release |
| Rayman Legends Retold | Ubisoft (Montpellier / Milan) | 20-minute playable demo; release on October 1, 2026 |
| Metro 2039 | PLAION / Deep Silver | Listed among the show’s playable headliners |
| Alien: Isolation 2 | SEGA | Listed among the show’s playable headliners |
| Persona 4 Revival | SEGA / Atlus | Playable demo announced for the public |
| The Blood of Dawnwalker | Rebel Wolves | Technical showcase among the expected highlights |
| Dragon’s Dogma II: Dark Arisen | Capcom | First playable trial announced by Capcom |
To extend this Gamescom coverage, also read our analysis of The Blood of Dawnwalker, Rebel Wolves’ dark fantasy RPG.
Xbox announced its biggest summer presence for the brand’s 25th anniversary, with 25 playable games spread across 140 stations. Nintendo planned nine playable titles, including three internal productions, powered by the Switch 2’s momentum.Confirmed publishers and manufacturers: Nintendo, Microsoft/Xbox, Ubisoft, CD Projekt Red, Capcom, Krafton, Bandai Namco, SEGA, Electronic Arts, Konami, HoYoverse, NetEase Games, Level Infinite (Tencent), Embark Studios, Focus Entertainment, Astragon, Team17, Google, LEGO, Samsung Electronics, Bilibili and TikTok, as well as a Korean Pavilion coordinated by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA).Who is absent: Sony and Rockstar
Accommodation in Cologne
With the event sold out for the first time, booking early is advisable. There are two main options:- Hotels in Cologne and nearby areas: Demand rises sharply from summer onward; comparing prices and booking several weeks in advance is the safest approach.
- gamescomCamp, at Jugendpark, a few minutes’ walk from Koelnmesse on the Rhine: pitches for personal tents, beds in shared tents or a private Camp-House for two. Prices vary by day and are available at gamescomcamp.com.
- Access: Köln Messe/Deutz station is a two-minute walk from the Koelnmesse entrances. Official P21 parking is available by the day (cash payment), with a free shuttle to Confex on ONL evenings.
Practical access and regulations
- Tickets exclusively online at gamescom.global—no on-site ticket office.
- Hall access permitted from age 4; free for children aged 4 to 6 with proof of age.
- Opening Night Live strictly prohibited for under-18s.
- Wednesday reserved for professionals, press and Wildcard holders (access from 1 p.m.).
- Business Area closed at the weekend (Saturday and Sunday).
- Large items must be left in the cloakroom; on-site payments are mostly cashless.
Frequently asked questions
When is Gamescom 2026?
The event takes place from Wednesday, August 26 to Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Koelnmesse in Cologne. Opening Night Live is held the previous day, Tuesday, August 25.Can I still buy tickets for Opening Night Live?
No. In-person ONL tickets are sold out. The event remains available free via streaming on YouTube, Twitch and Steam.Will Sony/PlayStation be attending?
No. Sony has not exhibited directly at Gamescom since 2019 and favors its own State of Play presentations, generally broadcast after the show.How much does a public day ticket cost?
€31.50 from Thursday to Sunday, excluding Saturday; €41 on Saturday, the busiest day. A reduced rate and family ticket are also available.Will GTA VI be playable at the show?
This is considered extremely unlikely by the specialist press: Rockstar does not attend third-party shows and communicates independently. The game is expected on November 19, 2026.Sources
- gamescom.global — Official information and opening hours
- gamescom.global — Official ticketing
- gamescom.global — Opening Night Live program
- dev.gamescom.global — gamescom dev
- gamescomcamp.com — Official accommodation
- GamesBeat — Gamescom 2026 sells out exhibition space
- VGC — Final Fantasy VII Revelation at Opening Night Live
- Ubisoft News — Rayman Legends Retold at Gamescom 2026
- Sportskeeda — All games confirmed for Gamescom 2026
- shattered.io — Dates, lineup and tickets
After the Gamescom announcements and highlights, continue our event coverage with the complete Paris Games Week 2026 guide, including dates, tickets, games and the latest program details.
🏆 Gamescom Awards 2026 — Complete winners list
The awards ceremony took place on August 28, 2026. This edition was marked by the dominance of CD PROJEKT RED and SEGA, which took home three trophies each, followed by Capcom and Ubisoft with two awards each.Best games by platform
| Platform | Winning game | Studio / Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation | Onimusha: Way of the Sword | Capcom |
| Xbox | Forza Horizon 6 | Playground Games |
| PC | Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 | Creative Assembly / SEGA |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Rayman Legends Retold | Ubisoft |
| Mobile | Where Winds Meet | Everstone Studio / NetEase |
Artistic and technical awards
- 🎨 Best Visuals: Metro 2039 (4A Games / Deep Silver)
- 🔊 Best Audio: Alien: Isolation 2 (Creative Assembly / SEGA)
- 🕹️ Best Gameplay: Onimusha: Way of the Sword (Capcom)
- ⚡ Most Epic Game: Tides of Annihilation (Eclipse Glow Games)
- 😄 Most Entertaining Game: Wanderburg (Randwerk)
- 🌸 Wholesome Game: Finding Polka (lidlocks)
- 🌍 Games for Impact: SOKO 1977: Anti-Terror Task Force (Paintbucket Games)
Special mentions
- 🏅 Best Booth: CD PROJEKT RED — for its staging of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past
- ❤️ Heart of Gaming Award: Games Done Quick (GDQ) — recognized for its initiative supporting democratic values
