GDC Festival of Gaming Kicks Off 40th Edition in San Francisco

Expanded event reflects interconnected games industry ecosystem with 700+ sessions, 300+ exhibitors, and special events.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The GDC Festival of Gaming, the world's premier games industry event, begins a week-long celebration in and around the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Now in its 40th edition, the reimagined GDC Festival of Gaming features a unified content program across five days with over 700 cross-disciplinary sessions, a transformed Festival Hall with five themed neighborhoods, and special events including the Independent Games Festival Awards and Game Developers Choice Awards.

Why it matters

As the games industry continues to evolve, the GDC Festival of Gaming is adapting to reflect the broader interconnected ecosystem, providing more ways for professionals across disciplines to participate, collaborate, and shape the future of the industry. The expanded offerings cater to the diverse needs of game-makers, publishers, investors, technologists, and other key stakeholders.

The details

The GDC Festival of Gaming replaces the previous All-Access pass with a discounted Festival Pass that grants access to the entire content program. The reimagined Festival Hall features five themed neighborhoods: Game Development, Future Tech, Indie & Education, International, and Monetization & Player Engagement. Over 300 exhibitors will be present, including industry leaders like Sony, Microsoft, Tencent, and Meta. New additions include the GDC Commons for indie game sessions and the News & Demo Stage for industry announcements.

  • The GDC Festival of Gaming kicks off today, March 9, 2026.
  • The event runs through March 13, 2026.

The players

Nina Brown

President of GDC.

Mark DeLoura

GDC's Executive Director of Innovation and Growth.

Rob Pardo

Influential game developer who designed iconic strategy and RPG titles, including StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, WarCraft III: Reign of Chaos, and Diablo III.

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What they’re saying

“GDC is transforming to meet games industry professionals where they are, and where they are headed. This year's Festival expands what GDC can be, creating more ways for our community to participate, collaborate, and chart the future of our industry, together.”

— Nina Brown, President of GDC (Business Wire)

“GDC Festival of Gaming is home to everyone who engages in the massive and miraculous undertaking of shipping a game. The Festival is here for all professionals in the games world to meet and form the connections that lead to the next innovations in games. We're excited to kick off the week by welcoming new friends and established colleagues back to GDC!”

— Mark DeLoura, GDC's Executive Director of Innovation and Growth (Business Wire)

What’s next

The GDC Festival of Gaming will host several key events throughout the week, including the Opening Night at the Ballpark on March 9, the Developers Concert on March 10, the Independent Games Festival Awards on March 11, and the Game Developers Choice Awards on March 12.

The takeaway

The reimagined GDC Festival of Gaming reflects the evolving and interconnected nature of the games industry, providing a comprehensive platform for professionals across disciplines to connect, learn, and shape the future of the medium. The expanded offerings cater to the diverse needs of the global games community.