GDC Festival of Gaming Sees 30% Attendance Plunge

Tech layoffs and travel restrictions impact one of San Francisco's biggest conferences.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:36pm by Ben Kaplan

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GDC Festival of Gaming, one of San Francisco's largest tech conferences, saw a 30% drop in attendance this year, drawing 20,000 attendees compared to over 30,000 the previous year. Organizers cited factors like widespread tech layoffs and the Trump administration's restrictions on international travel as contributing to the decline.

Why it matters

The drop in attendance at GDC reflects broader challenges facing San Francisco's tech industry and tourism sector. The city has seen a decline in international visitors due to travel bans and border detentions, while the tech downturn has led to major layoffs impacting conference attendance.

The details

The video game conference, rebranded this year as the GDC Festival of Gaming, saw sparser foot traffic, half-filled panel rooms, and some developers avoiding the event due to fears about traveling to the U.S. Other factors included the cancellation of high-profile games and shutdowns in the industry. Ticket prices were lowered in response to feedback, ranging from $549 for students to $2,499 for larger studios.

  • GDC Festival of Gaming took place last week.
  • The conference has committed to returning to San Francisco next year from March 1 to 5.

The players

Informa PLC

The event organizer for GDC Festival of Gaming.

Nina Brown

President of GDC, who said the conference's 'bold new concept' demonstrated the industry's power to come together.

Hideo Kojima

Legendary game developer who canceled his previously scheduled keynote appearance.

Rob Pardo

Former Blizzard Entertainment executive who replaced Kojima as the keynote speaker.

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What they’re saying

“This was the first year of a bold new concept for GDC. The energy across the Festival, from packed sessions to a vibrant show floor and thousands of meetings happening throughout the week, demonstrates how powerful it is when our industry comes together to learn from one another, build partnerships and shape what comes next for games.”

— Nina Brown, President of GDC

What’s next

GDC Festival of Gaming has committed to returning to San Francisco next year from March 1 to 5.

The takeaway

The significant drop in attendance at one of San Francisco's biggest tech conferences highlights the broader challenges facing the city's tech industry and tourism sector, including the impact of tech layoffs and restrictive travel policies.