adminThe GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 attendance total reached 20,000, a 30% decrease from the previous year. The turnout marks a significant change for the San Francisco event, which has experienced strong growth since returning after the COVID pandemic.
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GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 attendance and recent turnout
Outside the attendance dip after the conference resumed following the pandemic, this was the lowest turnout since 2011. That year, 19,000 people attended the event at San Francisco’s Moscone Center.
Attendance climbed to 28,000 in 2023 and exceeded 30,000 in 2024, setting a record. The number remained at that level in 2025 before falling this year. Comparing figures across editions can help show the scale of a change, though attendance totals alone do not explain its causes.
Factors cited behind the decline
Reported concerns included the cost of attending and uncertainty among international visitors about US immigration enforcement. These issues may affect travel and participation decisions for both individuals and companies.
Some businesses that skipped the event or brought smaller teams reportedly redirected their event budgets to other industry gatherings, including Develop Brighton and Tokyo Game Show. For companies planning future travel, comparing ticket, accommodation and transport costs—and deciding which events best suit their goals—can help make budgets go further.
Sessions, speakers and exhibitors
Despite the lower turnout, the first edition under the GDC Festival of Gaming name featured a substantial programme. It included more than 700 sessions delivered by 1,100 speakers, as well as over 300 exhibitors.
GDC president Nina Brown described the event as the first year of a new concept and said 20,000 unique attendees from more than 85 countries took part. She also pointed to busy sessions, activity on the show floor and meetings throughout the week as signs of industry engagement. Brown said the organisers intend to keep gathering community feedback and developing the festival.
For attendees deciding whether to take part in a future edition, the programme’s session topics, opportunities to meet industry peers and exhibitor lineup may be useful factors to weigh alongside travel costs. The 2026 figures show that a smaller audience can still coincide with a wide-ranging schedule, although each visitor’s experience will depend on their objectives.
When will GDC Festival of Gaming return?
The festival is scheduled to return to Moscone Center in San Francisco from March 1 to March 5, 2027. Visitors considering the next edition can use the dates to plan travel and accommodation early, while checking official event information for any later updates.
Overall, GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 attendance fell to 20,000 amid reported cost and international travel concerns. The event nevertheless hosted hundreds of sessions and exhibitors, and its next edition is planned for March 2027.
