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The Game Developers Conference (GDC) unveiled its rebranded “GDC Festival of Gaming” this year, drawing over 20,000 unique attendees to San Francisco for a week-long celebration of the game industry . The event marked a significant transformation for the long-running conference, featuring a simplified pass structure and major pricing overhaul designed to make content more accessible .
Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | GDC Festival of Gaming |
| Dates | March 9–13, 2026 |
| Location | Moscone Center + Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, San Francisco |
| Attendance | 20,000+ unique attendees |
| Sessions | Over 700 cross-disciplinary sessions |
| Speakers | 1,100+ industry professionals |
| Exhibitors | 300+ companies |
| Networking Meetings | Thousands |
| Countries Represented | 85+ |
| 2027 Dates | March 1–5, 2027 |
Rebranding and Accessibility Improvements
GDC rebranded last year and implemented a comprehensive pricing overhaul and simplified pass structure to make content more accessible to attendees . The changes were driven directly by community feedback, according to organizers.
Nina Brown, President of GDC, explained the vision behind the transformation:
“This was the first year of a bold new concept for GDC. We are thrilled that 20,000 unique attendees representing our global community showed up from over 85 countries and trusted us with this evolution. 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. This transformation was built directly from community feedback, and we’re excited to continue listening, learning, and evolving the GDC Festival of Gaming as we look ahead to 2027.”
Event Highlights
By the Numbers
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Cross-disciplinary sessions | 700+ |
| Speakers | 1,100+ |
| Exhibitors | 300+ |
| Networking meetings | Thousands |
| Countries represented | 85+ |
Attendance Comparison
According to organizer Informa Festivals, last year’s event attracted 30,000 attendees, including 6,000 across the GDC Nights evening program . The 2026 figure of 20,000 unique attendees represents a shift in how attendance is measured under the new festival format .
Looking Ahead to 2027
GDC will return to the Moscone Center next year from March 1 to March 5, 2027 . The call for submissions for the GDC Festival of Gaming will open in early July 2026 .
