Industry Events Calendar
Key UK games industry events for 2026 - conferences, festivals, networking & career opportunities.
February
Game Anglia Festival
Celebrating the East of England's video games industry with inspiring talks and an indie showcase.
Yorkshire Games Festival
Annual celebration of games culture in Yorkshire. Talks, exhibitions, and networking at the National Science & Media Museum.
DevMix: London
A focused game development networking event for professionals to share insights and discuss trends.
guildford.games Festival
Annual celebration of Guildford's world-class studio cluster including Larian, Criterion, and Supermassive.
March
National Careers Week
A nationwide celebration of career guidance with specific resources and activities for the games industry.
UKIE Conference 2026
The trade body's main conference uniting the UK's games ecosystem to discuss the future of the industry.
UK Video Game Awards
Celebrating the best of British games development. Usually held in tandem with the UKIE Conference.
Women in Games Careers Expo
A global online event for women and gender-diverse talent featuring CV feedback and studio booths.
DreamHack Birmingham
The UK's biggest gaming festival — esports, freeplay, expo, cosplay, and creators. Featuring ESL One Dota 2, CDL Major II, COD Warzone Resurgence Series, and a Sidemen takeover.
Game Dev Local - GDLX 2026
Game Dev Local is a community full of kind, generous, supportive and creative people. It's also one of the most diverse communities you can be part of.
Get into Games: Brighton
A localised careers festival specifically targeting the Brighton development hub.
April
RE:FORMAT Manchester
Games + Tech Summit from FORMAT Group, bringing together game studios, developers, brands and community leaders in Manchester.
London Games Festival
Week-long celebration featuring industry talks, public events, and the BAFTA Games Awards.
Screen Play Conference
Industry-focused conference within London Games Festival. Talks and panels from leading studios.
BAFTA Games Awards
The UK's most prestigious games awards. Great for spotting senior industry figures.
Insomnia Gaming Festival (LAN)
UK's largest LAN party festival, esports tournaments, and creator appearances.
May
Insomnia Gaming Festival (EXPO)
Meet your favourite gaming brands, demo new hardware and indie titles, chat with creators and devs, and grab photos in the cosplay zones.
GaMaYo
Networking event in Leeds for developers to showcase prototypes and connect.
EGX 2026
UK's biggest consumer gaming event, now running alongside MCM Comic Con at ExCeL London. Includes a Career Fair for meeting recruiters.
Norwich Games Festival
Regional festival with technical talks and an indie showcase at The Forum.
UK Games Expo (UKGE)
UK's largest hobby games convention. Essential for board and strategy games crossover.
June
Game Music Festival 2026
The sixth edition of the Game Music Festival features five live concerts and an educational programme with many special guests. This year includes the music of Diablo, Hades, and Persona.
Liv Game Summit 2026
A full day of content designed to bring the North West and the wider UK games industry together, facilitating networking opportunities and supporting career development.
September
October
FORMATGG Liverpool
The Ultimate Gaming Social from FORMAT Group — blending game studio showcases, community leaders, entertainment and nightlife culture.
Game Republic New Horizons 2026
The flagship North of England event focusing on the future of the industry, supported by Tees Valley Combined Authority.