Guide for developers

Game festivals and showcases calendar 2026 to 2027

By GameStart. Updated 14 October 2026. 42 upcoming events.

Festivals, showcases and Steam events are where players and press find new games. This calendar lists the upcoming ones that indie developers can take part in, with what you can do at each and any published deadline. We only list dates the organiser has published, and link to the page we checked: confirm there before you plan around a date.

Getting ready for one? Our Steam Next Fest guide and press kit guide cover the preparation.

October 2026

12 Oct to 19 Oct Steam event
Steam Cooking Fest 2026
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.
16 Oct Showcase
The MIX Fall Online Showcase 2026
Online. Media Indie Exchange (The MIX)
Curated online indie showcase; selection for this edition appears complete.
19 Oct to 26 Oct Steam event
Steam Next Fest: October 2026
Online. Valve (Steam)
Join with a free demo on Steam (registration via Steamworks).
Deadline: Registration closed 2026-08-31 11:59 PM PDT; required items due 2026-09-28; set demo live or opt out before 2026-10-19 10:00 AM PDT
22 Oct to 25 Oct Convention, tabletop
SPIEL Essen 2026
Messe Essen, Essen, Germany. Friedhelm Merz Verlag (SPIEL Essen)
Exhibit tabletop games (exhibitor booking).
26 Oct to 2 Nov Steam event
Steam Scream V Fest
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.
29 Oct to 1 Nov Convention
gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2026
Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand. Koelnmesse / Thailand Game Show
Apply for an exhibitor booth; Pitch Competition and Asia Game Talent Showcase linked from the page.

November 2026

16 Nov to 23 Nov Steam event
Steam Auto-Battler RPG Fest 2026
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.

December 2026

4 Dec to 6 Dec Convention, tabletop
PAX Unplugged 2026
Philadelphia, PA, USA. PAX (ReedPop / Penny Arcade)
Exhibit tabletop games (Exhibit at PAX).
17 Dec to 4 Jan Steam event
Steam Winter Sale 2026
Online. Valve (Steam)
Any game released at least 30 days before the start can take part with a discount (Discount Management page).

January 2027

7 Jan to 10 Jan Convention
Super MAGFest 2027
Gaylord National, National Harbor, MD, USA. MAGFest
MIVS (MAGFest Indie Videogame Showcase) booths; 2027 application closed.
Deadline: closed
14 Jan to 15 Jan Showcase
C-BIPOC 2027 Creative Showcase (Conference on BIPOC Game Studies)
University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA. Conference on BIPOC Game Studies
Creative Showcase for games and related media, especially by BIPOC creators; 2027 call closed.
Deadline: 2026-07-15 (closed)
14 Jan to 18 Jan Steam event
Steam Desktop Companion Fest 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.
Deadline: Discount entry and opt-out before 2027-01-14 10:00 AM PDT
18 Jan to 19 Jan Convention
Pocket Gamer Connects London 2027
The Brewery, London, UK. Steel Media
Apply to The Big Indie Pitch (free for eligible ticket holders, places limited); indie showcase.
21 Jan to 24 Jan Convention
Taipei Game Show 2027
Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1, Taipei, Taiwan. Taipei Computer Association
INDIE HOUSE booth (B2C 2027-01-21 to 01-24, B2B 2027-01-21 to 01-22), now waitlist only; Indie Game Award 2027 submissions closed.
Deadline: Indie Game Award 2026-08-19 (closed); INDIE HOUSE waitlist, no deadline stated
25 Jan to 1 Feb Steam event
Steam Shop Keeper Fest 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.

February 2027

4 Feb to 8 Feb Steam event
Steam Sheep Fest 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.
8 Feb to 15 Feb Steam event
Steam Couch Co-Op Fest 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.
22 Feb to 1 Mar Steam event
Steam Next Fest: February 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Join with a free demo on Steam (registration via Steamworks).
Deadline: Registration 2027-01-10 11:59 PM PST; demo and store page for Press Preview 2027-01-25; required items 2027-02-08

March 2027

1 Mar to 5 Mar Convention
GDC 2027
Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA, USA. Informa (GDC)
Attend and exhibit; indie games shown in the IGF Pavilion.
2 Mar to 4 Mar Festival
Independent Games Festival (IGF) 2027
Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA, USA (at GDC). Informa (GDC)
IGF Awards finalists shown in the IGF Pavilion; ceremony 2027-03-03; 2027 submissions closed.
Deadline: closed
8 Mar to 15 Mar Steam event
Steam Rhythm Fest 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.
18 Mar to 25 Mar Steam event
Steam Spring Sale 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Any game released at least 30 days before the start can take part with a discount (Discount Management page).
29 Mar to 5 Apr Steam event
Steam Dinos vs. Robots Fest 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.

April 2027

12 Apr to 19 Apr Steam event
Steam Racing Fest 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.
22 Apr to 25 Apr Convention
PAX East 2027
Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, MA, USA. PAX (ReedPop / Penny Arcade)
Exhibit; PAX Rising Showcase for independent games.
22 Apr to 25 Apr Festival
gamescom latam 2027 with BIG Festival
Anhembi District, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Koelnmesse / BIG Festival
Submit a game to the BIG Festival awards (submissions open; deadline not stated on the page); exhibit, including BIG Starter and BIG Highlight indie programmes.
22 Apr to 26 Apr Steam event
Steam Witch Fest 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.
26 Apr to 3 May Steam event
Steam Fighting Fest 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.

May 2027

10 May to 17 May Steam event
Steam Real-Time Strategy Fest 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.
21 May to 23 May Festival
BitSummit 2027
Miyako Messe, Kyoto, Japan. BitSummit Executive Committee
Apply as an exhibitor (applications expected to open around November 2026).
25 May to 28 May Convention
Nordic Game 2027 (NG27 Spring)
Slagthuset, Malmo, Sweden. Nordic Game
Exhibit at the NG27 Expo with discounted indie packages; business meetings.
31 May to 3 Jun Steam event
Steam Mountaineering Fest 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Themed fest: eligible games register via Steamworks; discounted, unreleased, demo and free games can take part.

June 2027

3 Jun to 12 Jun Festival
Tribeca Festival 2027 (Tribeca Games)
New York City, NY, USA. Tribeca Enterprises
Submit a game to the Games category via FilmFreeway (entry fee $40 early, $60 official, $80 extended).
Deadline: Early 2026-10-28, official 2026-12-02, extended 2027-03-04 (11:59 PM ET)
4 Jun to 6 Jun Convention, tabletop
UK Games Expo 2027
NEC Birmingham, UK. UK Games Expo Ltd
Apply to exhibit (applications open for 2027); Bastion Indie Games Market; publisher and designer playtest sessions.
14 Jun to 21 Jun Steam event
Steam Next Fest: June 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Join with a free demo on Steam (registration via Steamworks).
Deadline: Registration 2027-04-25 11:59 PM PDT; demo and store page for Press Preview 2027-05-17; required items 2027-05-31
24 Jun to 8 Jul Steam event
Steam Summer Sale 2027
Online. Valve (Steam)
Any game released at least 30 days before the start can take part with a discount (Discount Management page).
25 Jun to 27 Jun Convention, tabletop
PAX Unplugged Houston 2027
Houston, TX, USA. PAX (ReedPop / Penny Arcade)
Exhibit tabletop games (Exhibit at PAX).

July 2027

13 Jul to 15 Jul Festival
Develop:Brighton 2027
DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, Brighton, UK. Tandem Events
Enter the Indie Showcase (unpublished indie games; judged finalists shown at the Expo); exhibit.

August 2027

5 Aug to 8 Aug Convention, tabletop
Gen Con 2027
Indianapolis, IN, USA. Gen Con LLC
Exhibit tabletop games; run events.
23 Aug to 29 Aug Convention
gamescom 2027
Cologne, Germany. Koelnmesse / game
Exhibit; public days 2027-08-26 to 08-29. Indie Arena Booth call for 2027 not yet published.

September 2027

3 Sept to 6 Sept Convention
PAX West 2027
Seattle Convention Center, Seattle, WA, USA. PAX (ReedPop / Penny Arcade)
Exhibit; PAX Rising Showcase for independent games.
16 Sept to 20 Sept Convention
Tokyo Game Show 2027
Japan (2027 venue not yet named). CESA
Exhibit; Indie Game Project area (2027 application details not yet published).

How this calendar is made

Each entry links to the organiser's own page (or Valve's Steamworks documentation for Steam events), where we confirmed the dates. Events whose next dates aren't published yet are left out rather than guessed.

Dates last checked against official pages on 13 October 2026.