Trending Now - GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 Experiences 30% Attendance Decline

WHO:

GDC Festival of Gaming, organized by Informa PLC

Nina Brown, president of GDC

Jason Enos, game industry veteran at ENO7 Consulting

Attendees from over 85 countries, including tech giants like Nvidia, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft

WHAT:

GDC Festival of Gaming saw a 30% drop in attendance in 2026

Total attendance was 20,000, down from over 30,000 in 2025

The event hosted more than 700 sessions from 1,100 speakers and over 300 exhibitors

Ticket prices ranged from $549 for students to $2,499 for others

The event will return in 2027, scheduled from March 1 to March 5

WHERE:

San Francisco, California, at the Moscone Center

WHEN:

The GDC Festival of Gaming took place in March 2026

The event will return from March 1 to March 5, 2027

WHY:

Attendance decline attributed to widespread tech layoffs and the Trump administration’s hostility towards foreign visitors

Concerns among international visitors about U.S. immigration crackdowns

High costs in San Francisco and industry turmoil, including major game flops and cancellations

HOW:

GDC organizers implemented feedback by lowering some ticket prices

The event featured international showcases from countries including Brazil, Portugal, and Germany

The conference included multiple awards shows and side parties, such as a happy hour hosted by Netflix at the Jewish Contemporary Museum

(UPDATED March 17, 2026 01:33 UTC)

The GDC Festival of Gaming, held in San Francisco at the Moscone Center, saw a significant drop in attendance this year, with only 20,000 participants compared to over 30,000 in 2025. Despite the decline, the event featured more than 700 sessions from 1,100 speakers and showcased international talent from countries like Brazil, Portugal, and Germany, while ticket prices ranged from $549 for students to $2,499 for others. Organizers have announced that the festival will return next year, scheduled from March 1 to March 5, 2027, as they continue to address challenges such as high costs and concerns about U.S. immigration policies affecting international attendees.