Show Your Game at gamescom dev 2026

The gamescom dev indie competition

Are you working on an indie game and looking for a way to get it in front of publishers, investors, and other developers?

The indie expo at gamescom dev conference offers selected teams the opportunity to showcase their projects as part of the official conference program.

Through the indie competition, 24 teams will receive a sponsored booth and access to one of the industry’s key networking environments.

What’s on offer

Selected teams get:

  • A fully equipped indie booth (including TV and seating)

  • Electricity for your setup

  • Visibility through gamescom dev channels

  • Access to the “Pitch It” session

  • Consideration for the indie award

  • 1 Business Pass and 1 Content Pass

  • A reduced booth price of €299 (standard price €1,499)

Teams are expected to bring their own hardware (computers, controllers, etc.) and ensure that at least one team member is present at the booth during opening hours.

Who should apply

This opportunity is aimed at teams that:

  • Are a registered company (student teams can apply if there is a clear plan to establish a company, with supporting material such as a pitch deck)

  • Do not yet have a publisher attached

  • Have a playable build (at least at alpha stage; prototypes are not eligible)

  • Can provide gameplay footage

As always, diverse teams and perspectives are encouraged to apply.

Timeline

  • Submission deadline: April 30, 2026

  • Review period: May 1–10, 2026

  • Notifications: by May 13, 2026

  • Event dates: August 24–25, 2026

Selected teams will have one week to confirm participation by completing payment. If a spot is not confirmed in time, it will be offered to another applicant.

How to apply

You can find all the details and submit your project here: https://dev.gamescom.global/conference/indies/

Vote for IGDA Finland: Support Shirt 2023 Design Competition!

Community voting has started and will last until the 15th of May, the winner will be announced on IGDA Finland 20th birthday on the 27th of May. The new design will be available after the party and be sold there to support IGDA Finland’s future events!


 

ALSO

If you´re interested in the birthday party, make sure to get your tickets now!

 

IGDA Finland Support Shirt Competition 2023 together with upcoming birthday party!

IGDA Finland support shirt competition is back and this year we´re celebrating in collaboration with IGDA Finland’s 20th birthday!

IGDA Finland invites you to participate and showcase your creativity by designing a unique support shirt for this year's special occasion. The winner will be revealed on 27.5 at IGDA Finland´s 20th birthday and the top 3 will be getting tickets and their traveling expenses covered the event!

IGDA_Digihub16.png

Prize

  • Top 3 gets tickets to the birthday party + travel expenses covered
  • 350€ Gift card (S/K group/amazon/verkkokauppa)
  • T-shirt with their design

File specs

  • Min 300dpi
  • 4000x4000px in .PNG
  • Max 10MB
IGDA_Digihub16.png

Rules

  • Includes IGDA Finland text somehow
  • Includes “20” somehow
  • Includes artist signature (highly recommended)
  • If you use the original IGDA logo, don’t edit it.
  • Max 3 submissions
  • Must be located in Finland
  • Avoid using other companies' IP
  • AI Art is not allowed

Schedule:

  • Submission time: 3.4 - 30.4

  • Voting time: 2.5 - 14.5

  • The winner will be revealed on 27.5 at IGDA Finland´s 20th birthday and the top 3 will be getting tickets to the event + travel expenses covered, shirts will be available immediately after that.

 

Volunteers:

  • Art: Noora Jokela

  • Copywriting: Emma Vantaa & Niko Pyrhönen

  • Website + forms: Emma Vantaa & Chris Hong

  • Social media: Emma Vantaa

  • Project lead: Niko Pyrhönen

  • Art lead: Egor Sandalnev

  • Art: Elise Juutila

  • Art: Chris Hong


More interested in the birthday party? Get your tickets now!

Submit Your Game to DevGAMM Gdansk 2023

DevGAMM will hold its first conference in Gdańsk, Poland at the AmberExpo on March 1-2.

DevGAMM Gdańsk will be done in collaboration with Digital Vikings, which was born out of an idea of matching indie developers with publishers and investors.

The game developers can already submit games for DevGAMM Showcase, to present their projects to all the attendees, get a booth, invite guests for a play test, and find partners. The submission deadline is January 25.

Moreover, the event program will include the Digital Vikings Awards, which is a brand-new competition for indie game developers. The event will also host The Best Indie Publisher of 2022 award. The developers will compete in 6 categories:

Best Indie Game Awards
Most Anticipated Indie Game
Best Multiplayer Co-op
Hidden Gem
Best Solo-Dev Game
Best Art Style

The winners will be announced during DevGAMM Gdańsk 2023 on March 2. Submit your game until January 25.

The event will gather game industry professionals for networking, sessions, new games lineup, career opportunities, and three parties.

If you can't make it to Gdańsk, check out a new Online Networking ticket to access the attendees list and schedule virtual calls. There’s a special ticket type for small indie teams as well.

IGDA Finland members get 15% off tickets when using promocode: DG_IGDA_15

Tickets are on sale and available on the website.

Last Call for the Big Indie Pitch

Attention Indie Developers: Are you currently working on a new mobile, smartwatch, or handheld game?

The Mobile edition of the Very Big Indie Pitch will take place at Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki on Tuesday September 27th from 14:00-17:00. This unique speed dating format gives each developer five minutes (including Q&A) with each panel of experts, meaning all entrants will get feedback in real-time and post-event via email too. Think speed-dating for developers and experts, and you get the idea.

The basic criteria:

  • You can pitch games for Mobile, Mobile VR and AR

  • You can pitch your game even if you’ve pitched it at a previous BIP

  • They prefer to see unreleased games, though we’re happy to see games that are out too

  • They allow studios with a max of 12 members to enter the Big Indie Pitch (this includes the staff of any partners you are working with)

The deadline for submissions is September 16th.