Gamescom 2026 will take place in Cologne, Germany, and will feature a three‑day Games Done Quick speedrunning event from August 28 to 30, streamed on Twitch and YouTube and supporting the Gaming for Democracy charity. Originally launched in 2002 as the Games Convention and moved to the Koelnmesse in Cologne in 2009, Gamescom has become the largest video game trade show after the closure of E3. Tim Endres, director of Gamescom at Koelnmesse, said the event has grown through long‑term development of scale, international relevance and digital reach, and that the hybrid model and formats such as Opening Night Live and regional editions have expanded its audience. Stefan Heikhaus, director of Gamescom at the German Games Industry Association, said the organization feels a responsibility to the community and industry each year, describing the effort as excitement rather than pressure, and noted plans to integrate a developer conference, expand the indie showcase, add Games Done Quick and strengthen community formats such as the social stage. He added that the 2026 event will include closer integration of the developer conference, further development of the indie showcase, the addition of Games Done Quick and an even stronger focus on community formats such as the social stage. The upcoming Games Done Quick will mark the first in‑person GDQ event outside North America, running for three days with speedrunning competitions and a charity initiative. Dozens of games are confirmed for the 2026 show, including The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Songs of the Past, Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Alien: Isolation 2, Fable, Star Wars: Galactic Racer and Metro 2039. The organizers said future editions will continue to expand the hybrid format and maintain international events in Latin America and Asia, with no plans for a North American expansion. The event will remain focused on Cologne as the central meeting point for the global industry and community.