gamescom continues its growth course: from August 20 to 24, more companies than ever before will present their new products on the grounds of Koelnmesse and online at gamescom.global.
With over 1,500 exhibitors from 72 countries, gamescom 2025 achieves a new record and thus offers the greatest diversity in its history. The gross area has grown in comparison to the previous year by 3,000 square meters to a total of 233,000 square meters, thus also marking a new record high.
Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH:
“gamescom 2025 impressively underlines its economic relevance and international radiance. We are investing in a targeted fashion in expansion, infrastructure, and continuing development in order to further reinforce the economic success of our exhibitors. The growth to 233,000 square meters of area and the record registration numbers confirm the sustained success of the hybrid event concept. Together we can already look forward to unprecedented variety.”
Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – the German Games Industry Association: “Whether in the community or in the international games industry: the anticipation for gamescom 2025 is immense. And for a good reason, because the gamescom week has never had so many highlights: the gamescom Opening Night Live, the biggest indie area to date, concerts, esports competitions, cosplay, and a great variety of exhibitors, for the first time more than 1,500. It is already clear now: the gamescom year 2025 will be unforgettable!”
International presence at a high level
With 40 country pavilions from 35 nations in the business area and indie area, gamescom is solidifying its relevance for the global games industry. New this year among the represented countries in comparison with last year are Argentina, Dubai, Japan, Kirgistan, Qatar, and this year’s gamescom partner country Thailand.
gamescom Opening Night Live with 5,000 seats
gamescom Opening Night Live is this year taking place in Hall 1 for the first time and offers 5,000 seats. The new location possesses a highly modern technical infrastructure and provides the show with its to-date largest stage since its first edition in 2019. In the past year, gamescom Opening Night Live registered around 44 million digital accesses worldwide.
Broad thematic diversity, also for the trade public
This year too, gamescom offers a broad program for trade visitors in addition to the varied offering for private visitors. With the devcom developer conference, the gamescom congress, and the gamescom invest circle, dedicated formats are being implemented to discuss relevant themes from development or the potential revolving around games. Young studios thereby receive the chance to present themselves to international investors.
- devcom
The devcom developer conference (August 17–19, 2025), Europe’s leading developer conference, is once again taking place in the Confex of Koelnmesse. More than 300 speakers offer a broad spectrum of talks, panels, and workshops on 17 stages. The program is supplemented by its own Expo Floor, matchmaking formats, and many on-site events. Also there, among others, are studios like Avalanche Studios, Crytek, Electronic Arts, Guerrilla, Insomniac Games, Microsoft, Riot Games, Sandfall Interactive, Ubisoft, and Valve.
gamescom congress
The programmatic orientation of this year’s gamescom congress (August 21, 2025) focuses on social responsibility, well-being, and immersive technologies. With approx. 180 speakers from the economy, politics, and society, nine stages in the Confex will be filled with talks, panels, and workshops and themes revolving around the potential of games.
gamescom invest circle
The gamescom invest circle (August 21, 2025) brings together selected young gaming start-ups with international investors, publishers, and strategic partners in the Confex. The format is supported by the Games Syndicate Cologne, the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. The keynote speaker is Jason della Rocca, the former Chief Operating Officer of the International Game Developer Association (IGDA) and co-founder of Execution Labs.
gamescom cares and gamescom goes green: measures for social responsibility and sustainability
With gamescom cares, gamescom offers a central platform for social engagement. Projects, campaigns, services, and events of the exhibitors, corporate partners, and gamescom acquire greater visibility here. This year, a particularly outstanding project of this category will be part of gamescom Opening Night Live for the first time and be presented on the big stage. An expanded awareness concept becomes part of gamescom cares.
In addition to this, gamescom is also once again implementing targeted measures for more ecological responsibility in 2025 with gamescom goes green. These include, for example, the “Trash Galore” initiative, in the course of which around 1,880 kilograms of materials were already saved from disposal in 2024 and made available to social institutions in Cologne, as well as the “Spende Dein Pfand” (donate your deposit) campaign, and the gamescom forest, which grew this year to 29,000 square meters.
Cologne, a pulsating meeting point for gaming, music, and culture fans
On August 23 and 24, the gamescom city festival 2025 invites once again to a diverse live program right in the middle of the Cologne city center. Well-known acts like Blond, Blumengarten, and Kettcar will appear on stages at Friesenplatz and Rudolfplatz. The free open-air event will be complemented by DJ music, food trucks, and experience offerings with, among others, Lego and EA. The “TOGGO Tour” for younger visitors will also be guest at Picassoplatz. One atmospheric highlight is the extensive laser illumination that will set the stage for the Cologne skyline at twilight over the entire event week – a strong signal for the charisma of gamescom as an urban and economic event.
Current figures for gamescom 2025 at a glance:
- More than 1,500 exhibitors from 72 countries (2024: 1,462 from 64 countries)
- 40 pavilions / group stands from 35 countries (2024: 48 from 37 countries)
- 233,000 square meters of gross exhibition space (2024: 230,000)
