Gamescom
The world's largest trade fair for computer and video games, held annually in Cologne — featuring world and European premieres of new games and hardware.
since 2009
approx. 357.000 visitors per event
Gamescom (stylized as gamescom) is the world's largest trade fair for computer and video games as well as consumer electronics, held annually in Cologne. Manufacturers from around the globe showcase their newest software and hardware here.
At a Glance
- Type
- world's largest trade fair for computer and video games and consumer electronics
- Location
- Koelnmesse exhibition grounds (since 2009)
- Frequency
- annual, usually in August
- Organizer
- since 2018, run by game – the German Games Industry Association
- Predecessor
- Games Convention in Leipzig (2002–2008)
- Sections
- public exhibition areas plus a closed trade-visitor area
Age comparison
Age compared with other places in Cologne.
From Leipzig to Cologne
Gamescom evolved from the Games Convention, which took place in Leipzig from 2002 to 2008. Since 2009 the fair has been held on the Koelnmesse grounds. Its first Cologne edition drew 228,000 visitors and 17,000 trade attendees, surpassing the 2008 Leipzig figures. Attendance kept climbing in subsequent years, rising from 254,000 in 2010 to around 340,000 by 2013.
Public Fair and Trade Area
On the publicly accessible show floors, manufacturers unveil new games and devices, including world and European premieres. A separate, closed-off section caters to trade visitors such as retailers, journalists, and developers. Earlier editions also featured a retro exhibition showcasing vintage computers and game consoles, some of which visitors could try out with various games. This section was initiated by journalist René Meyer.
Gamescom Festival
Alongside the trade fair, the public Gamescom Festival offered concerts, including performances at the Theater am Tanzbrunnen and the city festival in downtown Cologne. In 2011, these concerts drew a combined audience of over 100,000 spectators.
Supporting Program
A few days before the fair, the developer conference gamescom dev takes place — known as Devcom until October 2025. On the eve of the opening, the show "gamescom – Opening Night Live," hosted by Geoff Keighley, presents new trailers and announcements from the international games industry. Awards are also handed out during the fair, including the "Best of Gamescom" prize.
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-06-30
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