Bavaria Wins Nationwide Competition to Host the Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2026

The Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2026 (German Computer Game Award) will be presented in Munich. Bavaria stood out with a "particularly strong application" for the further development of the award ceremony during the process, in which all federal states were able to participate.
The venue for the Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2026 has been decided. Bavaria won the nationwide call for expressions of interest to host the awards ceremony. All federal states were able to participate in the process, and Bavaria presented a particularly strong proposal for the further development of the award ceremony. This was announced today by the organisers of the DCP: the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space) and game - Verband der deutschen Games-Branche (game – the German Games Industry Association).
Since its inception in 2009, the DCP has taken place alternately in Berlin and Munich every year. From 2024 onwards, all federal states have been invited to express interest in hosting the award. Berlin won the right to host the 2025 DCP after prevailing in the nationwide process.
"We have a long and successful history of collaboration with Bavaria when it comes to the Deutscher Computerspielpreis (DCP). I am therefore delighted that the DCP will be held in Munich once again in 2026. As an important production location for games in Germany, the Free State has impressed us with its ongoing commitment to games and its innovative ideas for the 2026 awards ceremony. It successfully prevailed over its competitors," said Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space.
"After an exceptionally successful DCP in Berlin this year, we are looking forward to the Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2026 in Bavaria. With strong political support and a convincing concept for the award ceremony in the state capital Munich, Bavaria has convinced us to jointly host the award. This promises to be an outstanding stage on which the games and the creative minds behind them can shine in all their glory," comments Felix Falk, Managing Director of game - the German Games Industry Association.
"We are turning Bavaria into Germany's number one location for games! It is therefore a strong signal that the Deutscher Computerspielpreis will be held in Munich next year. The games industry is the Formula 1 of digitalisation and is a perfect fit for Bavaria as a high-tech location. That is why we will be investing heavily in the coming years to establish Munich as the German gaming capital. We will also be developing our own Bavarian games strategy. We want this innovative and creative industry to flourish in Bavaria! PS: Many thanks to Federal Minister Dorothee Bär for her decision and her great commitment to the games industry," says Dr Markus Söder, Bavarian Minister-President.
'Here in Bavaria, we see games as a billion-euro growth market and a strategically important industry with enormous future potential. I am therefore all the more delighted that my ministry's application concept has impressed the national authorities. I am certain that next year, we will host a spectacular 'DCP dahoam' event on the banks of the Isar, demonstrating that Bavaria is the home of Germany's games, XR and esports industries," adds Dr Fabian Mehring, Bavarian Minister of State for Digital Affairs.
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