After the show is before the show: While final figures for GDC 2025 have yet to be released, the dates for next year’s event have already been confirmed.

Not all the facts and figures from this year’s Game Developers Conference (GDC) have been compiled, but it’s already time to mark your calendars for 2026. According to the official website, next year’s GDC will take place from 9 to 13 March 2026, once again welcoming game developers from around the world to San Francisco.

Whether planning for 2026 will build on new record-breaking numbers remains to be seen. However, early signs suggest that attendance—close to 30,000 last year—has at least been maintained for this year’s fully professional event.

Perhaps more important than the numbers is the overwhelmingly positive mood attendees are taking home. GDC 2025 also introduced several important initiatives and announcements. Among them were the founding of a Video Games Union for North America and the Accessible Games Initiative. The conference also honoured standout titles and creators at the Game Developers Choice Awards and the Independent Games Festival 2025.

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Stephan Steininger
Stephan Steininger is Director of Operations and Editor-in-Chief of GamesMarket. He was one of the founding editors and is part of the magazine since its inception in 2001, he knows the GSA games industry by heart.
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