At the gamescom dev leadership event in Lisbon, six roundtables led by experts will address topics such as AI disruption, studio resilience, and future business models. This event gives industry leaders the opportunity to reflect on the year ahead and set their strategic direction.
Now in its third year, the gamescom dev leadership summit (formerly the devcom Leadership Summit) will return to Lisbon from 24 to 26 February 2026. This executive summit will bring together studio founders and senior executives to address the industry's current challenges, ranging from AI disruption and economic volatility to studio resilience and future-proofing business models. Unlike traditional conferences, this summit is designed to facilitate confidential, high-level exchange.
"This event has grown into a trusted space for strategic reflection and candid exchange," said Lars Janssen, Host of the gamescom dev leadership summit and CEO at Deck13. "It's about stepping away from daily operations and thinking critically about where we’re going as an industry."
At the heart of the summit lies a three-day programme comprising six expert-led roundtables. This format is designed to encourage open, experience-driven dialogue. Each roundtable is facilitated by an expert moderator and co-developed with senior industry leaders. Sessions include the following topics:
The 2026 programme will once again feature a selection of curated sessions offering insights into leadership, creativity and technology. These include 'Dream. Fall. Rise Again: We Bought the Studio Back!' by Pawel Rohleder and Adam Lason (PixelAnt Games), and 'Biting the Silver Bullet: AI in the Games Industry in 2026 and Beyond' by Dr Tommy Thompson (AI and Games).
gamescom dev and all its branded formats are developed and organised by game events GmbH, a subsidiary of game – the German Games Industry Association.
