Two months before gamescom, Cologne will become a hotspot for esports. For the first time, the Global Esports Industry Week will take place in Cologne alongside IEM Cologne, a series of events for esports creators and partners.
For the organisers of Global Esports Industry Week (GEIW), the move to Cologne is a step towards growth, also with a view to leaving a broader international footprint. GEIW took place in Austin, Texas, in 2025. In Cologne, GEIW will take place alongside IEM Cologne Major, the so-called cathedral of Counter-Strike and arguably Germany's most famous esports event. The event itself is organised by The Esports Radar and the Esports Integrity Commission. ESL Faceit Group (EFG), the organisers of IEM Cologne, are Host Partner.
“As the global leader in esports, EFG is focused on building spaces where world-class competition and great business happen together. We’re excited to host the community in Cologne so they can network and help shape what's next, all while being right in the middle of one of the most iconic events in the world,” says Niccolo Maisto, CEO of EFG.
The programme has only been roughly outlined so far, but two very prominent guests have already been confirmed. In addition to EFG CEO Noccolo Maisto, Ralf Reichart, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation and former founder and long-time CEO of ESL, will also be in attendance. This is noteworthy, as the Esports World Cup 2026 will begin in Riyadh around three weeks later.
Global Esports Industry Week is designed as an umbrella for a series of different events taking place from 18 to 21 June, i.e. during the three days of IEM Cologne. These events are Impact Live – Conference & Expo, comprising ESIC Global Esports Summit 2026, Impact Live Game Dev Summit and Impact Live – Edu Summit. Also planned are Esports Leaders Cologne, the IGET Expert Workshop, Esports Leaders Honours and the Padel Gaming Club. In addition to ESL, the German Esports Association ESBD is also confirmed as a partner of GEIW.
