2026 game developer conference Attendance has fallen significantly, with the loss of about a third of visitors. Industry observers cited several Trump administration policies as among the main reasons for the downward trend, while also noting that this year's GDC was also burdened by some organizational decisions.
This decline was not unexpected as it was expected ahead of the latest conference held in San Francisco from March 9-13. In the weeks leading up to the event, several developers said they were skipping GDC 2026 due to safety concerns caused by ICE activity in the U.S. and other U.S. immigration policies that have been described as hostile to international visitors.
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GDC 2026 attendance drops by 33%
In total, GDC 2026 attracted approximately 20,000 attendees, as recently revealed by organizer Informa PLC. This figure represents a 33% decrease compared to the 2024 and 2025 San Francisco events, which both drew nearly 30,000 people, according to official post-event summaries and local reports. Informa also said the 2026 event featured more than 700 sessions, 1,100 speakers, more than 300 exhibitors and attendees from more than 85 countries. Compared to 2025, the number of speakers increased by 10%, while the number of sessions and exhibitors decreased by about 7% and 25%, respectively.
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According to several industry observers, the low turnout reflects a combination of political, economic and event-specific pressures. The San Francisco Chronicle linked the decline to widespread layoffs across the gaming business and the Trump administration's hostility toward international visitors. Separately, PocketGamer.biz noted long-term concerns about the decline in exhibitors, the shrinking size of the expo, and the cost of attending the San Francisco-based show.
GDC 2026 reportedly canceled at last minute due to Iran war
In addition to initial concerns about ICE activities and U.S. immigration policy, the ongoing war with Iran also appears to have put pressure on participation. As first reported by The Game Business, several last-minute keynote and attendee cancellations have been linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. From a logistical perspective, the war has disrupted travel, prompting widespread flight cancellations, regional airspace closures and restrictions in major hubs including Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai. These disruptions affected international travel routes for several weeks leading up to GDC 2026.
Comparison of GDC 2026 and GDC 2025
|
GDC 2025 |
GDC 2026 |
Change from previous year |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
participant |
30,000 |
20,000 |
-33% |
|
speaker |
1,000 |
1,100 |
+10% |
|
session |
750 |
700 |
-6.66% |
|
Exhibitor |
400 |
300 |
-25% |
The industry's weak financial situation has left the conference with more exposure than in recent years. The GDC 2026 State of the Industry report found that one-third of game development professionals surveyed had been laid off in the past two years. On the other hand, attendees interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle said traveling to California no longer makes sense for many developers who live far from the Bay Area or have lost their jobs. keynote speech metal gear and death stranding Creator Hideo Kojima, one of the most high-profile events on the original GDC 2026 schedule, was also canceled ahead of the conference. The reason for the cancellation was not revealed and was confirmed in early February.
Due to its small size, GDC 2026 did not use the North Hall of the Moscone Convention Center for the first time in many years. The official attendance figure of 20,000 means this year's event was the smallest traditional performance in years. GDC 2022 officially had low attendance, but that's because it was a hybrid event with 12,000 in-person visitors and 5,000 virtual attendees. The last traditional GDC to have 20,000 people in attendance at the ballpark was the 2011 show, which drew more than 19,000 visitors.
Source: Reuters, GDC / Informa PLC, GDC 2026 State of the Industry
