Since 1988 the Game Developers Conference has been a place where the people that make the games you love have gathered to share their insights, show off the latest innovations and share their stories from behind the scenes of the games industry. In 2026 the GDC Festival of Gaming carries on that legacy, with over 1000 speakers across more than 700 sessions. IGN will be there reporting from the frontlines, and presenting a panel of its own.
Some of the talk highlights this year include talks focused on Clair Obscura: Expedition 33, Battlefield 6 and Diablo Immortal. It’s not just about the conference during the day either, GDC Nights has a whole program of evening entertainments waiting for attendees, with the Independent Games Festival (IGF) Awards, Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) and a live concert from composer Austin Wintory and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
IGN will be hosting a panel titled How Do I Get My Game on IGN? with Peer Schneider, Ryan McCaffrey, Justin Davis and Miranda Sanchez speaking about how developers can best collaborate with IGN.
“In a time of great change, we can build walls or build bridges — and the game industry has always thrived by coming together,” said Mark DeLoura, GDC’s Executive Director of Innovation and Growth. “The GDC Festival of Gaming strengthens those connections, celebrating creativity and supporting everyone who brings games to life, from napkin sketch to global launch.”
GDC Festival of Gaming takes place March 9-13, 2026 in and around San Francisco’s Moscone Center.
Rachel Weber is the Head of Editorial Development at IGN and an elder millennial. She’s been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, Red Dead Redemption 2, and her Love and Deepspace boyfriends.
