Source: Gamescom

For the first time this year, Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy and Commissioner for Digital and Frontier Technologies at the European Commission, will visit Gamescom, the world's largest gaming event.

Commissioner Virkkunen is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony and deliver a speech on the European Union's gaming strategy. She will then join Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil, Federal Minister of Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger, and North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst for an opening tour to explore the latest developments and trends in the gaming industry.

Gamescom, the premier business platform for the international gaming industry, will be held from August 24 to 30, 2026, both on-site in Cologne, Germany, and via digital platforms.

The event kicks off on August 24 with the developer conference 'Gamescom dev,' followed by the public opening show, 'Gamescom Opening Night Live,' on the evening of August 25. Throughout the event, developers, industry professionals, companies, and millions of fans from around the world will gather to enjoy a unique experience blending entertainment, business, and community.

Hosted in Cologne by Koelnmesse, a global leader in organizing trade fairs for gaming and entertainment, Gamescom has established itself as a premier B2C, B2B, and B2G gaming event that offers both online and offline participation. Beyond its headquarters in Cologne, Koelnmesse is strategically expanding its global portfolio.

Through 'Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show' in Bangkok, it provides a powerful industry platform for the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific gaming market, while 'Gamescom Latin America' in São Paulo has become a successful international event that fosters dynamic growth in the Brazilian and Latin American markets.

The German Games Industry Association, a co-organizer of Gamescom, represents the entire video game ecosystem, from development studios and publishers to esports event organizers and educational institutions.

The association is also a shareholder in the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK), the Foundation for Digital Games Culture, the Esports Player Foundation, and VHG, an organization for game events and copyright management, as well as a co-organizer of the German Computer Game Awards. Serving as a central point of contact for media, political, and social institutions, the association provides comprehensive expertise and leads efforts to make Germany a global hub for gaming and to enrich lives through games.