Gamescom, the world's largest gaming exhibition, will be held in Cologne, Germany, from August 26 to 30. Ahead of the main event, Opening Night Live (ONL), hosted by Geoff Keighley, will take place on August 25, kicking off the full Gamescom schedule.

This year's Gamescom set a new record even before opening. Koelnmesse and the German Games Industry Association (game), which co-host Gamescom, announced in July that all available exhibition space had been fully booked for the first time in Gamescom's history. Despite expanding the exhibition area last year, demand from exhibitors exceeded capacity, leading organizers to consider expanding the event space starting in 2027 to accommodate further growth.

The lineup of participating companies is equally impressive. Major publishers on the roster include Xbox, Nintendo, EA, Ubisoft, Capcom, SEGA, Bandai Namco, Konami, CD Projekt Red, Tencent Games, NetEase, and HoYoverse. Among South Korean game companies, KRAFTON and NCSOFT are heading to Cologne.

What games will make an appearance at Gamescom 2026? Ahead of the official opening, here is a preview of the key titles and major programs to watch at this year's event.

ONL Kicks Off the Show Again: Which Highly Anticipated Games Will Appear First?

Opening Night Live (ONL), marking the start of Gamescom, takes place on August 25. Geoff Keighley, host of The Game Awards and Summer Game Fest, will host the show alongside co-host Eefje "Sjokz" Depoortere. Gamescom organizers teased that this year's ONL will feature new announcements, world premieres, and fresh updates on highly anticipated titles.

Among the titles officially confirmed for ONL, the most high-profile is the new expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, titled "Songs of the Past." CD Projekt Red personally announced that it will reveal new information about the expansion during ONL. On-site at Gamescom, guided presentations will also take place from August 26 to 30.

"Songs of the Past" is an expansion where players once again control Geralt of Rivia to experience a new story. Released in 2015, The Witcher 3 has sold over 65 million copies to date, and the new expansion is scheduled for release in 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. As a brand-new Witcher 3 story arriving after so many years, anticipation is high for what will be shown at ONL.

4A Games' Metro 2039 will also share new details. Gamescom organizers explicitly mentioned Metro 2039 and The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past when revealing the first lineup of ONL titles in July. Both games are slated for release in 2027.

Metro 2039 is the latest title from 4A Games, developer of the Metro series, and is officially registered as a Gamescom showcase entry. With few details available so far, this year's ONL is expected to serve as a stage to see more concrete gameplay and features of the new title.

Among Korean developers, NCSOFT's lineup stands out. NCSOFT officially announced that it will showcase three games at ONL: AION 2, Cinder City, and Project Bonfire. Among them, Cinder City will debut a new trailer showcasing its world, while Project Bonfire—currently known only by its working title—will make its world premiere at ONL.

In particular, Project Bonfire is scheduled to reveal its official game title alongside its debut trailer. As the main concept and features of the game will also be introduced for the first time at ONL, it is an announcement worth watching for a different reason than follow-up news on previously revealed titles.

Meanwhile, GTA6—one of the titles expected to draw the most attention during Gamescom week—has set a schedule separate from ONL. Rockstar Games officially announced that it will present "Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look" on August 27. The release date for GTA6 is also confirmed for November 19. Therefore, based on officially confirmed information, it is more accurate to view GTA6 not as an ONL appearance, but as a separate major reveal scheduled during Gamescom week.

In addition to the confirmed titles, unannounced world premieres remain a wild card for ONL. However, their true identities will not be known until the broadcast begins. Based on confirmed details so far, the first day of Gamescom 2026 will feature a diverse lineup ranging from the new Witcher 3 expansion to Metro 2039 and NCSOFT's unannounced new title.

From Korean Developers to Global Giants: Gathering in Cologne

Once ONL concludes, the main exhibition begins on August 26. Major global companies attending this year's Gamescom include Xbox, Nintendo, EA, Ubisoft, Capcom, SEGA, Bandai Namco, Konami, Tencent Games, NetEase, and HoYoverse. From South Korea, KRAFTON and NCSOFT are on the official exhibitor list. (gamescom.global)

Among Korean developers, KRAFTON is taking the most aggressive approach in showing new titles. KRAFTON will exhibit five titles in total: an unannounced new game in development at PUBG Studios, NO LAW, Project ZETA, Age Twisters, and TARAE: The Unbound. All five games will be playable hands-on at the KRAFTON booth in Hall 9, rather than shown as mere video presentations.

In particular, PUBG Studios' unannounced title will make its world debut at Gamescom. It is an action FPS in development based on the PUBG IP, set against the backdrop of deep forests and small towns in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Age Twisters and TARAE: The Unbound will also be revealed to the public for the first time at Gamescom. The former is a two-player co-op adventure game, while the latter is an isometric dark fantasy action RPG set in an Asian-inspired fantasy world.

Pearl Abyss will showcase Crimson Desert in partnership with Samsung Electronics. Visitors can play the game hands-on using the latest gaming monitors at the Samsung Electronics booth, with additional stage events, photo zones, and cosplay programs scheduled. Having launched this past March and surpassed 6 million global sales within three months of release, Crimson Desert meets visitors in a slightly different capacity compared to previous Gamescom appearances aimed at promoting pre-launch titles.

Among international exhibitors, Xbox stands out with a massive presence. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Xbox will feature 25 upcoming titles and 140 demo stations. Key showcases include Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Gears of War: E-Day, Minecraft Dungeons 2, Fable, Metro 2039, STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, and Alien: Isolation 2.

Among these, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Gears of War: E-Day, Minecraft Dungeons 2, Metro 2039, STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, and Alien: Isolation 2 will be hands-on playable before release on the Gamescom show floor. Additionally, Xbox plans to stream its own broadcasts during Gamescom, featuring gameplay footage and developer interviews for featured titles.

Konami is also heading to Cologne with a heavy slate of major IPs. The most notable title is Castlevania: Curse of Belmont. Set for release on October 15, the new entry in the franchise will offer its first-ever hands-on playable version at Gamescom. In addition, an experiential exhibition utilizing the world of Silent Hill: Townfall will be featured alongside Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2.

Nintendo, EA, Ubisoft, Capcom, SEGA, Bandai Namco, Tencent Games, NetEase, and HoYoverse have also been officially confirmed for Gamescom 2026. However, as specific game lineups may be revealed closer to the event, gamers can look forward to seeing what each publisher brings once the show floor opens.

Gamescom for Developers: 'gamescom dev'

Before Gamescom opens to the general public, game developers from around the world gather in Cologne. The developer conference "gamescom dev" takes place at Koelnmesse from August 23 to 25.

gamescom dev brings together developers, publishers, and gaming industry professionals to share development experiences, technology, and industry trends. This year, approximately 390 speakers will lead around 220 sessions. Covering all aspects of game development—including game design, narrative, visual design, business, leadership, and audio—the event features panel discussions, fireside chats, roundtables, and workshops alongside standard presentations.

From South Korea, Pearl Abyss will share its development experience with Crimson Desert. Pearl Abyss will deliver two technical presentations at gamescom dev, introducing the world-building process used to construct the massive open world of Pywel, as well as the technologies utilized during development. Beyond showing the game itself on the show floor, the studio will share its development expertise with international developers.

During the main event, a wide variety of programming will take place alongside game demos and new reveals. One debuting event this year is "gamescom GDQ." Games Done Quick, well known for its charity speedrunning events, participates in Gamescom for the first time, broadcasting speedrun showcases both on-site and online over three days from August 28 to 30. It is also notable as GDQ's first event hosted in Europe.

The "gamescom awesome indies show," which spotlights indie games, also returns. Expanding its program in partnership with IGN starting this year, it highlights indie titles from around the world alongside major AAA reveals. Community programming and on-site activities, including the Cosplay Village, will run throughout Gamescom.

From major new reveals starting at ONL to exhibition halls packed with hundreds of demo stations, as well as gamescom dev and community events, Gamescom 2026 promises to be more than a simple reveal showcase—offering a comprehensive look at the global gaming industry across five packed days.