The dates for this year’s edition of the London Games Festival have been announced. This annual video game festival will run from April 13 to 19, 2026, and will be the eleventh edition of the London Games Festival. So, what’s new this year?
First, this expo will return bigger and better than before. According to Justin Simons, the Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, the 2026 London Games Festival will move to a bigger venue. He lauded the event’s growth, which necessitated a larger space.
An Instagram post from Games for Change (G4C) revealed that this year’s event will be at Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge. However, the new customer expo will move to Exhibition White City, providing more than double the space for more attendees and games.
This summit, which brings together game researchers and developers, will be held daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Its main B2B event will maintain the tradition of delivering high-quality studio-to-investor pitch meetings. This event will also add extra strands for self-published games and co-development.
The UK Government to Provide Extended Support
It seems the London Games Festival has been attracting the right attention from the UK Government lately. This event, which is backed by the Mayor of London, will receive more support from the UK Government. The new government commitment aims to deliver additional value to the games industry.
Ian Murray, the UK’s Creative Industries Minister, reaffirmed the government’s commitment. He noted that the video game industry is thriving as part of the Creative Industries, and the government will increase its investment from £17 billion to £31 billion by 2035. Murray added that the London Games Festival is an excellent showcase of the UK’s gaming talent.
On his part, Adrian Wooton OBE, the CEO of Film London and the British Film Commission, said that the 2026 expo represents a new chapter for London’s celebration of games. He said the event’s core programmes will expand thanks to new government funding.
Wooton added: “Games London’s efforts to support the capital’s vibrant ecosystem of games creatives and share that success with the rest of the UK continues to pay off, as shown by the festival’s growth in visitor numbers from beyond London in 2025, a trend we expect to see continue next year.”
Games London also confirmed that the extra funding will allow the organisers to increase opportunities at events. It may also pump an extra £30 million into the games industry every year.
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Games for Change to Officially Join the Festival
Games for Change will perhaps be the most noticeable name to grace this year’s edition. Earlier this month, the gaming giant officially announced its participation in the 2026 London Games Festival. This will be the first time the two gaming entities have partnered, with G4C set to add its sophisticated programming to the lineup.
Popularly known as “Sundance of Video Games,” G4C has spent more than two decades empowering students, game creators, and social innovators. The goal is to drive real-world impact through immersive media, such as video games. Games for Change has an expansive network spanning six continents and has enjoyed continued success in the US.
Delivered in partnership with the London Games Festival, the G4C London Summit will bring together industry professionals and researchers. The agenda for this year’s edition is being curated with help from a dedicated advisory board from Games for Change London. Each member was selected for their long-term support of G4C. Below are the advisory members:
- Jude Ower MBE, Chief Strategy Officer at Planet Play
- James Delaney, Founder and Managing Director of Blockworks
- Sarah Ticho, Hatsumi & Joint Managing Director at XR Health Alliance
- Phil Stuart, Founder/Executive Creative Director at PRELOADED
- Deborah Mensah-Bonsu, Social Impact at Supercell
Susanna Pollack, the President of G4C, said that the 2026 London Games Festival provides the ideal launchpad for their UK debut. The official is confident that this partnership allows Games for Change to connect with its global community and build new partnerships.
Economic Implications of the London Games Festival
The economic impact of LGF on the city and the gaming industry at large cannot be understated. Michael French, Head of Games & Festival Director at London Games Festival, revealed that this event attracts 100,000+ visitors, making it economically effective. He revealed that every £1 from the Mayor of London returns £37 to the economy.
Overall, a larger and better-funded London Games Festival will further promote the UK as a video game hub for tech investors. Applications for the LGF ended on January 12, 2026. All games must have a playable demo by February for the panel to consider it for the Official Selection.
