Highlights
- Gaming conventions have become a cornerstone of the video game community, attracting worldwide attendance and showcasing new games and technologies.
- Most gaming conventions focus on different aspects of the gaming industry, such as artistry, creativity, or specific gaming genres.
- Virtual options for attending gaming conventions are becoming more prevalent, allowing more people to experience these unique festivals without the burden of travel and lodging expenses.
It seems that gaming has grown over the last decade or so and in recent years, it has exploded. With so many new systems, new technologies, and radical designs, gaming has become a huge part of the entertainment industry. With it, we’ve seen the rise of gaming conventions and expos, many of which see worldwide attendance and growing numbers every year.
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For gamers, it’s easy to see why these events hold such an allure. Not only is there the chance to play new games, but also the possibility of seeing first-hand what’s being released. Whether it’s something we’ve been looking forward to or a new game that’s ready to blow our minds, video game conventions have become a cornerstone of the video game community.
However, The majority of gaming conventions around the world don’t have video game announcements as their primary focus. Events like MAGFest focus more on the artistry and creativity behind video games, while events like Spiel are oriented around an entirely different gaming genre.
Updated on December 5th, 2023, by Kristy Ambrose: The image of big video game-centric trade fairs that include large gatherings of people, like E3 or GamesCom, has changed in the post-COVID world. There’s been a return to live game conventions as much virtual activity as there is for in-person events. Many gaming conventions planned for the future include both options and virtual options for attending are here to stay. This means even more gamers, fans, and other interested parties can experience these unique festivals without the burdens of travel and motel fees.
Note: Attendee numbers are based on available data from the most recent events.
18 QuakeCon
10,000 Attendees
Although this gaming convention started as a way for id Software developers and fans to network, and it still takes the name of that company’s flagship series, its popularity now extends well beyond either of them. QuakeCon dates from 1996, the same time the titular game was developed, making it one of the oldest gaming conferences as the public now knows them.
Other big video game companies like Bethesda also help organize the event and the BYOC LAN party that was part of the original schedule in the 1990s is still a thing. The events of 2021 and 2022 were held entirely online, but returned to their live events and Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) roots in 2023.
17 Game Developers Conference (GDC)
17,000 Attendees
Like many other gaming conventions that took place during the days of COVID-19, the GDC was a mix of online and in-person events in 2021 and 2022. The GDC Virtual Platform was designed specifically to increase accessibility to the event and of all the people that attended, 12,000 came in person while about 5000 attended using virtual means.
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The yearly program of GDC is always a virtual list of what’s hottest in the gaming industry and covers an impressive array of genres. The latest conferences have featured big hits like Wordle, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Clash of Clans.
16 MAGFest
20,000 Attendees
MAGFest, which is short for the Music and Gaming Festival, happens every year in Washington DC, specifically in National Harbor. It’s a convention that is wholly dedicated to the “appreciation of video game music, gaming of all types, and the gaming community.” The convention hosts panels of animators, musicians, and gaming personalities alike at the beginning of each year.
While it’s not the largest gaming convention in the world by any means, it’s one of the most intimate. Chances are, if someone goes to MAGFest, they’ll have plenty of chances to talk one-on-one with the presenters and hosts of the convention. Plus, it’s one of the few festivals that run 24 hours a day, meaning attendees can, at least in theory, spend all four days in the convention center.
15 Electronic Game Show
30,000 Attendees
When EGS first started more than 20 years ago in 2002, it was intended to bolster national gaming companies along with giving some big international names a local platform. Today, it’s evolved into a regular annual event that caters to both fans and industry professionals.
The main draw and top selling point of Mexico’s biggest video game convention is tournament play on the festival’s flagship game, but it also has demonstrations, panel discussions, cosplay, and merchandise options for the fans along with some healthy networking options for professionals. The daily agenda typically includes several activities for kids, one of the features that makes this a show for fans of all ages with some exceptions for special evening events.
14 BlizzCon
40,000 Attendees
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The only reason BlizzCon isn’t much higher on the list is that it mostly caters to Blizzard fans, which isn’t to say that this video gaming convention isn’t huge in its own right. It usually takes place at the beginning of November in Anaheim, California, attracting many fans nationwide as well as worldwide.
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Gamers come together with devs to talk about Diablo, WoW, Overwatch, and Starcraft, as well as to find out what’s new for the upcoming year and discuss what they’d like to see in the future. Blizzcon returned to its live action, in-person conference format in 2023 to much fanfare after a tumultuous year that included an equal amount of good and bad news for the brand.
13 E3
65,000 Attendees
- Los Angeles, California, USA
This conference was originally intended for industry professionals but was eventually opened to the public, which raised its attendance significantly. For a while, it was one of the largest continually growing expos in the world. It’s E3, along with the Tokyo Game Show, that many turn to when they want to find out top-secret deets about what’s soon to be released.
E3 gained momentum over the last few years, but then it took a blow when Sony announced they would no longer be attending. The last two shows, for 2023 and 2024, have been canceled, but the dream is still alive for the future.
12 Pax (Penny Arcade Expo)
70,000 Attendees
- Various American and international locations
Believe it or not, Pax started as a small gaming event with little more than 3,000 attendees in its first year. As word on the street spread and gamers as well as developers became interested, it has since grown into a worldwide event. Pax occurs in four different locations throughout a year: Boston, Australia, Seattle, and San Antonio.
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These gaming conventions combined bring in roughly 70,000 attendees annually, although the exact number has yet to be counted. As a space for indie games, new developers, and popular game developers alike, Pax has managed to make the ranks as one of the largest gaming conventions of the year.
11 EGX (Eurogamer Expo)
80,000 Attendees
The Eurogamer Expo takes place in London and it’s the biggest in the UK, making it the go-to gaming event of the year for Europe. The Eurogamer Expo has something for everyone, whether they’re into anime, video gamers, or comic books.
Fans will have the chance to try new games and get the hands-on experience many know and love, as well as catering to those who feature creative cosplays. It brings together gamers from all genres, catering to just about everyone in the fandom community.
10 DreamHack
100,000 Attendees
- Elmia, Jönköping, Sweden
DreamHack is based in several different places worldwide but one of the largest gatherings is in Sweden. While it is a gaming convention, it does cater particularly to esports, which has a huge following in its own right.
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In addition to all things esports, from gaming news to competitive tourneys, DreamHack offers much in the way of new games and cosplay as well. Not surprisingly, DreamHack also made it to the Guinness Book for throwing the largest LAN party in the world.
9 San Diego Comic-Con
130,000 Attendees
- San Diego, California, USA
When one thinks of the biggest video game conventions, the San Diego Comic-Con isn’t the first convention to spring to mind for most. However, as time goes on, the San Diego Comic-Con has opened up its scope and had more and more of a video game presence each year. Several games get announced at SDCC every year even though it’s not dedicated to gaming.
The San Diego Comic-Con is the biggest of its kind in the world, and it was originally dedicated solely to comics and related media. Nowadays, gamers find themselves completely at home in the gigantic convention halls of this hallowed event, though it’s only one part of the greater Comic-Con whole.
8 IgroMir
150,000 Attendees
Although IgroMir isn’t a gaming expo that’s well-known around the world, they still manage to see roughly 157,000 attendees each year. This gaming convention is a general expo that caters to all video games and genres.
Igro Mir is held every year by the Game Developers Conference of Russia and has been going on since 2006, so this is not an expo that’s new on the gaming scene. The event also caters to cosplay, which many take advantage of, as it’s not only one of the few big gaming conventions in Russia but also one of the only events of its kind nationally.
7 Spiel
200,000+ Attendees
- Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Spiel is not a typical gaming convention in the sense that video games have hardly any presence at this Germany-based event. Spiel is more oriented around board games and similar interactive, real-life products. While there is a small amount of video game presence here, it’s mostly in the form of versions of existing board games.
It’s not a convention to miss as long as someone’s idea of “gaming” isn’t limited to video games. Board games have existed far longer than any video game, and this long-running convention is proof that real-life games are as timeless as they are fun.
6 G-Star
240,000+ Attendees
It’s one of the biggest gaming conventions in Asia and the world, with more than 200,000 attendees in 2023 and rising. The G-Star festival was held in Seoul when it was first launched in 2005, but three years later it was moved to the country’s second busiest city, Busan, and has been there ever since. The activities not only include gaming promotions but also activities like cosplay awards and related side events.
The event started as a way to showcase and advertise South Korean gaming companies, like Nexon and NCSoft. The focus is still on national creators but now includes big names from overseas, like Activision-Blizzard.
5 ChinaJoy
270,000+ Attendees
ChinaJoy sees roughly 100,000 more attendees each year than an event like IgroMir, which isn’t surprising considering how many huge game developers are based throughout Asia. With an attendance rating of at least 270,000, ChinaJoy also goes by the name of the China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference, but ChinaJoy is shorter and easier.
Attendance for this gaming convention usually sees visitors from at least 30 different countries and showcases over 3,500 games per year.
4 Tokyo Game Show
270,000+ Attendees
The Toyko Game Show is one that many know and love, especially those who are constantly rooting for Square Enix despite being tortured by their delayed releases. With just over 270,000 attendees, the Tokyo Game Show is one of the biggest in the world.
It’s the go-to event for those who want news on upcoming game titles, as they’re known for announcing release dates and games that are currently in production. If fans haven’t heard something at E3, then chances are it’ll be announced during the Tokyo Game Show later in the year.
3 Brasil Game Show
300,000 Attendees
The Brasil Game Show is the first gaming convention in the world to break the 300,000 mark. With this many attendees, this gaming convention offers opportunities for every taste in media from cosplay to real-time strategy games.
The event encourages the co-mingling of game developers, particularly those who are new to the industry. However, the entertainment and events at the Brasil Game Show are the main reason most people go, professionals or not.
2 Taipei Game Show
320,000 Attendees
The impressive number of people who visited the last Taipei Game Show didn’t even include the number of exhibitors, journalists, and industry professionals who were also present at the event. The 2021 conference was held entirely online because of COVID and the event this year was a hybrid convention that had a mix of online and in-person programs.
As the name suggests, this convention is focused on gaming, and it’s the only one of its kind that takes place in Taiwan. The Taipei Game Show is also home to the Asia Pacific Game Summit, which was founded by the Taipei Computer Association in 2014 to promote the Taiwanese gaming industry.
1 Gamescom
370,000 Attendees
Gamescom happens in Germany every year and just as there is E3 in the US, Gamescom is Europe’s version of a general gaming expo. If fans are looking for big names and important info, the announcements made at Gamescom are some of the biggest and best.
They cater to many well-known game devs and for their 10th anniversary, the expo saw upwards of 370,000 attendees, making it undoubtedly one of the biggest video game conventions in the world. This expo is always open to the general public and with so much to see and hear, it’s no wonder people travel from all over the world to attend it.
