GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 drew 20,000 attendees, a 30% drop from the ~30,000 seen in 2024 and 2025, marking the lowest turnout since 2011. The decline is attributed to high attendance costs and concerns among international visitors about US immigration enforcement. Some companies redirected budgets to alternative events like Develop Brighton and Tokyo Game Show. Despite the drop, GDC president Nina Brown framed it as the first year of a bold rebrand, noting 85+ countries represented and strong session and exhibitor activity. The event will return in 2027 at San Francisco's Moscone Center.
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