gamescom, the world's largest gaming event, returns in 2026 with IGN serving as its official broadcast partner. The event will take place in Cologne, Germany, from Tuesday, August 25, through Sunday, August 30. IGN will offer extensive live coverage, including developer interviews, show floor demonstrations, exclusive trailers, and gameplay reveals for numerous upcoming titles.
Opening Night Live Kicks Off the Event
The festivities commence on Tuesday, August 25, with gamescom Opening Night Live (ONL), including an official pre-show and an IGN post-show. The pre-show will begin 30 minutes before the main event, which is slated to run for approximately two hours. Opening Night Live itself will feature major trailers, gameplay showcases, and news announcements to mark the beginning of gamescom.
Daily Coverage and Xbox Streams
IGN's live coverage will continue throughout the week with the IGN gamescom studio. Day 1 of this coverage begins Wednesday, August 26, at 6am PT / 9am ET / 3pm CEST, featuring developer interviews and exclusive reveals. Xbox will also host its first livestream on August 26 at 7am PDT / 10am EDT / 3pm BST / 4pm CEST, promising special guests, gameplay reveals, and trailers. This Xbox livestream format is expected to continue on Thursday, August 27, with additional interviews and new content.
Awards Show and Final Days
Friday, August 28, will feature the gamescom Award Show, hosted by IGN, alongside the day's studio coverage. The award ceremony will celebrate the year's best in gaming, with a full list of winners to be published on IGN.com. IGN's studio coverage continues on Saturday, August 29, with further exclusive reveals and developer interviews. The event concludes on Sunday, August 30, with the final day of IGN's live coverage, focusing on conversations and deep dives with IGN's podcast crews.
How and Where to Watch
Viewers can tune into the gamescom livestreams through various platforms, including IGN.com, IGN's Twitter, Twitch, and YouTube channels. Additionally, coverage will be available on Eurogamer, VG247, Rock Paper Shotgun, and through IGN's apps on iOS and Android, as well as the IGN gamescom studio Steam page.
Expected Reveals and Games on Display
Attendees and viewers can anticipate reveals and deep dives for titles such as Control Resonant, Dune: Awakening, Crimson Desert, Fable, Persona 4 Revival, Alien: Isolation 2, and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, among others. Xbox will host a substantial presence with 140 gaming stations showcasing 25 upcoming games. This lineup includes titles like Fable, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Alien: Isolation 2, Stranger Than Heaven, Gears of War: E-Day, Minecraft Dungeons II, and Metro 2039. Developers will also be present to interact with attendees.