Global Games Show Riyadh 2026: gaming, esports, and GameFi innovation
Global Games Show returns to Riyadh on June 29-30, 2026. Gaming developers, esports organizations, Web3 builders, and investors meet for two days of showcases, panels, and networking. The event focuses on gaming tech innovation, monetization strategies, and blockchain integration. GNcrypto is a media partner.
VAP Group and Times of Games host the second Middle East edition of Global Games Show at Malfa Hall in Riyadh this June. The two-day conference runs June 29-30, 2026, with sessions split between gaming technology frontiers and business model innovation in interactive entertainment.
Day one is all about technology. Sessions explore Saudi Arabia’s rise in global esports, advances in game engines, brain-computer interfaces, and AI-driven game design. Beyond demos, speakers dive into development workflows, hardware breakthroughs, and emerging tools shaping the future of play.
Day two shifts focus to the business of games. Crowdfunding for indie studios, mobile gaming in emerging markets, community-building strategies, and investor partnerships are on the agenda. Panels examine new monetization models, including Web3 integration, NFT utilities, and decentralized economies in games.
Previous GGS editions featured industry leaders such as:
- Yat Siu (Animoca Brands),
- Johnson Yeh (ROEHL/Ambrus Studio),
- Dirk Lueth (Uplandme),
- Paul Dawaliby (Holodeck Ventures),
- Ilman Shazhaev (Farcana),
- Jonathan Bouzanquet (PLAYA3ULL Games),
- Assad Dar (Medieval Empires),
- Klaus Kajetski (YaLLa Esports).
While the 2026 lineup is not yet fully disclosed, past speakers highlight blockchain gaming, esports infrastructure, and Web3 economies.
The show floor offers interactive experiences: live gameplay demos, AR/VR showcases, game engine trials, and select Web3 integrations. Attendees can explore pre-release builds, test development tools, and observe innovations across gaming platforms.
Structured networking and matchmaking sessions give startups, investors, and publishers opportunities to connect directly. Pitch sessions allow indie studios to present prototypes to potential partners and funding sources.
GGS aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, positioning Riyadh as a regional hub for digital entertainment and esports. Government-backed initiatives, studio investments, and infrastructure projects are transforming the Middle East gaming landscape. The National Gaming and Esports Strategy, launched in 2022, targets a top-three global market ranking by 2030. GGS serves as a venue where international and regional stakeholders explore collaboration opportunities.
A single GGS 2026 ticket also grants access to co-located events: Global AI Show (AI applications across industries) and Global Blockchain Show (enterprise blockchain, Web3, DeFi). This bundled access reflects the growing convergence of gaming with AI-driven NPCs, procedural content generation, and blockchain-based in-game economies.
GNcrypto covers Global Games Show Riyadh 2026 as media partner. Coverage includes on-site reporting, speaker interviews, and analysis of gaming tech announcements relevant to Web3 gaming, blockchain integration, and crypto-native game economies.
Global Games Show Riyadh 2026 takes place June 29-30, 2026, at Malfa Hall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Registration is available at globalgamesshow.com/riyadh.
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