BitSummit 2026 reportedly set a new attendance record for the annual games conference, with 17% more visitors to this year’s Kyoto event compared to last year. Per additional data from VGC, attendance has actually increased 77% over the last two years, with the popularity of the show rising significantly.
In 2023, attendance was 24,000. In 2024, it increased to 38,000. In 2025, the number jumped to 58,000. This year, attendance has been recorded at a whopping 68,208.
What was once a small showcase for indie games has become a major hub for global game developers, with over 100 general exhibitors bringing an array of new and upcoming games to the show floor.
BitSummit 2026 breaks records – quick links
Australian developers at BitSummit 2026
Across the event, BitSummit 2026 attendees were able to pop into a variety of demos to discover new, independently-made games from around the world.
For developers, the event is a chance to meet fresh audiences, connect with a like-minded community and to learn more about Japan’s own cohort of local independent studios.
BitSummit has become an important meeting place for Australian developers, as it’s one of the few geographically-close international games conferences.
At this year’s show, several Australian-made games were featured in the official BitSummit Punch showcase selection, including Pro Jank Footy from the Adelaide-based Powerbomb Games and Enter the Chronosphere from the Melbourne-based Effort Star.
Fuzzy Ghost’s Janet DeMornay is a Slumlord (and a witch) was also featured at the dedicated PlayStation booth, alongside The Florist from New Zealand-based studio Unclear Games, and a range of other upcoming games from global developers.
BitSummit is expected to grow
As noted by VGC, this year’s attendance record for BitSummit 2026 speaks to wider trends in the sector. Even as the games industry ‘shrinks’ by professional headcount, the desire to create new games and share them with the world is growing, as is the audience demand to connect with game-makers.
What the new record proves is that independent game-making will continue, regardless of global circumstances. There will always be appetite to create and experience playful, creative and innovative games, and to support developers going down their own path.
In the absence of major trade shows like the now defunct E3, BitSummit is filling a void, providing the connections, networking and opportunities for play that developers and audiences are increasingly seeking. We expect to see further growth for BitSummit in the coming years as the event’s profile grows.
Also on ScreenHub: IGEA Educates Summit returns in July with focus on breaking into the games industry
Australian games industry association IGEA has announced the return of its free online Educates Summit on 7 July, with the latest iteration focused on ‘stepping stones’ into the games industry. The summit will include talks by local Australian developers working at studios including Gameloft, Riot Games, Sledgehammer Games, Chaos Theory, Unity, Playful, and more, with each providing their expertise and advice for those looking to break into the sector.
As the IGEA team notes, it can be incredibly difficult to find a pathway into the games industry: ‘Expectations are not always obvious, missteps happen easily, and from the outside the industry can sometimes feel like uncharted territory. Which path is right for you?’ The IGEA Educates Summit will home in on these questions, providing essential knowledge for those who tune in.
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