Gamescom runs Aug. 26-30 in Cologne

Gamescom’s 2026 public dates are now fixed: the event will run in Cologne, Germany, from Wednesday, August 26, through Sunday, August 30, according to the official gamescom site. Organizers say the week will begin with Opening Night Live on Tuesday, August 25, before the show floor opens the next day. The official timetable also places gamescom week across August 24-30, with related programming around the main exhibition. Opening Night Live is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on August 25, and organizers say the in-person show is already sold out. ### When do the doors actually open in Cologne? Wednesday, August 26, is the first day of Gamescom 2026 at Koelnmesse in Cologne, with private-visitor opening hours listed as 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on that day. The official opening-times page says Thursday, August 27, and Friday, August 28, will run from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for private visitors. The event continues through Sunday, August 30, under the main August 26-30 show dates published by organizers. (gamescom.global) The official visitors page says Gamescom 2026 is “kicked off” by Opening Night Live on August 25. That places the showcase one day before general exhibition activity begins in Cologne. ### What is scheduled before the main show floor opens? Gamescom week begins on August 24, according to the official opening-times and arrival pages. (gamescom.global) Organizers say the broader week includes gamescom dev alongside the main consumer show, with the main exhibition itself still starting on August 26. August 25 is reserved for Opening Night Live, which the official ONL page describes as a live show featuring trailers, gameplay reveals and a first look at Gamescom 2026 highlights. (gamescom.global) A separate organizer page says the event will be hosted and produced by Geoff Keighley and staged in Cologne before a live audience while also streaming online. (gamescom.global) ### Where can attendees check who is exhibiting? The official exhibitor and product search for Gamescom 2026 is already live. Organizers say the database includes exhibitors, products and an interactive hall plan for this year’s event. The official lineup page also says exhibitor highlights have already been confirmed for 2026. (gamescom.global) That page is separate from the searchable exhibitor directory, which lets visitors sort by hall, country of origin and product group. ### What does this tell visitors planning the week? Cologne remains the host city for the full August 24-30 gamescom week, with the core public event running August 26-30 and Opening Night Live on August 25. (exhibitors.gamescom.global) The arrival page says travelers should check rail and local transit conditions in advance because of construction-related disruptions in and around Cologne. (gamescom.global) The official schedule now gives attendees three concrete planning checkpoints: August 25 for Opening Night Live, August 26 for the show-floor opening, and August 30 for the final day of Gamescom 2026. Organizers’ exhibitor search and hall plan are already online for visitors building itineraries before the event opens at Koelnmesse. (gamescom.global 1) (gamescom.global 2)