Festival Hall
NEW FOR 2027: NOW OPEN TUESDAY–THURSDAY
March 3-5 | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
The Heart of the Festival
Three high-impact days where discovery, connection, and momentum collide.
The Festival Hall has moved to Tuesday–Thursday giving you earlier access to the tools, demos, and connections that matter most.
What to expect:
- Faster discovery: Five themed neighborhoods guiding you to the right people and products.
- Real conversations: Lounges and stages designed for high-value chats.
- Immersive insight: Live demos, micro-talks, and interactive play spaces to learn by doing.
- Festival energy, all day: Pop-up bites, meet-ups, and a steady rhythm of headline moments.
Marquee Experiences
GDC Play
Discover tomorrow’s breakout titles from independent developers worldwide. Hands-on demos, real feedback, and conversations that lead to what’s next.
alt.ctrl.GDC
An experimental playground for imaginative controllers and boundary-pushing interaction. Meet the makers redefining how we play.
IGF Pavilion
Celebrate creativity at the source. Play selections from the Independent Games Festival and meet the developers shaping the medium.
Festival Hall Theater
The Hall's main stage for fast-cut micro-talks, spotlights, and live moments that draw the entire floor—including GDC Pitch presentations to publishers.
GDC Commons
Make yourself at home in our industry living room. Drop in, play indie games, watch a live interview, and swap ideas with comfy seating.
GDC Pitch
Indie teams pitch live to publishers and investors under the lights. Watch bold ideas take shape or step up and put your vision in front of decision-makers.
Neighborhood Stages
Micro-talks, Q&As, and demos exactly where discovery happens, plus complimentary pop-up lite bites and lounge seating.
The Jam @ GDC
The Global Game Jam (GGJ) and GDC are partnering together again for 2027!
Live Interviews
Pull up a seat and tune in! From the Commons Stage to the Side Quest Podcast Studio, hear real conversations with industry voices, community hosts, and surprise guests.
Indie Arcade
Check out the 2026 Indie collectives and organizations from around the world celebrate diverse creators and fresh perspectives.
The Neighborhoods
Game Development
Your build zone. Get hands on with engines, tools, pipelines, and production craft. Home to the Festival Hall Theater (with GDC Pitch) and the brand-new, interactive Game Development bar & lounge.
Future Tech
What’s next for the industry? Explore AI/ML, cloud, infrastructure, and emerging platforms. Stage & lounge for quick hits and deeper dives.
Indie & Education
Where future classics are born. Discover the IGF Pavilion, GDC Play, and alt.ctrl.GDC, plus a dedicated stage & lounge with tips & tricks geared towards Indies.
International
Global dealmaking in one place. Country pavilions, export agencies, and studios from around the world, with a stage & lounge for regional spotlights.
Monetization & Player Engagement
Retention, revenue, and community. See how teams grow games responsibly. Stage & lounge for playbook shares and demos.
Business Hall and Festival Hall: Two GDC Experiences
Business Hall · Moscone West
For meetings.
Where partnerships form, funding closes, and the business of games gets done.
Festival Hall · Moscone South
For discovery.
Where you discover tools, play demos, watch showcases, and experience the creative energy of GDC.
Faces of the Festival
