Health & Safety

Staying Safe & Healthy at GDC
Your safety and well-being are our top priority at GDC Festival of Gaming.
We work in close coordination with the City and County of San Francisco, collaborating with the Mayor’s Office, the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), Moscone Center security, as well as city hospitality and transit partners, to help ensure a safe and welcoming experience for all attendees.
Our goal is simple: to ensure you feel safe, confident, and excited to experience GDC Festival of Gaming in San Francisco. This page will be updated as new information becomes available.
San Francisco Public Safety
GDC Festival of Gaming works closely with the City and County of San Francisco to help ensure attendees have a safe and welcoming experience while visiting.
In the lead-up to GDC 2026, San Francisco continues to report measurable progress across key public safety and visitor experience indicators.
Super Bowl 60 Week
San Francisco recently hosted Super Bowl 60, welcoming visitors from across the country and around the world with strong safety, transit, and hospitality outcomes.
During the week of the Super Bowl alone, the city saw more than 1.2 million passengers travel safely through San Francisco International Airport (SFO), bringing huge numbers of guests through the city's beautiful and iconic landmarks.
As the city prepares for major events like GDC Festival of Gaming, this week offered a clear snapshot of how coordinated public safety and visitor services come together at scale.
Downtown & Visitor Support
San Francisco has expanded visible police deployment in high-traffic areas, including Union Square and the Financial District, and increased coordination across city agencies during major events like GDC Festival of Gaming.
The city has also implemented coordinated street safety initiatives that bring together transportation, public safety, and public health agencies. Attendees may encounter official San Francisco Welcome Ambassadors, stationed throughout downtown, transit hubs, and key visitor corridors. These ambassadors are available to assist with directions, transit questions, and safety concerns.
General Advice
- Upon leaving Moscone, be sure to remove your attendee badge and put it away.
Always be aware of your surroundings and what is happening around you.
Carry your wallet in the inside front pocket of your pants or your jacket. Carry shoulder bags or other hand-bags under your arm, not by the handle. While sitting, keep the bag in your lap. In a restaurant, keep your purse in your lap, not over the back of the chair.
Be alert, particularly in crowded situations. Staged distractions are a favorite ploy of pickpockets.
Keep your eyes up, your ears open, and your phone down on city streets and on public transportation. This will lower the chance of theft and keep you safe on San Francisco’s busy streets.
Visiting Offsite Venues
Know your location, including venue name and address, and cross streets when possible. If you feel unsafe and you feel it should be reported, GDC will have a dedicated hotline available during the event to contact.
All GDC-approved events are noted on the Agenda tab. These activities are connected to the event and will have our event and security teams present.
Emergency Evacuations
In the event of an emergency evacuation or shelter-in-place order, make your way quickly and calmly to an emergency exit or the designated sheltering area.
Protecting Your Property
Make a note of your hotel address and store it separately from other items.
If parking, lock your vehicle and never leave valuables or personal items on display.
- If you lose property such as a purse or wallet containing credit cards, driver's license, Social Security card or passport, file a police report immediately by dialing 311, or contact the San Francisco Police Department at (415) 553-0123. Remember to contact your credit card companies or bank immediately to inform them of your lost cards.
Suspicious Activity
Please report all suspicious activity or behavior by dialing 311, or contact the San Francisco Police Department at (415) 553-0123. You can also notify a San Francisco Welcome Ambassador wearing an orange vest or orange jacket stationed throughout the city.
Weather Awareness
The weather in San Francisco during March can change rapidly. Make note of local weather forecasts and pay special attention to any weather alerts issued by the National Weather Service.
Additional Reading & City Resources
For attendees interested in learning more about San Francisco’s ongoing public safety efforts and visitor-focused initiatives, the following city updates and resources provide additional context:
Safety @ GDC Festival of Gaming
Free 24/7 Hotline
+1-925-852-4361
The Hotline is staffed 24/7 from March 5 to March 27 2026.
Please email Erin Vomocil and/or Stephenie Hawkins for any other urgent issues.
Emergencies @ Moscone Center
Dial 5-1-1 from any house phone (listed on handset) OR 415-978-3511 from an outside line. Please do not call 9-1-1, as it will take longer for help to arrive.
Additional Security & Escorts
If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, there are additional security and escorts that can be called to help you get to your location.
Consult a nearby Festival Crew member or contact the 24/7 hotline to issue your request.
Welcome Ambassadors
While visiting San Francisco, keep an eye out for the city’s official Welcome Ambassadors – in their signature bright orange jackets, with the words “Welcome Ambassador” written on the back. These ambassadors can help with directions, transit questions, and safety concerns. You can find them at the Moscone Center, along with downtown BART stations, transit hubs, and key tourist locations.
Festival Crew (formerly known as Conference Associates)
Over 450 Festival Crew will be onsite in brightly colored t-shirts to help attendees with issues and provide support as needed.
Health @ GDC Festival of Gaming
Vaccine Requirement
For GDC Festival of Gaming 2026, we do not have a vaccine requirement.
Social Distancing
Please maintain appropriate social distance and respect the personal boundaries of other attendees.
Hand Sanitizing
GDC will have fixed hand sanitizer units throughout the facility available for all to use.
Contactless Registration
GDC will feature contactless registration, making the process quicker, easier, and safer with less face-to-face interaction. For 2026, we have additional registration stations to minimize queue wait times.
Enhanced Cleaning
Enhanced, deep cleaning before, during, and after the event will take place, working with the Moscone Center to ensure the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness.
This includes continuous sanitization throughout the course of an event, with a focus on high-touch areas such as door handles, restrooms, and food and beverage areas.
The Moscone Convention Center was awarded the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR facility accreditation by ISSA, the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. Considered the gold standard for safe facilities, the GBAC program was designed to control the risks associated with infectious agents.
Air Ventilation
The Moscone Center uses MERV 13 pocket filters with MERV 8 pre-filters in accordance with LEED Platinum standards. The Moscone has also optimized their HVAC systems to provide the maximum number of air exchanges per hour in each space and are changing their air filters three times more often than pre-COVID protocols dictated.
GDC is organized in accordance with Informa AllSecure health and safety standards, and we partner with local authorities to align with all applicable guidelines and best practices at the time of the event.
Additional Resources
| SF Travel | Learn how San Francisco Travel is working with major stakeholders to ensure attendees have a safe and wonderful experience. Also check out Tips for Attendees. |
| SF Safety Initiatives | San Francisco is actively helping attendees stay safe. You can read the full San Francisco safety initiatives here. |
| Moscone Safety Procedures | Please find the Moscone safety procedures here. |
| Emergencies – Outside Moscone Center | Dial 9-1-1 to contact Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) outside of Moscone Center. |
| Non-Emergency Assistance | Dial 3-1-1, or contact the San Francisco Police Department at (415) 553-0123 |
| Hospital Closest to Moscone Center | The closest downtown hospital with emergency room services is: Saint Francis Memorial Hospital 900 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94109 (415) 353-6000 |
