Speaker Lounge Home

As a speaker, you DO NOT need to register for GDC. GDC Show Management will register you for a Speaker pass using the information from your speaker profile and the email address associated with your GDC submission. To request a letter of invitation to obtain a visa, please contact gdcregistration@informa.com as soon as possible upon official acceptance into the program.

Your Speaker badge is equivalent to a GDC All Access pass, which includes access to all official GDC programs, as well as access to additional onsite resources and benefits detailed on this Online Speaker Lounge.

NOTE: by registering a GDC speaker, you agree that your presentation content and behavior will adhere to the GDC Code of Conduct. Any violations to the code of conduct will result in action deemed appropriate by GDC Show Management, including expulsion from the event.

Your session information will be published on the GDC 2026 Session Viewer. Sessions are typically published within 1 week of being accepted. All bio and session text requests can be sent to Christina Gilbert.

Please prepare your presentation well in advance, and rehearse in front of an audience, your colleagues or friends.

• Tips for Delivering your Presentation

• Tips for a Two-Person Presentation

• Make sure you are using the correct slide aspect ratio for the GDC show you are presenting at – the slides in the Speaker Lounge will be at that ratio.  If you are not using the GDC slide template, make sure the text/images don’t blend into the background color

• Avoid red-green color combinations for the benefit of those who are color-blind.

• If your text is too close to the edge of the screen, it may get cut off during recording or on the slides displayed in the venue – make sure you keep decent margins in place.

• Your slides or any demonstrations that you switch to during the talk can use audio. But make sure you fully test audio on the system with the AV engineer and the Conference Associates in the room before your talk starts.

• Use large lettering on visuals and a sans serif font if possible.

• The quantity and content should match your speaking pace so it doesn’t feel like there are too many slides, or too few.

• *Slides shouldn’t be text heavy. Instead, text should be moved to notes for you to reference during the talk. *For EAL (English as an additional language) speakers, the big takeaways of each slide should be clearly written, so that even if there are some verbal comprehension issues on the part of the audience, they will still finish the talk understanding the throughlines. See EAL section below for more tips for EAL speakers.

• Slide content should be large enough to be seen from the back of a large room.

• Double check that the images/videos used don’t violate the GDC Code of Conduct.

• Videos should be embedded into the slides. Do not rely on a direct connection or wifi on stage.

• If the talk has multiple speakers, the presentation should be in one file.

• Please leave 5 to 10 minutes for your Q&A, if at all possible.

• Microphones are available in the audience for Q&A.

• Always repeat the question or summarize a comment for the benefit of participants who may not have heard the comment if you feel like the question was indistinct, or if microphones were not in use.

• When you’re out of time, the CA may ask you to move to a Wrap-Up Room to conclude Q&A and discussion with the audience – please tell the audience you’re moving there and make it clear they can finish discussion with you at that location.

GDC requires speakers to sign and return a speaker agreement prior to the event. This agreement confirms your intent to speak at the event and gives the Game Developers Conference the right to post your contributions on GDC Vault, while you maintain your right to use your work.

Please e-sign the speaker agreement relevant to your session(s) below:  Coming Soon!

Speaker agreements are DUE February 13, 2026.

*If you are a Sponsored Session Presenter or also speaking in a sponsored session, you do not need to sign an agreement for the sponsored session.

Each lecture or panel session room at GDC 2026 will be set with the following standard A/V equipment: (NOTE: Roundtables DO NOT have projectors or screens, see Roundtables page for RT setup). Moving/rearranging chairs in all session rooms, roundtable rooms and "stages" is strictly prohibited and impolite to the following session as there is not enough time to reset each room between sessions. Please DO NOT move audience chairs on-site.

GDC will have dedicated Speaker Rehearsal Rooms to give you the opportunity to check your AV setup and quickly run through your presentation prior to your session(s). A Conference Associate (CA) and an A/V technician will be available if you need assistance.

Speaker Rehearsal details will be posted here closer to the event.

The Level 99 party is our opportunity to thank you for being part of GDC and a chance to catch up with other GDC speakers, advisors and organizers. This is a 21+ party complete with hors d'oeuvres and drinks! Please bring a valid photo ID, as it is required for entry.

Hours & Location will be announced soon.

You will receive a one-year GDC Vault subscription to the members-only area of the GDC Vault at gdcvault.com. This will allow you access to all recorded session content from over 20 years of GDC Events, including recorded content from GDC 2026. Access credentials will be emailed to you approximately 4 weeks after the event.

For questions about GDC Vault, please email help@gdcvault.com.

Every year, the Game Developers Conference accepts over 800 speakers for the non-sponsored program. GDC organizers have established a Speaker Support Program to provide financial and/or hotel assistance. *Please fill out the form below to request support for the 2026 Game Developers Conference. 

If accepted, speakers will be notified of their support offer starting in late 2025 or upon official acceptance into the program.  Application to program does not guarantee acceptance.

Speaker Support Application

*Due to limited funds and hotel availability, GDC organizers ask that requests only be made by those in need of support to attend the conference. Support is provided to as many speakers as possible. Final support offers are determined on a case-by-case basis and all requests are subject to follow-up evaluation. 

Deadline to receive documents for the stipend is March 31, 2026.

If you require special assistance, auxiliary aids, interpreters or other reasonable accommodations while at the conference, please send any additional requests to michelle.montoya@informa.com. The deadline for ADA requests is February 16, 2026. Please let us know if you have any ADA requests ASAP and we’ll do our best to accommodate!