gamescom is committed to accessibility, resource conservation, and democracy
Expanded accessibility guidelines and self-commitment for exhibitors ++ Expansion of the awareness and safer space offering ++ First-time cooperation with Kölner Tafel e. V. ++ Broadening of cooperation with Trash Galore ++ gamescom GDQ donating to the initiative ”Gaming for Democracy“
With its gamescom cares and gamescom goes green initiatives, gamescom is bundling its commitment to social responsibility, inclusion, and sustainability. Projects, offerings, and measures revolving around awareness, accessibility, youth protection or community well-being are being gathered under the umbrella of gamescom cares. This also includes gamescom goes green, with which the organizers focus on ecological responsibility and resource conservation. These initiatives are now being further expanded for gamescom 2026.
Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – The German Games Industry Association, co-organizer of gamescom: ”gamescom bears a special responsibility as a leading event of the games world, which we also acknowledge with the many projects under the gamescom cares umbrella. I am pleased that we could once again take further steps this year – whether for more accessibility, resource conservation or intensified social cooperation. All this is only possible thanks to the strong dedication of our partners and the community – our heartfelt thanks to you all for that!”
Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH: ”Involvement with societal questions is an important component of Koelnmesse across events. gamescom has been playing an important, pioneering role in this for many years. Together with our partners, we continually test and develop measures for more participation, sustainability, and respectful cooperation.”
New accessibility guidelines for more accessible stands
Exhibitors will have expanded accessibility guidelines at their disposal as of gamescom 2026. These provide practical guidance for the planning of accessible trade fair stands and assist companies in integrating aspects of accessibility into their stand concepts early on. In addition to this, the already applicable self-commitment to providing step-free access to the exhibition space is this year being expanded upon with binding references to the accessibility offerings at the stand.
The goal is to further enhance awareness for people with disabilities as an important part of gamescom and the games community and to improve the quality of their visit. The guidelines thereby take various needs into consideration and contain, among other things, recommendations for the design of accessible waiting lines, game stations, and options for retreating or for providing support in the event of sensory overload. The guidelines were developed with the support of, among others, the Barrierefreies Gaming network.
Further measures include additional information about accessibility for better navigation through the halls in the gamescom location finder and an expanded amount of reservable wheelchairs.
Expansion of awareness measures
The awareness and safer space offerings of gamescom are also being expanded further in 2026. These include, among others, an additional awareness counter in the north part of the grounds and an expanded awareness team, now able to support visitors even better on site. Existing safer space services like rest areas and the contact possibility via the ”Saferspaces” are also once again available to visitors this year.
New cooperation enables food donations
gamescom is cooperating for the first time with the ”Kölner Tafel e. V.” in the context of the gamescom goes green initiative. Exhibitors can donate excess food from their stand catering at no charge at the end of an event day. The cooperation creates an uncomplicated possibility for saving food from disposal and to at the same time support social institutions in the region.
Cooperation with Trash Galore is being expanded
The successful partnership with Trash Galore is continuing in its third year in 2026 and will be broadened further. After materials from gamescom’s own event areas could be passed on to date, exhibitors will in future also be able to voluntarily donate leftover stand construction materials via the offering. 2,260 kilograms of material could also be salvaged from disposal in the past year through the cooperation. Six regional initiatives profited from material donations, including volunteer projects, social institutions, and recycling workshops. Trash Galore estimates the reduction achieved through the reuse of materials at around 5,000 kilograms of CO₂.
Long-term environmental measures will continue
Complementing this, gamescom is also continuing existing sustainability measures in 2026. These include avoidance, reduction, and compensation of CO₂ emissions of gamescom as organizer, voluntary climate protection contributions of exhibitors via ClimatePartner, and the Green Tickets benefitting the gamescom forest. More than 12,500 Green Tickets were sold in 2025 – a plus of around 20 percent over the previous year. The gamescom forest was able to grow to its current size of 33,500 square meters. In addition to the Green-Ticket offering, supporters can also support the project throughout the year with direct donations.
Promotion of democratic participation with gamescom GDQ
The speedrunning event Games Done Quick (GDQ) is taking place for the first time in Europe as gamescom GDQ. Donations for ”Gaming for Democracy” will be collected on three consecutive days from August 28 to 30, 2026 in the context of gamescom. This is an initiative of the Foundation for Digital Games Culture in cooperation with the Bertelsmann Stiftung, which promotes social engagement and democratic values through games culture.
More information
More on gamescom cares: gamescom cares | gamescom
Information for exhibitors: Information on accessibility | gamescom
More on Gaming for Democracy: www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/en/project/g4d_eng/
About Post Author
