GES2026 (Game Esports Seoul)

GES2026 at DDP Euljiro 281, September 18–20

GES2026 is a global gaming and esports festival scheduled to take place from September 18 to 20, 2026, at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), 281 Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul Special City. It is organized jointly by Seoul Special City and the Seoul Business Agency, and has been introduced as an event expected to involve approximately 100 gaming and esports companies and around 20,000 visitors. The venue and basic event information were also available through the Korea Travel Guide event information.

This year’s program is expected to center on exhibitions and hands-on experiences featuring famous game IPs, indie and major game shows, a PUBG team competition, the Seoul Cup, contests, and networking. It will also include fan-signing events with esports players and influencers, as well as cosplay events, so visitors will likely be able to move seamlessly between playing games themselves and watching stage programs in the same venue.

At the Seoul PlayUp AI Game Challenge, eight teams are expected to refine their projects before presenting and exhibiting their final works at GES2026 in September 2026. The opportunity to see results that interpret the city of Seoul through games seemed particularly intriguing. Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul PlayUp AI Game Challenge information

According to records from the 2025 GES, game demonstration stations and booths continued from the entrance of the Seoul Game Joint Pavilion, creating a clear atmosphere of visitors playing games themselves and lingering at the venue. This year, rather than quickly scanning the exhibition, it would be much more relaxed to choose the demonstration schedule for the games you are interested in first and plan your route accordingly.

Subway Lines 2, 4, and 5: Exit 1 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, the route to GES2026

If you are traveling with foreign friends, the subway is the simplest option. DDP is listed as approximately 37 meters from Exit 1 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station on Lines 2, 4, and 5, making it easy to keep the route short even on days when you are carrying large luggage. Basic visitor information for DDP is also available in English, but information about English-language guidance and interpretation services for GES2026 had not yet been announced separately, so preparing a translation app would be reassuring. Seoul Tourism Organization DDP English guide

DDP’s own amenities were also helpful for travelers. The information desk on Basement Level 2 provides free wheelchair rentals, there are 15 designated accessible parking spaces, and the main entrance is equipped with automatic doors without steps, elevators for people with disabilities, and accessible restrooms. Accessible tourism DDP barrier-free amenities information

If you have luggage, remember the lockers inside the north gate on the first floor of DDP Fashion Mall. The fee is 1,000 won for four hours, with an additional 1,000 won charged for each extra four-hour period. The snack bar on the second floor of the same mall sells meals, Korean snack foods, and beverages, so it would be a good idea to set aside time for a meal on days when you will be moving around between booths for a long time. DDP Fashion Mall amenities information

Admission fees and the payment methods accepted at on-site merchandise stalls and booths—card, cash, or mobile payment—have not yet been announced. However, since the event will be held at DDP from September 18 to 20, I would bring a card, a small amount of cash, a portable battery, comfortable shoes for walking, and a folding umbrella.

After the event, it would also be enjoyable to walk around the exterior of DDP and the Dongdaemun commercial district. After focusing on indoor exhibitions and watching matches, seeing the curved architecture illuminated at night would make the character of a downtown Seoul trip feel distinctly different.

DDP drew 30,000 people in 2025: What to prepare in advance for GES2026

The 2025 GES was held at DDP from September 19 to 21, with 196 companies, including gaming and esports businesses, participating and approximately 30,000 visitors recorded. Regardless of the projected scale for 2026, the actual crowds at the previous edition suggest that movement may slow around popular IP booths and during tournament hours. Seoul Metropolitan Council report on the 2025 GES

In 2025, advance reservations closed the week before the event, although some visitors attended through on-site registration. Since the newly announced reservation and admission procedures for GES2026 will be important, it would be best to check the notices once before entering on September 18 and then head straight to the booths you are interested in. At the 2025 event, 15 domestic indie game companies and 10 global indie game companies participated in the Play Zone, and a stamp event was also held. 2025 event report by Seoul in My Hand

If watching the tournaments is your main goal, I recommend finding a seat before the stage begins rather than after it has started. In 2025, the Eternal Return KEL playoffs were held in Art Hall 2, where the large screen in front of the audience and cheering flags created an impressive scene. Once the event information is released, checking the detailed schedules for this year’s PUBG team competition and Seoul Cup just once should make your route much smoother.

Another consideration is the lines. Areas featuring new-game demonstrations, such as the Neowiz indie game booth in 2025, drew long queues. For games you definitely want to try, visit them early in your itinerary, and leave some flexibility before and after fan-signing and cosplay events to account for waiting times. Game Donga’s 2025 GES event coverage

For game travelers awaiting the Seoul Cup and PUBG team competition

GES2026 should suit travelers who want to try the latest games firsthand, fans who want to experience the live reactions at an esports stage, and people who want to see indie creators and major IPs from Korea’s gaming industry gathered in one place. With the exhibition of the Seoul PlayUp AI Game Challenge also included, the schedule will offer more than simply watching matches: visitors can follow the development of games using Seoul as their subject matter.

If it were me, I would plan September 18 by exploring the exhibition and hands-on booths first, then returning to the stage according to the schedule of the match or fan-signing event I most wanted to see. Taking advantage of DDP’s proximity to Exit 1 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, arrive light and easy, then take your time enjoying the evening until the glow of the game screens and the audience’s cheers linger in the air.