GDC Parties 2026

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Saturday, March 7 4 events

Open Metaverse Hackathon @ The Immersive Commons

📅 9:00am - 11:59pm

📍 Frontier Tower, 995 Market St

Free 🚶 16 min

🍔 🤫 🎮 💼

Early open web standards enabled anyone to create websites, the new open metaverse standards allow anyone to create the tools, places, and AI products that will power interoperable spatial experiences without proprietary lock-in. AR glasses are coming. Billions of people will use them daily within a decade. The infrastructure that powers spatial experiences will be built in the next few years. This hackathon is where that starts. Join us. Build something that matters. Own what you create.

By RP1

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Job recruitment, Game showcases, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Networking workshop

📅 10:00am - 12:00pm

📍 Saluhall SF, 945 Market Street, #Floor 2

Free 🚶 14 min

Join us for a fun, in-person Networking Workshop to boost your connections skills for GDC! Whether you’re looking to meet new people, sharpen your social skills, or just have a great time, this event’s got you covered. Practice your introduction pitch with no stakes, so that you can make the perfect first impression and genuine connections at GDC. Don’t miss out on this chance to boost your network face-to-face!

By IGDA San Francisco

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Board Game Designers' Coworking Meetup

📅 12:00pm - 4:00pm

📍 Saluhall Market, 945 Market Street

Free 🚶 15 min

🍔 🍹 🤫 🎮

A day brimming with creativity and collaboration at the Board Game Designers' Coworking Meetup. This is a unique relaxed opportunity to work on your projects surrounded by peers who share your passion for game design. This is your chance to get valuable feedback, share resources, and perhaps even find collaborators for your next big game idea. Playtesting is welcome, though that isn't the focus of this event. This is free to attend, yet please consider buying some delicious food and drinks while here to support the venue.

By Golden Gate Gamemakers

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Australian Grand Prix Watch Party

📅 8:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍹

The traditional games industry gathering of F1 fans ahead of GDC for the first race of the season!

By Caolan McKendry

Notes: Inside, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🔗

Sunday, March 8 12 events

GDC Kickabout 2026

📅 8:00am - 10:00am

📍 Mission Playground Soccer Field, 19th St & Linda St, 36 Cunningham Pl

Free 🚗 15 min

🤫 🌲

Kick off GDC with one of the oldest games in the world… Soccer! People of all skill levels are welcome. We’ll be playing King of the Hill with teams of 8 which will make it a bit competitive and allow more people to play. The Mission playground is a 25~ minute bus ride and 9 minute car ride from the Moscone Center. Small donations are appreciated for field permit & pinnies charges <3

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Indie Giving 2026

📅 12:00pm - 3:00pm

📍 Compass Family Services, 37 Grove Street

$30 – $549 🚶 26 min

Partnering with the GDC to contribute to positive change in the SF area since 2010! Get GDC 2026 tickets + support a local charity.

By Indie Giving

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

✨Pre-GDC Indie Game Developer Park Meetup 2026

📅 3:00pm - 7:00pm

📍 Dolores Park, 19th & Dolores St

Free 🚗 15 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

Calling all independent game developers at GDC 2026! Let’s catch up with old friends and make new ones at Dolores Park the afternoon before GDC. See event details for the exact meeting spot (the park is huge).

By Ty Taylor

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Day of the Devs 2026

📅 3:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 The Midway, 900 Marin St

Free 🚗 13 min

🍹 🎮

Our last physical event brought together more than 60 inspiring indie games and developers to celebrate with thousands of fans, great music, and loads of awesome treats and surprises — all free with no costs either to developers or attendees. AKA — It's Completely, Absolutely, Positively FREE FREE FREE to attend. It's free entry, and open to all ages. (No GDC pass, ticket, or RSVP is required). For more information and updates surrounding the 2026 game line-up and/or sponsor information, please visit www.dayofthedevs.com.

By Double Fine, iam8bit

Notes: Inside, Game showcases, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Beginner Mahjong Speakeasy - Sunday

📅 4:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 Fermentation Lab Japantown, 1700A Post Street

$20 🚗 15 min

🍔 🍹

Open Play | Beginner-Friendly | Chinese Mahjong -- Join us for an open Mahjong night designed with beginners in mind. Our hosts will run rolling guided intro sessions throughout the evening to help new players learn the basics and jump into live play. No gambling.

By Thirteen Orphans

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Spatial XR Mixer

📅 5:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Frontier Tower, 995 Market St

Free 🚶 16 min

🍔 🤫 🎮

Meet and connect with other XR professionals and enthusiasts at GDC 2026. This social aligns with the conclusion of the Open Metaverse Hackathon. Open to all industry attendees, this is the perfect opportunity to relax, mingle, and make some new friends before the show! Bring a headset and demo your spatial computing company or project.

By RP1

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

New

Weekend.com GDC Happy Hour

📅 6:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Iron Horse Cocktails, 25 Maiden Ln

Free 🚶 10 min

🍔 🍹

The Weekend starts Sunday. Fend off the scaries and start GDC off right on Sunday 3/8. We'll be celebrating the launch of Weekend with some cocktails and light bites.

By Weekend.com

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Beta Hat X Deconstructor Of Fun GDC-Pregame

📅 6:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Persona, 685 Sutter St

Free 🚶 23 min

🍹 🎮

This is your chance to mingle with fellow industry insiders and creative minds before the main event begins. Whether you're a seasoned GDC veteran or a first-timer, this pre-game party is the perfect opportunity to make new connections and catch up with old friends. So grab a drink and get ready to set the tone for a productive week at GDC.

By Beta Hat, Deconstructor

Notes: Inside, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Beyond Play: A French-American Community Event on the Future of Video Games

📅 6:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Gray Area / Grand Theater, 2665 Mission St

Free 🚗 18 min

🍹 🤫 🎮

Guests will have the opportunity to meet the representatives of six French indie video game companies, experience two panel discussion featuring experts from across fields, view the special exhibition by Sandrine Deumier, and network with specialty cocktails.

By Villa Albertine, French M4FA, French MoC, ICC Immersion

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Pre-Con Game Audio Meetup

📅 6:00pm - 2:00am

📍 Bender's Bar & Grill, 806 S Van Ness Ave

Free 🚗 13 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Come hang out with your fellow game audio friends and professionals at Bender's in the Mission before the conference starts! Bender's has a great selection of food and drink, and is easily accessible by MUNI and BART. See you there!

By Game Audio Pavillion

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

gamescom dev leadership reception San Francisco 2026

📅 6:30pm - 10:00pm

📍 The Howard SF, 661 Howard Street

$227 🚶 3 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Join a carefully curated group of industry leaders, partners, and friends of gamescom dev for an exclusive leadership reception during GDC. This gamescom dev leadership event series returns for its 8th edition, bringing together senior industry leaders, long-standing partners, and select guests during GDC 2026. Our reception is intentionally limited to around 50 guests and thoughtfully curated for executives, decision-makers, established developers, and a select circle of long-standing collaborators within our network.

By Xsolla, Helpshift, Epic Games Store, ChibiPhoenix

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Courage XL

📅 7:00pm - 11:30pm

📍 The Great Northern, 119 Utah St

Free 🚶 38 min

🍹 🎮

Kick off your GDC week the Courage way! With 35+ developers, a drink in hand, and a night full of games, chats, and good vibes. Courage XL keeps things casual: think simple set ups, soft music, and lots of cool demos (no loud music, expensive expo booths or complicated badge scanners) 🎧🍻 Expect a friendly crowd, an indie atmosphere, and the perfect excuse to mingle before the madness of GDC begins. 🕹️🍹

By Super Menno Monster

Notes: Inside, Game showcases, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Monday, March 9 36 events

GDC Kick-Off Run

📅 7:00am - 8:00am

📍 Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building

Free 🚶 22 min

🤫 🌲

In San Francisco for GDC and fancy starting the week with a relaxed morning run? Easy 5–6km, social pace, no pressure. Shake off the travel, see a bit of the city, then grab a coffee afterwards ☕️

By Simon Hope

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

RunDevRun San Francisco 2026 - Monday

📅 7:30am - 8:30am

📍 5th and Market Street, SF

Free 🚶 12 min

🤫 🌲

GDC Run is the longstanding tradition of starting each day of GDC with a healthy morning run. It's a great way to meet new people in the industry and take in beautiful views! The run is at your own pace and is an approachable 1-mile distance. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join.

By Indie Wolverine

Notes: Affiliate, Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Morning Audio Community Meetup Monday

📅 8:00am - 9:00am

📍 222 2nd St.

Free 🚶 5 min

The Morning Audio Community Meetup is the sound of people coming together to share their experience throughout the conference.

By Audio Community

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

New York State Breakfast

📅 9:00am - 12:00pm

📍 149 New Montgomery, 4th Floor

Free 🚶 6 min

🍔 🤫

Empire State Development would like to celebrate the vast digital game development industry of our state with a breakfast networking event! It will be an opportunity to network with the amazing award winning NYS developers and learn more about New York resources for digital game companies based anywhere. RSVP preferred!

By Empire State Development

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Xsolla Clubhouse - cafe, open house, demos

📅 9:00am - 3:00pm

📍 The Howard SF, 661 Howard St

Free 🚶 3 min

🤫

A short walk from Moscone Center, Xsolla's Clubhouse is our dedicated space for recharge and meaningful conversations. Take a break from meetings and catch up with us on your current project, goals, and insights. All of gaming's professionals are welcome here… no ticket needed, or GDC Festival of Gaming badge required!

By Xsolla

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

PG Connects Summit San Francisco 2026

📅 9:00am - 5:30pm

📍 715 Harrison Event Space, 715 Harrison St

$40 🚶 8 min

🤫

Network and learn from the best in the mobile games industry this conference season – expert talks, fringe events, 5-day MeetToMatch & more!

By Steel Media

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

CrossFit 2026 in SF During A Gaming Conference

📅 10:00am - 11:15am

📍 CrossFit Golden Gate, 1946 Van Ness Ave

$33 🚶 46 min

Gamers rise and get these gains! For the FOURTH year in a row, Alex and Nico will be mooscling up at our local SF CrossFit during GDC week. As always, people of all fitness levels are welcome.

By Alexandra Takei, Nicolas Vereecke

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Mobile Gaming Kickoff Brunch

📅 10:00am - 12:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔

Join co-hosts General Catalyst & vgames at GC's lofty 20th-floor HQ in San Francisco for an intimate breakfast alongside fellow founders, executives, and investors in mobile gaming, with ample room for networking as GDC kicks off nearby.

By General Catalyst, vgames

Notes: Inside, Free food

+📅 🔗

The United Kingdom games hub - Monday

📅 10:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Center for Architecture, 140 Sutter St

Free 🚶 13 min

🎮

The United Kingdom games hub is the place to meet the best games companies from the United Kingdom at GDC Festival of Gaming. Featuring developers, publishers and specialist service suppliers, come meet, network and engage with the best the UK has to offer. Contact sam@ukie.org.uk for a list of companies that will be based at the hub.

By ukie.org.uk

Notes: Affiliate, Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Xsolla Speaking Sessions

📅 10:00am - 5:00pm

📍 The Howard SF, 661 Howard St

Free 🚶 3 min

Xsolla is committed to helping game industry businesses thrive. Join our team throughout the week for expert sessions as we share industry updates and all the things about the tools and services available to help grow your games.

By Xsolla

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Xsolla Salons

📅 10:00am - 5:00pm

📍 The Howard SF, 661 Howard St

Free 🚶 3 min

🍔 🤫

Be part of a unique opportunity that connects industry leaders, fosters deep discussions, and builds meaningful connections. Explore industry trends, challenges, and innovations in a focused, welcoming environment.

By Xsolla

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GDC 2026: Design Your Mascot with Hyper3D

📅 10:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Right at the main entrance next to the GDC Information Booth

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🤫

Design Your Own GDC Mascot — See It Turned Into 3D and Printed! Stop by and create your custom GDC mascot in minutes. The lucky designs will get the chance to be 3D printed and brought to life. Free snacks & toys. Live demos. Text/Image to 3D powered by Hyper3D Rodin. 📍 Main entrance of GDC, next to the Information Booth⏰ March 9–13 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily. Come create your own GDC moment.

By Hyper3D Rodin by DeemosTech

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

New

GDC 2026 Playtest lounge

📅 10:00am - 6:00pm

📍 Moscone West

Free 🚶 0 min

🎮

GGG is working with Unpub to feature game designers showcasing their works in progress. Free play area is open all week from 10a - 6p. Local store Gamescape will have a library of games to check out. A “Protospiel” section will be available where designers can run their prototypes. Other board game events will happen throughout the conference, including the GDC Opening Night Party, where prototypes will also be run.

By Golden Gate Gamemakers

Notes: GDC pass required, Inside, Game showcases

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Game Accelerator Demo Day @ PGC Summit San Francisco

📅 11:00am - 1:00pm

📍 715 Harrison Event Space, 715 Harrison St

Requires PGC ticket 🚶 8 min

🤖 🎮

Helika is hosting the Demo Day of its Avalanche accelerator — the graduation event where five teams will present their games and products. The event brings together game developers, publishers, investors, and industry partners. As a part of the event, we will have a series of speaker panels.

By Helika, Avalanche

Notes: Inside, AI

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Kaedim x GDC: Donut giveaway!! Monday

📅 11:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Moscone Center

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🌲

FREE Donuts for GDC. Open to all attendees (first come, first served!) 📍 Meet us in the lobby of Moscone Center to pick up donuts 🚚 We’ll also be circling around the surrounding path (see event link) keep an eye out for us! ⏰ March 9 -13, from 11 am to 5 pm everyday. Feel free to stop by anytime for a donut, or message Ruby (647-855-1118) if you’re trying to track us down. Come grab a treat, we’d love to see you!

By Kaedim

Notes: Inside and outside, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Audio Daily Lunchtime “Behind” the Carousel - Monday

📅 12:00pm - 1:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), Behind the carousel, 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

Lunch behind the Carousel is always a thing. The default location for audio community sustenance and an open invitation for unwinding in-between. When the weather is good, behind the Carousel (ideally, in the amphitheater set-back from the road) is simply the best place to target when you’re looking for a place to land during lunch. Grab some food and see you there! (In-case of rain, feel free to head over to the Audiokinetic Community space at the Metreon Theater!)

By Audiokinetic

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Medal x FamousAspect VIP GDC Happy Hour

📅 1:00pm - 4:00pm

📍 Tempest Bar & Box Kitchen, 2940 431 Natoma St

Free 🚶 9 min

🍔 🍹

Studios, publishers, game devs, and marketers, please join us for a VIP happy hour with FamousAspect and Medal. Medal is the fastest way to clip, save, and share PC gameplay. With 15M+ MAU and 3M+ players sharing clips weekly, Medal turns your game’s best moments into online word-of-mouth, quietly driving discovery across every genre, from indie to AAA. This GDC, FamousAspect is relaunching as a news outlet analyzing the games industry from an expert, veteran perspective.

By Medal.TV, FamousAspect

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Ctrl + Unite

📅 1:00pm - 5:00pm

📍 Digital Garage US, 717 Market St #100

Free 🚶 9 min

🍔 🎮

Three organizations. One mission. This year, AAPI In Gaming, Latinx In Gaming, and Black In Gaming are hitting "Ctrl + Unite." Our passion for building a more inclusive industry has led us to this moment: a unified space for underrepresented communities to connect outside the GDC walls. We are moving beyond just "being present" but we are building an ecosystem of mutual support that lasts long after the badges are tucked away. Come see what happens when we build together.

By AAPI in Gaming, Black in Gaming, Latinx in Gaming

Notes: Inside, Game showcases, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

State of Gaming Summit SF

📅 2:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Roka Akor, 801 Montgomery St

Free 🚶 23 min

🍔 🍹

Join a distinguished group of 150 gaming leaders on March 9th to network and discuss the industry-defining State of Gaming 2026 report. Discover the trends shaping the year ahead and learn how to turn these insights into action to achieve your business goals.

By Sensor Tower, Singular, Mistplay, Deconstructor of Fun

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Developers in China & IGDA SZ Meet Up

📅 3:10pm - 4:10pm

📍 Moscone Center South, Room 301

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫

Are you a game developer from China, or interested in the Chinese game market? Join us for an informal, open-format gathering at GDC 2026! Hosted by the IGDA Shenzhen Chapter, this is a relaxed space to meet fellow developers, exchange ideas, and build genuine connections across cultures.

By IGDA

Notes: GDC pass required, Inside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Arielle – Game Jam during GDC week

📅 4:00pm - 5:00pm

📍 Online

Free

🤫 🎮

Join the GDC x Arielle Game Jam for a creative challenge where developers of all levels build games inspired by a shared theme. It’s a space to connect, experiment, and ship prototypes with fellow creators. Whether you’re an indie dev or new to game jams, it’s a great chance to stretch your skills and have fun. Collaborate, Network, and see what you can make in a limited timeframe.

By Gamers Home

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Christian Pizza Dinner

📅 5:00pm - 7:00pm

📍 Pie Punks, 145 2nd Street

Free 🚶 7 min

🍔 🍹

Casual dinner meetup for christians in the game industry. Hosted by The Imladris Community. Come join fellow game developers and Christians at our first dinner meetup event!

By Imladris

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

The Games Industry Social

📅 5:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free 🚶 29 min

🍔 🍹 🤫 🌲 🎮

Games Industry Gathering (GIG) presents their annual IRL party held in San Francisco during the week of GDC. The party will be held in an exclusive outdoor undercover space with tables and board games, an allocation of vouchers for food and drink from various food trucks and carts, plus developers showcasing some playable games.

By Games Industry Gathering

Notes: Inside and outside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🔗

New

GGP's Third Annual Zero Proof Game Night

📅 5:00pm - 11:00pm

📍 The Foundry SF, 1425 Folsom St

Free 🚶 7 min

🍔 🎮

GGP has partnered with Wizards of the Coast to bring you an amazing night filled with Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and other great Hasbro games in an inclusive and welcoming space!

By GGP, Wizards of the Coast

Notes: Inside, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Gaming Leaders Executive Reception

📅 5:30pm - 7:30pm

📍 B San Francisco, 720 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🍹

A rooftop venue just a short walk from the Moscone Center, this event offers stunning views of the Yerba Buena Gardens and a premium networking experience like no other. Designed for senior executives, thought leaders and key decision-makers in the gaming, technology and media industries, this intimate gathering is your opportunity to connect with industry leaders in a high-profile, curated environment. This exclusive reception is your chance to engage with peers, exchange ideas and build meaningful connections. Attendance is limited.

By EPAM, AWS, Databricks, Stripe, Arm, Epic Games

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Sumo Mixer 2026

📅 5:30pm - 7:30pm

📍 Wine Down SF, 685 Folsom St

Free 🚶 5 min

🍔 🍹

Sumo Digital is hosting a private GDC mixer for our valued friends, colleagues and partners at Wine Down SF, a wonderfully relaxed and friendly bar just one block away from the Moscone Center! Relaxed, private affair for our close friends and partners. Drinks and Food provided

By Sumo Digital

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

YEE-HAW MONSTER TRUCKS // 1KX

📅 5:30pm - 11:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍹 💃

🤠 Yee-Haw Monster Trucks and 1kx are throwing a GDC 2026 Kick Off event in style — and you're invited. Enter The Citadel Early Access (iykyk). We're taking over one of San Francisco's most iconic spots for an intimate evening built around an immersive audiovisual experience, live music, international djs, open bar, and a few surprises :) Expect a carefully curated crowd of builders, operators, founders, and investors in tech and gaming.

By 1k(x)

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Free alcohol

+📅 🔗

Celebrating Women in Games

📅 6:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 City View at Metreon, 135 4th Street

Free 🚶 5 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

This panel discussion, moderated by Joanie Kraut, CEO of WIGI, will feature accomplished women working across gaming technology and business who will share their journeys into the industry, explore current trends transforming gaming—including AI, and new player experiences—discuss why diverse perspectives are critical as we build the next generation of gaming technology, and examine how to actively promote opportunities for women in games. Enjoy networking with industry leaders, light hors d'oeuvres, and refreshments.

By AWS, Luna, WIGI, Nvidia

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Kael's Board Game Mixer GDC 2026 Edition

📅 6:00pm - 9:30pm

📍 Game Post of San Francisco, 689 3rd St

$5 🚶 15 min

🍔 🍹 🤫 🎮

Join us for a night of board games and fun with other game industry colleagues! Game developers, publishers, and other industry folks are all invited to the 2026 Board Game Mixer! Kael Barend hosts board game events at trade shows around the world with the aim of fostering a night of fun with board games! Network with colleagues while trying out cool new titles from around the world. No need to learn the rules, they will be taught by Kael. The first 12 attendees also have their table fees waved! Otherwise it's only $5

By Kael

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Opening Night at the Ballpark

📅 6:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Oracle Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza

Free with GDC pass 🚶 18 min

🍔 🍹 🤫 🌲 🎮

Kick off the week with your people at the ballpark! It’s a big-tent welcome for the entire B2B games ecosystem under the stadium lights, surrounded by community partners, hands-on tabletop game play, unique activations, and ballpark concessions. Settle in for a fan-voted movie paired with game trailers, brought to life through dynamic stadium-wide lighting effects that transform the ballpark into an immersive, cinematic experience.

By GDC

Notes: GDC pass required, Outside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Game for a Laugh

📅 7:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 Eclectic Box SF, 446 Valencia Street

$25 🚗 17 min

🍹 🎮

A live improv comedy show inspired by real stories from game developers. Our guest from the game industry shares true tales from their career — the wins, the weird moments, the things you definitely didn’t put in the postmortem — and our cast turns them into fully improvised scenes. If you’re looking for something fun, loose, and genuinely funny during GDC, this is your night. Come laugh with your fellow gamers and see what happens when game dev stories meet live comedy.

By Game for a Laugh Improv

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

VFX Mixer

📅 7:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Monarch, 101 6th St

Free 🚶 13 min

🍔 🍹

A night to connect, share, and celebrate the VFX community with sponsors and guest speakers from VFX Apprentice, Visual Effects Society, Beyond-FX, Tuatara, SideFX, and more. Free food and drinks, first come first serve.

By VFX Apprentice, Visual Effects Society, Beyond-FX, etc.

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

MIX Spring Game Showcase 2026

📅 7:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Terra Gallery, 511 Harrison St

Free

🍹 🎮

We're working together to help raise visibility for developers and publishers from around the world through online and in person formats.

By MIX, Kinda Funny

Notes: Inside, Game showcases, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Aura After Hours

📅 7:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 SPIN San Francisco, 690 Folsom St #100

Free 🚶 4 min

🍔 🍹 🤫

Kick off GDC with drinks and hors d’oeuvres just steps from Moscone. We’ve reserved a private space at SPIN for game industry folks to get together and connect. Enjoy an open bar with premium cocktails, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks, plus food and reserved ping pong tables.

By Aura

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

PEMMY LAND Fortnite Map Launch

📅 7:00pm - 11:00pm

📍 Harlan Records, 18 Harlan Pl

Free 🚶 15 min

🍹 🌲

Pemexs - painter, muralist, street artist, and Creative Director of the Last Ones collective - has spent years leaving marks on physical surfaces. Now the collective has gone somewhere else entirely. PEMMY LAND is an immersive environment built inside Fortnite, where the constraints of memory storage replace the limited colors of a spray can, and the result is a place where you navigate through someone else's memory and identity.

By Last Ones

Notes: Inside and outside, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Pocket Gamer Party San Francisco 2026

📅 8:30pm - 11:30pm

📍 715 Harrison Event Space, 715 Harrison St

Free 🚶 8 min

🍔 🍹 💃 🎮

Kick off those business connections during the awesome GDC week (when we're in town for PG Connects Summit San Francisco 2026) by attending another excellent Pocket Gamer Party. All games industry professionals are welcome at 715 Harrison nightclub on the evening of Monday, March 9, for informal networking, drinks, and fun times.

By Pocket Gamer Connects

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Tuesday, March 10 68 events

Run Time: San Francisco Game Event - 5km Social Run

📅 7:00am - 8:00am

📍 Ferry Building, 1 Ferry Building

Free 🚶 22 min

🌲 🎮

A simple 5k run to get the neutrons firing and the old networking off to a grand start.

By Run Time & SpecialEffect

Notes: Affiliate, Outside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

RunDevRun San Francisco 2026 - Tuesday

📅 7:30am - 8:30am

📍 5th and Market Street, SF

Free 🚶 12 min

🤫 🌲

By Indie Wolverine

Notes: Affiliate, Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Morning Audio Community Meetup Tuesday

📅 8:00am - 9:00am

📍 222 2nd St.

Free 🚶 5 min

The Morning Audio Community Meetup is the sound of people coming together to share their experience throughout the conference.

By Audio Community

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Nordic Breakfast

📅 8:00am - 12:00pm

📍 Reed Smith LLP, 101 2nd St #1800

Free 🚶 8 min

🍔

The annual tradition continues – the Nordic Breakfast at GDC is ON! Join us on Tuesday, March 10th at Reed Smith, San Francisco, for a morning gathering that brings together Nordic and Estonian game developers along with key stakeholders from the US games industry. The Nordic Breakfast offers an excellent opportunity to connect with peers, exchange insights, and explore new collaboration possibilities while enjoying inspiring talks and relaxed networking.

By Invest Estonia, Estonian Ministry of Culture, Tartu Science Park

Notes: Inside, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

BIG FEST 2026

📅 9:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔 🤫 🎮

BIG FEST is more than an event, it’s a movement. A full day of programming, networking, and community-building, leading up to the annual Black in Gaming Awards. What to expect: an all-day indie dev showcase with morning sessions, a communal lunch break, afternoon sessions, and closing networking.

By Black in Gaming Foundation

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases, Free food

+📅 🔗

DTC Insights for Success in 2026 & Beyond

📅 9:30am - 11:30am

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔

This executive breakfast roundtable brings together leaders across Business Development, Payments, Product, Monetization, Growth, and LiveOps to discuss how studios can drive higher conversion, larger basket sizes, and stronger repeat purchase behavior by gaining more control, customization, and transparency across their commerce operations.

By NEON, Covent

Notes: Inside, Free food

+📅 🔗

How to Market a Game Meetup

📅 10:00am - 11:00am

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), YGB Shaking Man Sculpture, 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

Come meet other HTMAG folks in person at GDC. This will just be a casual hangout. There is no agenda. You don't have to RSVP. If you can't make it, no worries. Just show up and talk about marketing your game. We are meeting at Yerba Buena Gardens Shaking Man sculpture.

By Chris Zukowski

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Women Got Game

📅 10:00am - 3:00pm

📍 Children's Creativity Museum, 221 4th St

Free 🚶 0 min

🎮

Women Got Game is an esports tournament and summit consisting of conversations, connections, and competitions that introduces women college students and young professionals to diverse female corporate partners, developers, designers, and entrepreneurs in the gaming and technology industry. The event will take place as part of BIG Fest, in partnership with Black in Gaming, and will be hosted at the Creativity Museum, located next to the Moscone Center during GDC.

By BCGA Foundation

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

The United Kingdom games hub - Tuesday

📅 10:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Center for Architecture, 140 Sutter St

Free 🚶 13 min

🎮

By ukie.org.uk

Notes: Affiliate, Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

The Mobile Founders & Builders Brunch

📅 11:00am - 1:00pm

📍 Dirty Habit, Hotel Zelos (12th Floor), 12 4th St

Free 🚶 8 min

🍔

D7 retention for casual games hit a four-year low in 2025 and 92.5% of IAP revenue is now locked up in the top 1% of publishers. The old playbook is dead. Expect great food, specialty coffee, and real talk takeaways from industry legends like Mike Vorhaus that don’t happen on the main stage.

By Join Skillz, Aarki, AppsFlyer

Notes: Inside, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Christian Ramen Lunch

📅 11:00am - 1:00pm

📍 Ippudo ramen, 18 Yerba Buena Ln

Free 🚶 7 min

🍔 🍹

Join a casual lunch meetup with fellow game developers and christians. Hosted by The Imladris Community. Join our casual chats about the game industry and God, and our goals for the future all while feasting on some of the best ramen in San Francisco. Everyone is welcome.

By Imladris

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Kaedim x GDC: Donut giveaway!! Tuesday

📅 11:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Moscone Center

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🌲

By Kaedim

Notes: Inside and outside, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

ThinkingData Summit 2026

📅 11:30am - 5:00pm

📍 Marriot Marquis, 780 Mission St

Free 🚶 6 min

🤫 🤖

A focused look at how data and AI power scalable game growth, connect industry leaders, and enable global collaboration. Designed for studio leaders, product and LiveOps owners, and data teams driving game growth. Attend to drive scalable game growth, build sustainable lifecycles, leverage AI, and improve retention and revenue.

By ThinkingData

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, AI

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

IGDA Indie SIG BYO Lunch

📅 12:00pm - 1:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

Come to the IGDA Indie SIG's Bring-Your-Own Lunch in Yerba Buena Gardens! We'll be meeting right after the Indie SIG's roundtable at GDC. All are welcome! You don't need to be an IGDA or Indie SIG member. Come meet other indie devs, talk shop, and enjoy lunch together.

By IGDA Indie Special Interest Group

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Audio Daily Lunchtime “Behind” the Carousel - Tuesday

📅 12:00pm - 1:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), Behind the carousel, 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

By Audiokinetic

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Ukrainian Games Festival

📅 12:00pm - 6:00pm

📍 530 Bush St

Free 🚶 16 min

🍔 🤫 🎮

Join us for a two-day celebration of Ukrainian games during GDC week, just steps from Moscone Center! Play ten incredible games from Ukrainian indie studios. Enjoy traditional Ukrainian food. Support a good cause!

By Ukrainian Games

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Slug World 2026

📅 12:00pm - 6:30pm

📍 Lake Merritt Amphitheater, Oakland

Free 🚗 22 min

🍔 🍹 🤫 🌲

Woman-run meetup for the punks, freaks and weirdos in games. No sponsorships, no gatekeepers, everything is free. Come make friends.

By Schera Wyss

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Early Career Games Meetup

📅 12:15pm - 1:15pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

A chill park meetup for early career folks who are working in games to meet other people in the same boat, swap notes, and make connections. Swing by and look for the "Early Career Games Meetup" sign!

By PLAYTRACE, BetaVanKappa

Notes: Affiliate, Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Unity Daily Talk: Core CLR & Graphics

📅 2:00pm - 4:00pm

📍 Ecosystem Coworking, 540 Howard Street, 2nd Floor

Free 🚶 8 min

Kick off the day with Unity’s Joe Valenzuela on what’s next for CoreCLR, Entities, unified transform, UDM, serialization, and more, plus a talk on our latest graphics work from Steven Kent. Then stick around to meet the team and see live demos across Graphics, 2D, CoreCLR, and more.

By Unity

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GameMaker Meetup

📅 2:30pm - 3:30pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

Come meet and connect with other GameMaker developers! Whether you're a GameMaker Studio pro or just interested in getting started, come for a casual hang in the gardens with other devs. All are welcome!

By GameMaker

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Product, LiveOps & Growth Symposium - Tuesday

📅 2:30pm - 8:30pm

📍 The Howard SF, 661 Howard St

Free 🚶 3 min

🍔 🍹

The 2026 Product, LiveOps & Growth Symposium is an invite-only GDC satellite event uniting the leaders who build, operate, grow, and monetize the world’s most successful games. Now in its third year, the Symposium evolves beyond LiveOps as a function and frames it as a full operating system for modern games - one that connects agentic operations, direct-to-consumer commerce, full-funnel marketing, and monetization into a single, coherent growth and retention loop.

By Xsolla, AWS, Appsflyer

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Game UX friends - San Francisco meetup 2026

📅 3:00pm - 4:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

An informal meetup with a few UX gamedev friends to answer questions and hopefully give networking opportunities for young or aspiring game UX folks, especially for marginalized people who don't have a strong network of their own. Let's just meet on the lawn in the center of Yerba Buena Gardens!

By Celia Hodent, Kat Craig, Stephan Dube, Alister Lee

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Consumer, Gaming, & Entertainment Founders + Friends Meetup

📅 3:00pm - 4:30pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

Curated group of high quality founders (and sometimes investors/early employees) in the industry to hang out and top shop. Last year we had 60+ founders, most who are venture backed, profitable, or doing something really impressive!

By Sydney Liu

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Unity's Indie Celebration and Fireside Chat

📅 3:00pm - 6:00pm

📍 Temple Nightclub, 540 Howard St

Free 🚶 8 min

🍔 🍹

Join us at GDC for an invite-only Indie Celebration featuring a fireside chat with Steam marketing legend Chris Zukowski (How to Market a Game),Chris Zukowski, BAFTA Breakthrough writer/developer Xalavier Nelson Jr. (Strange Scaffold), and Unity advocate Mike Geig. Enjoy a selection of Made with Unity demos, and focused networking with developers, publishers, and platform partners.

By Unity

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

RPG/TTRPG Developers Mixer

📅 3:30pm - 5:30pm

📍 945 Market Street (IKEA), 2nd Floor

Free 🚶 14 min

🍔 🍹 🤫

Connect with fellow RPG developers over food and drinks at Saluhall, two blocks from Moscone. 945 Market Street (IKEA), 2nd Floor. Look for the Karlach stand-up. ❤️‍🔥

By Taage Storey (Wiredream Games)

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

AWS Symposium

📅 3:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 The Howard SF, 661 Howard St

Free 🚶 3 min

The 2026 Product x LiveOps & Growth Symposium is an invite-only GDC satellite event uniting the leaders who build, operate, grow, and monetize the world’s most successful games. Now in its third year, the Symposium evolves beyond LiveOps as a function and frames it as a full operating system for modern games - one that connects agentic operations, direct-to-consumer commerce, full-funnel marketing, and monetization into a single, coherent growth and retention loop. The agenda being updated daily!

By Xsolla

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Asian Game Audio Network Meetup

📅 4:00pm - 6:00pm

📍 Behind The LeRoy King Carousel, 221 4th St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

Join us for our GDC in-person meetup from the Asian Game Audio Network. Our mission is to adovcate, highlight, and mentor our members of the Asian game audio community and act as a open, welcome space to grow together. We are also focused on nurturing local communities within the Asia region. Let's have a great time together before checking out the GADA Dinner or GDC Concert!

By Jade Chamber Sound

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Turtle Tech Art Meetup

📅 4:00pm - 6:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

Are you a tech artist? Got a friend who is a tech artist? Join Turtle Tech Art at our annual meetup!

By Turtle Tech Art

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GamesBeat Crossfire at GDC

📅 4:00pm - 7:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🎮

At the GamesBeat Crossfire event, industry leaders come together for candid, unscripted debates on the forces redefining control in games. From AI’s growing influence on development, to the real economics of subscriptions, to the future of mid-tier studios, Crossfire cuts through the hype to examine who truly holds leverage—and what that means in 2026.

By GamesBeat

Notes: Inside

+📅 🔗

Rive x GDC Game Dev Meetup

📅 4:00pm - 7:00pm

📍 Rive HQ, 499 Carolina Street

Free 🚶 45 min

🤖 🎮

Rive is hosting a free game developer meetup at Rive HQ in San Francisco during GDC. Free to attend (one ticket per person). RSVP to save your spot. Game devs, designers, and interactive builders welcome.

By Rive

Notes: Inside, AI

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Beginner Mahjong Speakeasy - Tuesday

📅 4:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Fermentation Lab Japantown, 1700A Post Street

$20 🚗 15 min

🍔 🍹

By Thirteen Orphans

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

IGDA @ GDC: Localization Mixer

📅 4:30pm - 5:30pm

📍 Moscone Center South, Room 301

Free 🚶 0 min

Come join us for a nice and casual networking Mixer @ GDC 2026 for everyone in or interested in Game Localization! The mixer is hosted by the IGDA Localization SIG in the hopes to revive some localization events during GDC this year. Committee member Alexis Biro will be on-site in Moscone Center South Hall (Room TBA), to welcome you, and answer any questions you might have about the advocacy group or any areas of our discipline. So bring your business cards, claim your space, and chat away with other industry professionals!

By IGDA

Notes: GDC pass required, Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Sapphic Game Industry Park Meetup 🏳️‍🌈👭🏳️‍⚧️

📅 4:30pm - 6:30pm

📍 Salesforce Park, Amphitheater Main Lawn, 65 Minna St

Free 🚶 8 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

Come assemble your WLW squad for GDC! <3 We will be escaping Moscone Center and meeting at the Amphitheater Main Lawn at Salesforce Park. To get there, head three blocks east of Moscone to 1st and Minna, then take the escalator up to the park! The Amphitheater Lawn is on the far west side of the park, by the big main stage. This will be a casual mix and mingle chill hang, all sapphic game industry folks welcome!

By Molly Monahan

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

LiveOps Meetup @GDC26

📅 5:00pm - 6:00pm

📍 Moscone Center

Free 🚶 0 min

Don't miss the chance to connect to other professionals working on Live Service Games. This is an opportunity to compare notes on the complexities of ongoing delivery, optimization and all the strategic implications with people who understand the unique nature of ongoing live delivery, sharing best practice and 'war stories'. The event is part of the Community Clubhouse, an official partner of [GDC] Festival of Games, and you will need a GDC pass to be able to access the event.

By Oscar Clark

Notes: GDC pass required, Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Community Clubhouse mixer

📅 5:00pm - 6:00pm

📍 Moscone South, Upper Level

Free 🚶 0 min

🍹

Happy hour post Commuity Clubhouse

By Keywords Studios

Notes: GDC pass required, Inside, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️

Coda Connect San Francisco

📅 5:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 Novella, 662 Mission St

Free 🚶 6 min

🍔 🍹

Meet the Coda leadership team and connect with peers across gaming, payments, and tech. Join us for an evening of connections, conversations, and good company.

By Coda

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Sui Gaming Happy Hour

📅 5:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 Press Club, 20 Yerba Buena Ln

Free 🚗 15 min

🍔 🍹 🤫

Join the Sui team for an invite-only evening of great conversation, food, and drinks alongside industry peers during GDC. This mixer is designed to bring together leaders and creatives from across the games and tech ecosystem, from AAA studios and industry leaders to innovative startups, for meaningful connections in a relaxed setting. Whether you’re catching up with familiar faces from the industry or meeting new ones, we hope you’ll join us at the Press Club for an engaging night.

By Sui Foundation

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Dinner and Drinks With ModSquad

📅 5:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 The Harlequin, 68 4th St

Free 🚶 7 min

🍔 🍹 🤫

Request an RSVP. Join us for an evening of dinner and drinks with ModSquad — connecting GDC 2026 speakers, VIPs, and special guests at The Harlequin for great conversation and community. Full name and business email addresses only please.

By ModSquad

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Coda Connect San Francisco

📅 5:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 Novela, 662 Mission St

Free 🚶 6 min

🍔 🍹 🤫

Meet the Coda leadership team and connect with peers across gaming, payments, and tech. Join us for an evening of connections, conversations, and good company. Please register to confirm your place. We look forward to seeing you there.

By Coda

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Dinner & Drinks with GDC Speakers, VIPs & Special Guests

📅 5:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 The Harlequin, 68 4th St

Free 🚶 7 min

🍔 🍹

Just steps from Moscone, we’re gathering a select group of senior leaders across gaming, community, and trust & safety for a relaxed night of great food and even better conversation — the perfect way to kick off GDC in style. Space is limited and attendance is subject to approval to ensure a curated experience for all guests. Confirmations will be sent upon approval.

By ModSquad

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Gateway to Asia at San Francisco 2026

📅 5:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA, 2nd floor "Gallery Ballroom", 50 3rd St

Free 🚶 6 min

🍔 🍹

This is the only offline networking event at GDC focused on the Asian market. In addition to networking & Mixer, the event will feature seminars to deepen your understanding of the Asian game market. Developers, publishers, and other professionals in the game business from North America and Europe, we warmly invite you to join us! We'll have delicious RAMEN and BEER waiting for you!

By Gamirror Games, Shochiku Games, Top Hat Studios

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Prediction Market GDC Mixer

📅 5:30pm - 8:30pm

📍 Harrington's Bar and Grill, 245 Front St

Free 🚶 20 min

🍹 🤫 💼

Join Forkast Prediction Market for a GDC‑week meetup for gamers and prediction market enthusiasts! GDC‑week after hours mixer for gamers and prediction market enthusiasts with drinks, pub food, and space to talk games, forecasting, and DeFi with other builders, traders, and players.

By Forkast Prediction Market

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Job recruitment, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GAD & GADA Annual Fundraiser with CPK

📅 5:30pm - 10:00pm

📍 California Pizza Kitchen, 53 3rd St

Free 🚶 6 min

🍔 🍹

Come and hang out with fellow Game Audio Denizens and show your support for the Game Audio Diversity Alliance, a 501(c)3 org dedicated toward building a more inclusive and diverse game audio industry; by creating career advancement opportunities for underrepresented voices through education, mentoring, networking, and financial support.

By Game Audio Denizens, Game Audio Diversity Alliance, Game Audio Pavillion

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GameDev Mixer

📅 5:30pm - 10:00pm

📍 Barbarossa Lounge, 714 Montgomery Street

$23 🚶 21 min

🍔 🍹 💃 🎮

Come celebrate a night of Networking and Game Demos on Tuesday night at Barbarossa Lounge! We are doing an Industry Networking Mixer from 5:30pm-10pm. We sold out in mere few days from the previous events and expect a high demand for our next event to network with other GameDevs, IndieDevs, Publishers, Executives, Venture Capitalists, Programmers, Producers, Animators, Concept Artists, and more! If you are part of the gaming industry or simply want to be interested in joining the game development community, this is for YOU!

By Level Up Events

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Game showcases, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Namazu + Oncade Happy Hour Tuesday Edition

📅 6:00pm - 7:00pm

📍 W Hotel Lobby, 181 3rd St

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🍹

Join us for a vibrant Namazu + Oncade Happy Hour at the chic W Hotel Lobby in San Francisco! During GDC, we’re turning up the fun with delicious food and refreshing drinks. Whether you're looking to unwind or make connections, this is the place to be.

By Namazu Studios, Oncade

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Greater Together - celebrating US and UK partnerships in video games

📅 6:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 Center for Architecture, 140 Sutter St

Free 🚶 13 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

A gathering of game makers from around the world to celebrate international partnerships, with a focus on US and UK collaboration. Join international game makers for a celebration of collaboration between the United States and the United Kingdom. The UK is a world-leading hub for the development of video games. For over 30 years, UK developers have been responsible for some of the best console, PC, mobile and UGC games and content.

By Ukie

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Server Owner / Creator / Modder meetup - Build, Host, Own

📅 6:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 Modernist, 139 Steuart St

Free 🚶 18 min

🍔 🍹 🤫 🎮

The event is intentionally informal. No keynotes, no panels, no pitch decks - just an open bar, good food, and a room full of people who speak the same language. A rare chance during GDC week to step off the conference floor and connect with peers who are actually running things: communities, servers, mods, and the economies built on top of them.

By ReadyM, Overwolf/Tebex, Nodecraft

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

NYC - The Future of Games: A GDC Mixer

📅 6:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 Werqwise, 149 New Montgomery St, 4th Floor

Free 🚶 6 min

🎮

An invite-only evening during GDC for a curated group of founders, developers, publishers, investors, and creative leaders shaping what comes next in games and creative tech. It’s an opportunity to connect with the studios and find out more about the vibrant scene for the future of games and tech in NYC.

By NYU Game Design Future Lab, Medal

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

The 1st Annual Cinematic Awards

📅 6:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 AMC16 Metreon IMAX, 135 Fourth St, Suite 3000

$50 🚶 1 min

🍔 🍹

Celebrate the best in film and game visuals at the 1st Annual Cinematic Awards with the Society for Game Cinematics! An Affiliate Event partner of the GDC Festival of Gaming, the Cinematic Awards brings together creators, studios, and industry leaders to honor the artistry behind the most compelling cinematic work in games. This inaugural event marks a milestone for the Society for Game Cinematics (SGC) as we recognize outstanding achievements across cinematic direction, animation, editing, performance, music, and more on a massive IMAX.

By Society for Game Cinematics, Unreal Engine

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

JetBrains GameDev Night

📅 6:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 SPIN San Francisco, 690 Folsom St #100

Free 🚶 4 min

🍔 🍹 💃 🎮

Celebrate, connect, and build the future of play at JetBrains' exclusive evening event for game development leaders at SPIN San Francisco held in collaboration with GDC Festival of Gaming.

By JetBrains

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Game showcases, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

NPC Guild XP Lounge SF Games Edition

📅 6:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Harrington's Bar and Grill - Irish Pub, 245 Front St

Free 🚶 20 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

The NPC Guild invites a curated group of publishers, developers, and friends of the guild to join us for a cozy, conversational mixer built around genuine connection. No presentations, no formal agenda — just good people, thoughtful conversations, and a relaxed space to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones. We’ll have a full open bar featuring craft cocktails, a spread of unexpectedly great small plates, and a private room that makes it easy to settle in and talk shop, share ideas, and build relationships that last beyond the week.

By The NPC Guild

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Vertical Slice

📅 6:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Lost Church, 988 Columbus Avenue

$12 🚗 16 min

🍹

Vertical Slice is an annual talent show during GDC that highlights new indie games, (not so) secret developer's talents, and local comix artists - bringing together our community all while raising money for charity. We are partnering again this year with our friends at The AbleGamers Charity!

By In collaboration with AbleGamers

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

SF Game & Media Startup GDC '26 Meetup

📅 6:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔 🍹 🎮

Are you the founder of an indie game studio? Gaming startup? Or do you want to work for one, or at least, meet the people foolish enough to attempt starting one? Then come to awesome warehouse space on Tuesday during GDC! We'll have pizza and drinks and a projector where you can demo your stuff.

By Elsewhere.zone, Tomato Cake

Notes: Inside, Game showcases, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🔗

Nite to Unite

📅 6:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Palace Hotel SF, 2 New Montgomery St

Free 🚶 9 min

🍔 🍹 💃

Once a year, the video game industry’s movers and shakers convene for the ESA Foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser, Nite to Unite (NTU). It’s a night to celebrate the many ways in which the industry drives positive change by transforming people’s lives.

By Unity, ESA

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Open DJ Decks Game Dev Party

📅 6:00pm - 11:00pm

📍 ZHUZH BAR, 1548 California St

Free 🚗 12 min

🍹 💃 🎮

Open DJ Deck party at intimate club in SF (conference attendees can RSVP to DJ in advance). Open genre dance music. Come socialize with fellow attendees at this music centered event in the heart of San Francisco.

By Moveable Feast

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Australian Showcase @ GDC 2026 Presented by Indie Machine, FMOD, & IGEA

📅 6:00pm - 11:30pm

📍 BuzzWorks, 365 11th St

$17 🚶 30 min

🍹 🤫 🎮

Games industry professionals are invited to attend this premium, curated showcase of games from Australian studios representing the incredible range of talent and creativity down under. This showcase + mixer is aimed at developers, publishers, investors, and platform holders to connect or reconnect with Australian studios.

By Indie Machine, Sub-Zero Sound, Onerat Games, FMOD

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

3rd Annual Developer's Concert

📅 6:30pm - 8:00pm

📍 Moscone Center North, GDC Main Stage

Free with GDC Pass 🚶 0 min

🍹

The Developer's Concert returns for its 3rd edition at the GDC Festival of Gaming 2026! Now taking place after conference hours as an official GDC Nights event, come experience this unique show for an awe-inspiring night of music led by the Grammy-nominated and BAFTA-winning composer Austin Wintory. Known for his groundbreaking scores for Journey, Abzû, The Banner Saga, Sword of the Sea, Stray Gods, and many more, Austin has redefined the role of music in games, earning global acclaim.

By GDC

Notes: GDC pass required, Inside, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Game Writer's Dinner

📅 6:30pm - 8:30pm

📍 Fang, 660 Howard St

$90 🚶 4 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Join the IGDA Game Writing SIG for our annual GDC dinner 🎮🍽️—a relaxed chance to talk craft, share stories, and connect with writers and narrative designers at every stage of their careers. Your registration helps us plan seating and keep this gathering welcoming and accessible. By showing up, you support IGDA’s mission to connect and advocate for game developers who care about storytelling in games.

By IGDA Game Writing SIG

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Designing for the future of games: a night with Vizcom

📅 6:30pm - 9:30pm

📍 488 Bryant St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Free 🚶 10 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Join Vizcom for an evening at our Makerlab during GDC week, bringing together game developers, studio teams, and creative technologists for a fun mixer. Stop by for free food and drinks, hands-on demos, and casual conversations around how Vizcom supports real game development workflows—from early ideation and concept art to production-ready assets. Explore interactive demo stations, gaming activations, and connect with peers across the industry.

By Vizcom

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Art Games! exhibition opening @ TIAT

📅 7:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 tiat, 151 Powell St

$10 🚶 13 min

🎮

Meet with the art game community at the intersection of art and technology (tiat), and play games that exist outside conventional commercial platforms, foregrounding play, interaction, and systems as forms of artistic expression and experimentation.

By tiat and World Labs

Notes: Inside, Game showcases

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

SausageFest 16th: United Americas

📅 7:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 The Clubhaus, 255 9th St

Free 🚶 23 min

🍔 🍹 💃

We’re bringing the 16th Annual SausageFest to GDC on March 12th at The Clubhaus, and you’re invited to the most iconic night in San Francisco. Under our "United Americas" theme, we’re hosting a legendary showdown between Michael Jackson and Bad Bunny with GIANT SCREEN KARAOKE for all. We’ll keep you fueled with unlimited beer, sausages, and German pretzels while you network with industry veterans and first-timers alike. Come dressed as your favorite icon and if you forget your accessories, we’ve got you covered.

By Paymentwall

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

2026 Indie Arcade Party with: Unity, VIVERSE & Genies

📅 7:00pm - 12:00am

📍 DNA Lounge, 375 11th St

Free 🚶 30 min

🍔 🍹 💃 🎮

SF Game Development is hosting its 5th annual Indie Arcade Party featuring Unity, VIVERSE & Genies. As an official GDC Affiliate Event, attend to play 35+ indie games, listen to 8 tech-talks from industry-leading speakers, and listen to some great dance music in The Lounge. See everyone at DNA Lounge on Tuesday, March 10th!

By SF Game Development, Unity, VIVERSE, Genies

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Game showcases, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Mid-Market/SMB M&A & Corporate Development Roundtable

📅 7:30pm - 9:30pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔

This event is designed for participants actively involved in acquiring, evaluating, or scaling game businesses in the $3M–$50M revenue range. The emphasis is on substantive dialogue around market conditions, valuation dynamics, capital availability, buyer appetite, and the structural realities shaping mid-market transactions in 2026.

By Games Industry Investors

Notes: Inside, Free food

+📅 🔗

A German Evening in San Francisco 2026

📅 7:30pm - 11:59pm

📍 Bartlett Hall, 242 O'Farrell St

Free 🚶 14 min

🍔 🍹

The German Evening in San Francisco by The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and game – The German Games Industry Association. Meet representatives of the German and international industry, as well as our political, association and media partners and network with an open bar, appealing finger food and some chill music. Something you should be aware of: Entry only for those aged 21 and over,The event is intended for games industry professionals only, Please bring your GDC Badge or Business Cards as proof

By Ministry of Research, German Games Industry Association

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Games [4Diversity] Showcase

📅 8:00pm - 11:30pm

📍 Pawn Shop, 993 Mission St

$10 - $20 🚶 13 min

🎮

Join us for a night filled with playful perspectives, unexpected stories, and bold experiments in inclusion, representation, and identity. Expect a colourful crowd, games that make you think (and feel), and a space that’s open, relaxed, and inclusive!

By Foundation Games [4Diversity]

Notes: Inside, Game showcases

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

BIG Afterparty

📅 8:00pm - 1:00am

📍 Public Works, 161 Erie Street

$13 🚗 10 min

🍔 🍹 💃 🎮

Plus Arcade is teaming up with Black in Gaming to bring you a celebration of gaming, cosplay, art, music, and culture. Get ready to throw on your favorite coslay, play some dope videogames, and party to hip hop and anime bangers all night. Pull up with your bestie, dress like your favorite character, grab a controller, hit the dance floor, and catch a vibe.

By Plus Arcade, Black in Gaming

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Game showcases, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Game Audio Overflow

📅 8:00pm - 2:00am

📍 Golden Gate Taproom, 449 Powell St

Free 🚶 17 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Continue the hangs after the GADA CPK meetup!

By Game Audio Pavillion

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

The 1st Annual Cinematic Awards After Party

📅 8:30pm - 1:30am

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free 🚶 1 min

🍔 🍹 💃

RSVP Early! The celebration doesn't have to end when the awards do. Those who buy their tickets early will be invited to attend a highly exclusive 21+ invite-only afterparty following the show. Space is limited and trust us - this will be THE party of the week! Details will be shared privately closer to the event, but you must be among the first to register for the Cinematic Awards to receive them!

By Society for Game Cinematics, Game Caviar

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🔗

Wednesday, March 11 55 events

GDC 2026 Games Industry Runners - Sunrise Jog

📅 6:00am - 7:30am

📍 Hyatt Regency San Francisco, 5 Embarcadero Ctr

Free 🚶 25 min

🌲 🎮

Join us for a sunrise jog along the coastline from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Ferry Buildings.

By Newzoo

Notes: Outside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

RunDevRun San Francisco 2026 - Wednesday

📅 7:30am - 8:30am

📍 5th and Market Street, SF

Free 🚶 12 min

🤫 🌲

By Indie Wolverine

Notes: Affiliate, Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Morning Audio Community Meetup Wednesday

📅 8:00am - 9:00am

📍 222 2nd St.

Free 🚶 5 min

The Morning Audio Community Meetup is the sound of people coming together to share their experience throughout the conference.

By Audio Community

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

2026 Gaming Women's Breakfast Meetup

📅 8:30am - 10:30am

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔

A casual breakfast with other women in the gaming industry. This is super casual and you can show up in any shape or form in between GDC talks, demos, dinners, parties and networking.

By Game Changers

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase

+📅 🔗

Unreal Education Summit

📅 8:30am - 12:00pm

📍 InterContinental Hotel, Ballroom A, 888 Howard St

Free 🚶 6 min

🍔 🤫

Educators, Students & Partners united. A high-energy breakfast mixer connecting the classroom to the industry. Join us for an exclusive morning where Educators, Industry Partners, and Students come together to bridge the gap between the classroom and the studio. You’ll hear about key industry trends shaping education—from Mobile to the Epic Games Store—and learn how the Epic Games ecosystem can help prepare students for successful transitions into professional careers.

By Epic

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GP & Angel Investor Breakfast

📅 9:00am - 10:00am

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔

Join a small group of GPs and angel investors for a curated breakfast ahead of a busy Wednesday at GDC. Attendance is strictly limited to 12 participants to ensure high-quality conversation and meaningful connection. No more than two seats will be allocated to service providers.

By Games Industry Investors

Notes: Inside, Free food

+📅 🔗

Google's Future of Web Gaming Summit

📅 10:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔 🍹 🤫

Join Google on March 11th for an exclusive series of strategic discussions designed specifically for web and browser gaming publishers. Dive deep into high-impact monetization frameworks, innovative reach-expansion tactics, and the latest UX strategies defining the browser experience. This is your opportunity to network with industry leaders and shape the next generation of web-based play. Space is limited, apply to save your spot.

By Google

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🔗

The United Kingdom games hub - Wednesday

📅 10:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Center for Architecture, 140 Sutter St

Free 🚶 13 min

🎮

By ukie.org.uk

Notes: Affiliate, Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Audiokinetic – AMC Metreon Theater - Wednesday

📅 10:30am - 5:00pm

📍 AMC Metreon Theater, 135 4th St #3000

Free 🚶 0 min

For 25 years, the interactive audio community has been our greatest inspiration. We’re inviting you to join us at the AMC Metreon Theatre for presentations featuring developers using Wwise and an exclusive screening of the “Sounds of Dreamers” documentary honouring the game audio community. Conveniently located at the intersection of the conference, the AMC Metreon 16 will host two days of presentations that are free and accessible without a GDC Pass at the AMC Metreon Theater 14.

By Audiokinetic

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Kaedim x GDC: Donut giveaway!! Wednesday

📅 11:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Moscone Center

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🌲

By Kaedim

Notes: Inside and outside, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Boston Game Dev Picnic @GDC

📅 12:00pm - 1:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🌲 🎮

Missing that cozy crimson autumn foliage? We've got you covered. Come hang out with designers, developers, and artists from New England for some socializing and cozy picnic fun! Meet some local devs showcasing games at GDC!

By Boston Game Dev

Notes: Outside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Audio Daily Lunchtime “Behind” the Carousel - Wednesday

📅 12:00pm - 1:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), Behind the carousel, 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

By Audiokinetic

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

MADE on the Lawn

📅 12:00pm - 2:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

Come hang out and take photos with The MADE, Oakland's playable video game history museum. They will a photo booth and playable retro games.

By The MADE

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Students @ GDC Meetup & Networking

📅 12:15pm - 1:15pm

📍 Moscone Center, Community Room 2

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🤫

Looking to make new friends and build your network with peers? Join the EGD Collective for a casual gathering for students, recent graduates, early-career professionals, and anyone who cares about them. This meetup offers a space to connect, swap notes on sessions, talk about portfolios and career paths, or simply take a breather from the conference rush. We’ll have resources to support your career journey, as well as games and prizes!

By EGD Collective

Notes: GDC pass required, Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Game Trailer Makers Meetup

📅 1:00pm - 2:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), Theater, 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

Meet other game trailer makers, editors, capture artists, producers and chat about debug tools, games you've worked on, and end slate horror stories

By Derek Lieu Creative

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Thinky Game Devs MeetUp

📅 1:00pm - 3:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), In front of Stone Stage, 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🤫 🌲 🎮

Creators & fans of thinky puzzle video games: We're doing another casual meet-up this year during GDC. Come join other thinky game creators and aficionados for a casual morning of hanging out and talking about our favorite puzzle games we're playing and what we're currently working on. Meet in front of or near the Stone Stage.

By ThinkyGames.com, Playmath.org, Michael Dashow, Patrick Traynor

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Unity Daily Talk: In-App Purchase

📅 2:00pm - 4:00pm

📍 Ecosystem Coworking, 540 Howard Street, 2nd Floor

Free 🚶 8 min

Start the day with Unity’s Rambod Kermanizadeh walking through the latest Unity IAP updates, then stick around to meet the team and see live IAP-in-Editor demos.

By Unity

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Product, LiveOps & Growth Symposium - Wednesday

📅 2:30pm - 8:30pm

📍 The Howard SF, 661 Howard St

Free 🚶 3 min

🍔 🍹

By Xsolla, AWS, Appsflyer

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Japan Game Day 2026

📅 3:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 Digital Garage US, Inc., 717 Market St #100

Free 🚶 8 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

For decades, Japan has produced globally influential intellectual property and cultivated a distinct creator culture. Across console, mobile, and indie segments, Japan continues to play a major role in shaping the global gaming market. At the same time, Japan’s publishing structures, business practices, and partnership models operate within a unique framework. Successfully entering the Japanese market, collaborating with Japanese companies, or expanding Japanese titles internationally requires a deep understanding of these structural characteristics.

By JETRO SF, Alchemist, IGDA Japan, Digital Garage US

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Bubbles & Caviar

📅 4:00pm - 6:00pm

📍 The St. Regis San Francisco, 125 3rd St

Free 🚶 4 min

🍔 🍹

Step into the fanciest living room at GDC for two hours of champagne, caviar, and clarity. Not a party. Not a meeting. Just a moment. A private, invitation-only gathering for a select group of founders, operators, and partners at the forefront of gaming and CTV.

By Aarki Events

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

PHYND Happy Hour

📅 4:30pm - 6:30pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍹 🌲

For studios & devs exploring new platforms and player acquisition — this one’s for you. Request your invite.

By PHYND

Notes: Inside and outside, Free alcohol

+📅 🔗

New

Sony Honda Mobility Presents AFEELA Co-Creation Developer Day

📅 4:30pm - 9:00pm

📍 Crunchyroll, 444 Bush St

Free 🚶 14 min

🍔 🍹 🤫 🌲 🎮

Discover how you can contribute to developing the AFEELA 1, Sony Honda’s premier EV featuring world-class state-of-the-art audiovisual technology and app integration, and help shape the future of mobility. Connect with fellow developers, experience immersive vehicle demonstrations, and explore partnership opportunities. Please register with the RSVP link. Confirmation is required for entry.

By Sony Honda Mobility

Notes: Inside and outside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GDC Side Quest: Animation Meet-up

📅 5:00pm - 6:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

An informal meet-up for all kinds of animators to get together and share experiences, complain about software and talk about life. Meet by the circular structure. This is a casual, no-agenda gathering for animators of all stripes to escape the conference fray. Come to talk shop, complain about software, share inspiration, or just relax alongside friendly peers. Absolutely everyone is welcome. From industry legends to aspiring students, from game dev to feature film animators, from 2D to technical.

By Marc

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Games and Investment Salon

📅 5:00pm - 8:30pm

📍 1100 Sansome St

$299 - $499 🚶 30 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

An event that brings together investors and game studios.

By Bartko Pavia Law Firm, Rodo, XG Capital strategies

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

SF HUG by Zeromatter @ GDC

📅 5:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 101 Natoma St

Free 🚶 6 min

🍔 🍹

Zeromatter is thrilled to announce a special SF HUG mixer during GDC and would love to see you there! This will be a relaxed evening to connect with the Houdini community, SideFX folks, speakers, and friends of SF HUG while everyone is in town. No formal talks this time, just good people, drinks, bites, and time to mix and mingle. Huge thanks to Zeromatter, SideFX, and the HUG community for continuing to support SF HUG!

By Zeromatter, SideFX

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

(un)Official UEFN GDC Party

📅 5:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Local Tap, 600 3rd St

Free 🚶 13 min

🍔 🍹

The Official, Unofficial UEFN GDC event. We're running it back for round three. Meet fellow UEFN creators, dev teams and some random AI cryptobros who will try to sneak in for free food.

By Chartis.gg, ESG LAW, XP Financial

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Visa Direct × Finix Private Happy Hour at GDC

📅 5:30pm - 7:30pm

📍 Finix HQ, 760 Market St

Free 🚶 9 min

🍔 🍹 🤫

We’re bringing together a curated group of senior gaming operators for candid conversation around payments infrastructure in gaming, scaling pay-ins and payouts, reliability, risk, and compliance at scale, and monetization and platform economics.

By Visa Direct x Finix

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Mooncolony - GDC 2026 Mixer

📅 5:30pm - 7:30pm

📍 B San Francisco, 720 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🍹 🤫 🌲

Mooncolony is a leading concept art and illustration studio providing premium art outsourcing for the video game industry. Join us for an invite-only early evening mixer during GDC, bringing together the people shaping the worlds we all love. Catch up with familiar faces, meet new ones, and share a drink with fellow creatives across the games industry. Invite only. Limited capacity.

By Mooncolony

Notes: Inside and outside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

[GDC] Industry Event with Kindred Ventures

📅 5:30pm - 8:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🤖

Join Kindred Ventures during [GDC] Festival of Gaming in San Francisco for a conversation that explores how AI is reshaping the way games and media are built, experienced, and scaled. We’ll kick things off with a panel discussion on how advances in generative models, agent architectures, and persistent memory are unlocking new gameplay mechanics, development workflows, and entirely new categories of interactive experiences.

By Kindred Ventures

Notes: Inside, AI

+📅 🔗

Bins & Bytes x Motorica Cinematic & Gameplay Trailer Artist Meet-Up @ GDC

📅 5:30pm - 9:00pm

📍 Uno Dos Tacos, 595 Market St

Free 🚶 11 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Join cinematic artists, trailer creators, and developers for an evening of conversation and idea exchange on making game trailers, cinematics, and marketing more effective and engaging. Hosted by Bins&Bytes, the community for video game marketing and cinematic professionals, in collaboration with Motorica. Learn how Motorica is helping creators bring more life and character to animation and enabling faster, expressive results that support compelling storytelling.

By Motorica

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Diversion Game Tech Leaders Evening

📅 5:50pm - 8:00pm

📍 Southside Spirit House, 575 Howard Street

Free 🚶 6 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Join Diversion for a private executive evening during GDC 2026, bringing together senior technical leaders and decision-makers for a relaxed, invite-only happy hour. No presentations. No pitches. Just a refined setting to connect with peers, exchange perspectives, and talk openly about what studios actually need today - and what’s no longer serving them.

By Diversion

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Namazu + Oncade Happy Hour Wednesday Edition

📅 6:00pm - 7:00pm

📍 W Hotel Lobby, 181 3rd St

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🍹

By Namazu Studios, Oncade

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Unwind After GDC with Hydrolix & TrackIt

📅 6:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍹

Step away from the Moscone floor and join us for an invite-only event at a local venue. After a long day of sessions and floor-walking, join Hydrolix and TrackIt for an evening of handcrafted cocktails and casual networking. Space is limited so please register at your earliest convenience to reserve your seat!

By Hydrolix, TrackIt

Notes: Inside, Free alcohol

+📅 🔗

New

Playfull Rewarded UA Happy Hour

📅 6:00pm - 8:30pm

📍 Natoma Cabana, 90 Natoma St

Free 🚶 7 min

🍹

Rewarded UA is the fastest-growing alternative to display ads in gaming. Instead of buying impressions, studios design missions inside their game — players opt in, complete missions, and earn rewards. The result: players who actually play, not just install. This happy hour is for UA managers, growth leads, and performance marketers at F2P studios who want to learn how it works — or who are already running rewarded UA and want to swap notes.

By Playfull

Notes: Inside, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Keywords Studios GDC Mixer

📅 6:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 W San Francisco, 181 3rd Street

Free 🚶 1 min

🍔 🍹

Join us for the Keywords Studios GDC mixer, a relaxed evening for our partners, designed to help you wind down after a busy day at GDC. Come along for drinks, canapés, and easy conversation. Whether you’re continuing discussions from the day or simply looking to recharge. Attendance is by invitation only. Please register your interest and we will confirm your place.

By Keywords Studio

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

2026 Chinese in Games Gathering

📅 6:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 M POT, 832 Clement St

$72 🚗 22 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Get together to a hot pot place and enjoy a great time with great food and people! Let the pot start boiling! This AYCE Hotpot Gathering is now in its fourth year. Over the years, it has successfully connected Chinese gaming professionals from around the world during GDC week. As we continue this tradition, we’re excited to make it an even stronger and more lasting part of the community!

By Bo Mei, MiniMax, Derail Games

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Sentry Speakeasy

📅 6:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 The Pawn Shop, 993 Mission St

Free 🚶 13 min

🍔 🍹 🤫 🎮

We’re taking over The Pawn Shop speakeasy for an evening of game developer mingling and networking—complete with craft cocktails, a live DJ set, and access to an exclusive VIP gaming room.

By Sentry

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GDC Supper Club 2026

📅 6:00pm - 11:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔 🍹

The Supper Club brings together a carefully selected group of senior industry leaders for an evening away from the conference (festival) floor. The dinner is intentionally small and designed to create space for thoughtful conversation, a chance to step out of the day-to-day pace of GDC and spend time with peers over dinner and drinks in a relaxed, curated setting overlooking the city. The Supper Club is not a panel or networking event. An opportunity to chat with others facing similar strategic questions, share life perspectives, and build connections.

By Newzoo, Deconstructor of Fun, Morgan Stanley, Tebex, Heroic Labs

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🔗

Indie BYOG Showcase @ GDC2026 Presented by Onerat Games & Sub-Zero Sound

📅 6:00pm - 11:30pm

📍 BuzzWorks, 365 11th St

Free 🚶 30 min

🍹 💃 🎮

Indie developers, do you have a game you want to show off during GDC 2026? Join us at Buzzworks to demo your project to a crowd of like-minded and enthusiastic independent game developers in a relaxed environment! No GDC pass required!

By Indie BYOG, Onerat Games, Sub-Zero Sound

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Game showcases, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

28th Annual Independent Games Festival Awards

📅 6:30pm - 8:00pm

📍 Moscone Center North, GDC Main Stage

Free with GDC pass 🚶 0 min

🍹 🎮

The Independent Games Festival (IGF) was established in 1998 to encourage innovation in game development and to recognize the best independent game developers. The festival consists of the IGF Ceremony and the IGF Pavilion, all taking place during the week of GDC Festival of Gaming. During the ceremony, IGF will distribute eight major awards that were judged and juried by industry experts. Learn more at https://gdconf.com/igf

By GDC

Notes: GDC pass required, Inside, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Heart of Neon - Jeff Minter Documentary World Premiere

📅 6:30pm - 10:00pm

📍 Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street

Free 🚗 8 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Documentary screening + networking event. Watch the movie, enjoy a live Q&A with director Paul Docherty hosted by Chris Kohler, and then head out to the lobby to network and play classic Minter games on the Commodore 64 Ultimate. Free popcorn all night! 🍿

By Commodore, Atari, fractional

Notes: Inside, Game showcases, Free food, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

New

Discord’s Project Happy Hour

📅 6:30pm - 10:00pm

📍 Exploratorium, Pier 15 Embarcadero, at Green St

Free 🚗 15 min

🍹 💃

Bay views. Open bar. Interactive exhibits. It’s Discord’s annual GDC happy hour, this year at San Francisco’s most experiential science museum. Capacity is limited, request your RSVP ASAP. Board at Moscone Center on Howard Street between 3rd and 4th, at the U-bend. Confirmation email required to board shuttle.

By Discord

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Gamebridge Game Development Meetup

📅 7:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Noisebridge, 272 Capp St

Free 🚗 12 min

🎮

Beginner-friendly game dev meetup for aspiring creators, online via Discord; learn with tutorials and projects and leave with a small game prototype. Learn to make games, music and art in free beginner-friendly class meetups with tutorials!

By Noisebridge

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GUMBO Games Collective Mixer

📅 7:00pm - 9:30pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔 🍹 🎮

Part of a game collective, or curious what it’s like to join one? Come hang out with designers, developers, and artists from game collectives around the world for a night of socializing and fun! Enjoy delicious appetizers (on us) and play hilarious games that help you meet other attendees. The event will be hosted at a nearby bar within walking distance of the convention center. We’ll share the exact location after RSVP approval.

By GUMBO

Notes: Inside, Free food, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🔗

Anybrain Supper Club

📅 7:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 R & G Lounge, 631 Kearny St

Free 🚶 18 min

🍔 🍹 🤫

Join Anybrain for an intimate dinner during GDC at the famous R&G Lounge, one of San Francisco’s most iconic Cantonese restaurants in the heart of Chinatown. This is a curated evening for studio leaders and industry partners to step away from the conference floor and hotel lobbies and connect over exceptional food and genuine conversation.

By Anybrain

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Art Directors Dinner

📅 7:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔 🍹 🤫

A private dinner for game art directors and senior visual leaders attending GDC 2026. A relaxed evening of networking over dinner with fellow art leaders. RSVP required. Attendance is subject to confirmation, as space is limited.

By Kshiraj Telang, Rive

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🔗

The D2Sea Yacht Party

📅 7:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Provided on RSPV

Free

🍔 🍹 🌲

We're on a Boat. At GDC Festival of Gaming. You can be on a boat too. We have limited spots but let Ben Kvalo know if you are interested! Midwest Games is excited to partner with FastSpring and Helpshift for this fantastic event. Best boat pun in the comments gets to wear the captain hat.

By Midwest Games, FastSpring, Helpshift

Notes: Inside and outside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🔗

Xsolla and JetBrains Executive Dinner

📅 7:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 The Howard SF, 661 Howard St

Free 🚶 3 min

🍔 🍹 🤫

Join us for an executive networking dinner taking place during GDC Festival of Gaming! Hosted by Xsolla and JetBrains, this is an excellent opportunity to connect, collaborate, and explore new possibilities with other tech professionals. Submit your interest now to start building meaningful connections!

By Xsolla, JetBrains

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

24th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards

📅 7:00pm - 10:30pm

📍 Moscone West Center, Rooms 2006/2008

Free 🚶 0 min

🎮

Come celebrate all things music, sound and dialogue for games at the 24th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards. The award show will be held as part of GDC. Doors open at 6:30pm

By Game Audio Network Guild

Notes: GDC pass required, Inside, Game showcases

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

New

The Rookies + Vessel Forge - GDC Meet Up

📅 7:00pm - 11:00pm

📍 Southern Pacific Brewing, 620 Treat Ave

Free 🚗 13 min

🍔 🍹

A dynamic networking event connecting emerging talent with industry leaders. A games-focused networking event connecting emerging creative talent with industry leaders working across real-time technology, simulation, and next-generation game development. The session will feature dedicated portfolio review opportunities, giving students and early-career artists direct feedback from experienced professionals in the games industry. It’s a chance to refine your portfolio and gain practical career insights into the future of games.

By The Rookies, Vessel Forge

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GDK @ GDC

📅 7:00pm - 2:00am

📍 Provided on RSVP

$0 - $25

🍔 🍹 🤫 🌲

Good Darn Karaoke Returns for GDC '26! GDKs are Invite-Only... but anyone with an Invite can invite anyone else! We use organic growth and word of mouth to make sure the folks who show up bring the right attitude for a Good Relaxing Time! Find a friend who's already in to join the fun! For an invitation, message Ted at @esdin on Bluesky or Esdin on Discord.

By Ted DiNola and Good Darn Karaoke

Notes: Inside and outside, Club/dancing/loud, Quiet talking area, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🔗

Connect with SCAD in San Francisco

📅 7:30pm - 9:30pm

📍 Fifth Arrow, 430 Mason Street

Free 🚶 18 min

🍔 🍹

A networking reception for SCAD alumni. Tap into the SCAD network at this reception for alumni and industry partners at GDC. Make new professional connections, find out about recent projects, and meet up with SCAD faculty.

By SCAD

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GGP 20!! (Gay Gaming Pros)

📅 7:30pm - 2:00am

📍 DNA Lounge, 375 11th St

Free 🚶 30 min

🍔 🍹 💃

GGP is celebrating 20 years at GDC!! Join us as we throw it back at our longest-running old-school venue: DNA Lounge (21+ event)! Here’s to the next 20+

By Gay Gaming Pros

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GDC <> Kaedim: Art Director and Studio Leaders Mixer

📅 8:00pm - 12:00am

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍹

Kaedim is hosting a private after-hours bar gathering designed specifically for art directors, senior game developers, and studio leaders. We’re keeping this gathering focused and curated. GDC week moves fast, and meaningful time with peers can be hard to come by. It’s a night to bring together leaders who understand the challenges of scaling teams, leading productions, and building the games that define the next era of the industry.

By Kaedim

Notes: Inside, Free alcohol

+📅 🔗

GLITCHED - Women in Game Dev Afterparty

📅 8:30pm - 1:30am

📍 Skylark, 3089 16th St

Free 🚗 11 min

🍹 💃 🎮

Did somebody say party? GLITCHED is hosting an after party with networking, dancing, up beat party & video game music, and synchronized party lighting! 🥳 Come meet awesome women game developers as we drink, network, check out women developed games, and boogie all night! We are committed to providing a safe and fun event for women! 👾

By GLITCHED - Women in Game Dev SF Bay

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Thursday, March 12 47 events

RunDevRun San Francisco 2026 - Thursday

📅 7:30am - 8:30am

📍 5th and Market Street, SF

Free 🚶 12 min

🤫 🌲

By Indie Wolverine

Notes: Affiliate, Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Morning Audio Community Meetup Thursday

📅 8:00am - 9:00am

📍 222 2nd St.

Free 🚶 5 min

The Morning Audio Community Meetup is the sound of people coming together to share their experience throughout the conference.

By Audio Community

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

The A+ Room: Women Scaling with Capital

📅 9:30am - 11:00am

📍 The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco 600 Stockton Street

Free 🚶 21 min

🍔 🌐 🤖

Executive roundtable for women scaling beyond Series A—real talk on capital strategy, growth, and turning funding into lasting expansion.

By NAMWMT

Notes: Inside, Free food, AI, Web3

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Trinket Trade

📅 10:00am - 12:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

Give, take, and swap your swag and trinkets at this super-casual drop-in event at Yerba Buena Park. Bring your stickers, pins, toys, dice, jewelry, art, washi tape--whatever you have! No GDC pass required--just show up. There's only one rule: No money!

By The Nightwell Forge

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

The United Kingdom games hub - Thursday

📅 10:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Center for Architecture, 140 Sutter St

Free 🚶 13 min

🎮

By ukie.org.uk

Notes: Affiliate, Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Game Developer Carousel

📅 10:00am - 6:00pm

📍 The LeRoy King Carousel, 221 4th St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

During the Game Developer Conference, take a ride on a carousel for a moment of whimsy. Located next door to Moscone Center South building. 🎮 🧑‍💻 🎠

By John "Seg" Seggerson

Notes: Inside and outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Audiokinetic – AMC Metreon Theater - Thursday

📅 10:30am - 5:00pm

📍 AMC Metreon Theater, 135 4th St #3000

Free 🚶 0 min

By Audiokinetic

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Build Engineering Brunch

📅 11:00am - 1:00pm

📍 Soma Restaurant & Bar, 85 5th Street, #Suite A

Free 🚶 10 min

🍔 🍹 🤫

Meet with Build Engineers and DevOps professionals to network and discuss the state of Build Engineering in the gaming industry.

By Gamebreaking Studios, BespokeCI

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Xbox Gaming for Everyone Community Networking Lounge

📅 11:00am - 4:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔 🍹 🎮

This year’s theme, “Behind the Build: Celebrating the Communities, Cultures, and Creators Behind the Worlds We Play,” honors the human side of game development—highlighting how communities around the world engage with games, tell stories, and build immersive worlds together. Whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned leader, this event is designed to encourage conversation and shared moments of play—bringing people together across studios, roles, and communities to connect, recharge, and build relationships.

By Xbox

Notes: Inside, Game showcases, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🔗

Kaedim x GDC: Donut giveaway!! Thursday

📅 11:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Moscone Center

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🌲

By Kaedim

Notes: Inside and outside, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Lost Levels

📅 12:00pm - 1:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🌲

Since 2013, Lost Levels is a radically-casual unconference about games and play that aims to be hyper-inclusive: it is free, and anyone can run a session. Devs of all kinds gather at the Yerba Buena amphitheater to give 5-minute microtalks on any topic. Students, newcomers, and anyone who doesn't consider themselves a "real dev" welcome and encouraged. No official organizers and no official agenda--just the community supporting the community!

Notes: Outside

+📅 🗺️

Audio Daily Lunchtime “Behind” the Carousel - Thursday

📅 12:00pm - 1:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), Behind the carousel, 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

By Audiokinetic

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Diversity in Games GDC Meetup

📅 12:00pm - 2:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

🌈 Join Diversity in Games (DIG) for a Casual Picnic Meetup! 🌈 Join us for some chill vibes during the busy GDC week! This is a safe and inclusive event, perfect for connecting and relaxing with fellow game developers. We will have picnic blankets, so feel free to bring your lunch and hang out! DIG is a Canadian-founded non-profit dedicated to giving underrepresented voices a platform, tools, and opportunities to thrive in the games industry.

By Diversity in Games sponsored by GDC

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Merienda Mixer at GDC 2026

📅 12:00pm - 3:00pm

📍 Kalayaan Hall, Philippine Center, 447 Sutter St

Free 🚶 17 min

Come join the Filipinos at Riot at our GDC Mixer. FAR’s mission is to empower, unify, and celebrate the Filipinos at Riot and the Filipinos throughout the worldwide gaming community. We continually celebrate our culture through get-togethers as early as GDC in 2019 and more recently through inviting Filipinos in Gaming to Riot's campus during Filipino American History Month. We love to host a mixer for Devs able to attend GDC and we're excited to bring this back in 2026.

By Filipinos at Riot

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Chinese In Games Industry Leader Mixer

📅 12:30pm - 4:30pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🤫 🎮

The Chinese in Gaming Mixer brings together senior professionals across the east and west game industry to explore how capital, technology, and creative production are evolving in the AI era. From investment strategies and emerging studio models to cross-border development and next-generation production pipelines, this curated mixer is designed to foster meaningful dialogue among founders, investors, operators, and creators shaping the future of global gaming.

By IDGA Chinese In Games, Game Bakery

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🔗

The Design Den - 2nd Annual SF Meetup

📅 1:00pm - 2:30pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

The Design Den, a notable community of level, game and narrative designers are meeting up for their second annual in-person gathering. Join us in the Yerba Buena Gardens for good times, discussions and everything design!

By Design Den

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Unity Daily Talk: Unity AI

📅 2:00pm - 4:00pm

📍 Ecosystem Coworking, 540 Howard Street, 2nd Floor

Free 🚶 8 min

🤖

Julian Togelius (NYU professor and member of our AI Council) is kicking off the day with a look at where AI is really taking game development. Stick around after his talk to check out the Unity AI demo and see what we’ve been building.

By Unity

Notes: Inside, AI

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Beyond Borders with SoloGame Asian Publishing & Marketing Roadmap

📅 2:00pm - 4:00pm

📍 201 Spear St

Free 🚶 16 min

🤫 🎮

Want to gain insights into the Asian and Chinese gaming market? Wondering how to make the right publishing and marketing strategies for China?Packed with practical experience and deep industry insights, this session will bring you valuable takeaways!

By SoloGame

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

LAGS x Raw Fury: Pitch Deck Review & Showcase Advisory at GDC 2026

📅 2:00pm - 5:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

LAGS is proud to partner with Raw Fury for a special in-person Pitch Deck Review & Showcase Advisory session during GDC 2026. If you’re a Latin American game developer attending GDC, this is your opportunity to receive direct pitch deck feedback from David Martinez, Co-Founder of Raw Fury, get advisory from LAGS on your marketing materials and showcase readiness, and connect with fellow developers from across the region

By LAGS, Raw Fury

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GameDev Showcase: Game Demos + Industry Mixer + After Party

📅 2:30pm - 12:30am

📍 Elan Event Venue, 839 Howard Street

$34 🚶 4 min

🍹 💃 🎮

Attention to all inspiring and upcoming Indie Game Developers! We partnered up with a venue that's across the street from Moscone Convention Center that will give you a chance to showcase your Game Demo/Project to the rest of the Gaming Industry Professionals, Media, and the public to get valuable feedback, promote your game and network with other fellow game developers!

By Level Up Events

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Game showcases, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

3rd Annual Indie Game Academy Meetup

📅 3:30pm - 5:30pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

Uplifting Indies? Heck yeah! Chill & hang out with the magical Indie Game Academy Community & you could have so much fun, you might burst! Lets support each other and network with wands, bubbles, business cards, wizard hats and we'll create a magical Indie community together <3

By Indie Game Academy

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Belonging in Games with Supercell

📅 3:00pm - 7:30pm

📍 SPIN San Francisco, 690 Folsom St #100

Free 🚶 4 min

🍔 🍹 💃 🎮

Come wind down with us at SPIN San Francisco after a long day of working or conferencing at GDC. Expect a relaxed space to talk about belonging, access, and opportunity in games — and to meet others who share similar experiences. Come swap stories and build the kind of relationships that make our industry better for everyone.

By Supercell

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Xbox Gaming for Sustainability Mixer

📅 4:30pm - 6:30pm

📍 Minna Gallery, 111 Minna St

Free 🚶 7 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Join us for a relaxed meet-up open to anyone passionate about gaming, nature, and sustainability—developers, leaders, partners, and curious minds. Share ideas and compare what’s working for your studio. Explore small ways to improve performance and reduce energy use. Meet creators who are weaving nature and sustainability into their work. Learn about the Earth Day Xbox Collection and the upcoming second showcase. Connect with Xbox teams in an informal, friendly environment.

By Xbox

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Game showcases, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

UGC Mixer @ GDC 26

📅 5:00pm - 7:00pm

📍 Mayes Oyster House, 1233 Polk St

Free 🚶 10 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Join us for an epic gathering of virtual world builders and industry enthusiasts! Connect with fellow UGC devs and creators for Roblox, UEFN, Minecraft, Horizon Worlds and more! Get ready to mingle, network, and share your experiences with others.

By RP1, Sawhorse, Chartis

Notes: Inside, Game showcases, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Game & Politics @ GDC Week in Asian Art Museum: When Immigration System

📅 5:00pm - 7:00pm

📍 Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St

$20 🚶 26 min

🤫 🎮

As GDC takes over San Francisco, the second week of March is usually dedicated to celebrating the industry. But we’re posing a different question: what realities do games reproduce—and which ones can we hack, especially in times like this? Join the game collective Reality Reload for a chance to try your luck as you experience H1B.Life. In this narrative simulation, the chaotic unpredictability of the U.S. H-1B visa system — where chance, timing, and bureaucracy determine who stays and who is deported — is ‘reloaded’ as a darkly humorous game.

By Asian Art Museum, Reality Reload

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Overwolf GDC Mixer 2026

📅 5:00pm - 8:00pm

📍 Southside Spirit House, 575 Howard St

Free 🚶 6 min

🍔 🍹

After days of booths, badges, and "let's sync up later," Overwolf is hitting reset at Southside Spirit House. No speeches, no forced mingling, and no pressure. Just good drinks, good food, and a chance to recharge with the pack.

By Overwolf

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

New

The Next Era of Interactive Entertainment @ GDC Night

📅 5:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 SOMArts, 934 Brannan St

Free 🚗 6 min

🍔 🍹 🤫 🤖

GDC side event on March 12th in SoMa，focused on generative AI in game development, especially 3d. We're taking over a gallery space for a night of drinks, good conversation, and a panel with people who are close to the work.

By Tripo AI

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food, Free alcohol, AI

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Chill with other creatives in games!

📅 5:30pm - 8:00pm

📍 Square Pie Guys, 1077 Mission St

Free 🚶 17 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

It would be really cool for us creatives to meet up after GDC! Join us at Square Pie Guys, which is only a 17 minutes walk from Moscone / GDC. It's been a really long week for everyone, so let's chill, chat, and eat some food together. If you're an Artist, Designer, or programmer who works with both (or does both)... You're invited!

By Matthew Komar

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

GDC Mobile Happy Hour w/ Upptic and Adikteev

📅 5:30pm - 8:30pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔 🍹

Join us for a night of good vibes and great company as Upptic and Adikteev throw down an SF Happy Hour you won’t want to miss! Whether you’re a UA pro or just looking to expand your network (and your drink options), come raise a glass with a lively crowd of industry friends.

By Upptic, Adikteev

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🔗

GICC (Games Industry Coffee Chat) GDC Dinner

📅 6:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔 🍹 🤫 🎮

Come hang out with awesome friends at the GICC dinner. Join us for an IRL hangout version of the GICC discord chats over dinner! This event is a great opportunity to meet up with fellow industry folks in games, share experiences, and make new friends IN PERSON. Please RSVP so we can finalize a venue!

By Patricia Soto

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🔗

Immutable VIP Mixer

📅 6:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔 🍹 💃 🌐 🎮

Set in a greenhouse wine bar and urban oasis where games grow, this gathering brings together builders, innovators, and enthusiasts shaping the future of gaming. Expect an evening of networking, engaging conversations, and hands-on experiences that highlight how Immutable and its partners are driving the next wave of gaming innovation. Spaces are limited—secure your spot

By Immutable, Goblins of Elderstone, Ubisoft's Might and Magic Fates

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Game showcases, Free food, Free alcohol, Web3

+📅 🔗

SAGE Indie GDC Mixer

📅 6:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 The Faight Collective, 473A Haight Street

$10 🚗 19 min

💃

GDC 2026 mixer for game devs + creatives at The Faight - live jazz over Mario Kart & Smash. Hosted by Bender Games, Harbor, and Skill Tree. Casual mixer between game developers and creatives for GDC 2026, followed by a Live Jazz set played over Mario Kart and Super Smash.

By Bender Games, Harbor, Skill Tree Marketing

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

IGDA & WIGI Networking Mixer

📅 6:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Children's Creativity Museum, 221 4th St

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🤫

Let's meet with games industry communities over good food and drink (we've got boba 👀), super cool photo booth, and inclusive and meaningful networking opportunities. While this event is free, thanks to our sponsors, RSVP is required!

By Zynga, Dell, Odin Law, the*gamehers

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

NightLife: Level Up

📅 6:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr

$25 🚗 29 min

🍔 🍹 💃 🎮

Gaming and cosplay collide for this epic event. Expect tabletop and gaming activations throughout the building, a cosplay contest, claw machines, a marketplace, photo ops and more. Grab your friends, a drink, and let yourself wander alongside nearly 60,000 creatures.

By NightLife at California Academy of Sciences

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Game showcases, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

After Dark: Crafty and Calculating

📅 6:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 Exploratorium, Pier 15 Embarcadero, Green St

$23 🚗 15 min

🍔 🍹 🤫

Creativity, computing, and crafts combine at After Dark! Learn how fiber arts and computer science have more in common than you may think. Decode the rich relationship between traditional “women’s crafts” and technology, from the first computers inspired by the Jacquard loom, to the way that algorithms inform both textiles and math. Get cozy, crafty, and calculating— at After Dark.

By Exploratorium

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

New

2026 SF Gaymers Night @ The Lookout

📅 6:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 The Lookout, 3600 16th

Free 🚗 13 min

🍔 🍹 💃 🎮

Join SF Gaymers at our annual party and fundraiser in collaboration with GDC! Take a load off with dancing, drinks, games, and charity auction.

By SF Gaymers

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Game showcases, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

26th Annual Game Developer's Choice Awards

📅 6:30pm - 8:00pm

📍 Moscone Center North, GDC Main Stage

Free with GDC pass 🚶 0 min

🍹 🎮

The Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) are the premier accolades for peer-recognition in the digital games industry, celebrating creativity, artistry and technological genius. Industry professionals from around the world nominate titles for the awards, ensuring that the recipients reflect the game developer community's opinions. Learn more at https://gdconf.com/gdca

By GDC

Notes: GDC pass required, Inside, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Unity Education Mixer

📅 6:30pm - 8:30pm

📍 Ecosystem Coworking, 540 Howard Street, 2nd Floor

Free 🚶 8 min

🍔 🍹

Connect with students, educators, and industry professionals at this networking-focused event. To help start the conversation, we’ll be kicking off with a fireside chat between Unity’s Jessica Lindl and NYU’s Julian Togelius, where they’ll be discussing how AI is changing the trajectory of game development and how to get ahead of the curve.

By Unity

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

New

SDC Meet Up at GDC!

📅 6:30pm - 11:00pm

📍 Local Tap, 600 3rd St

Free 🚶 13 min

🍔 🍹

Join the Sacramento Developer Collective for a casual meetup during GDC! Whether you're a Sacramento local, part of the broader game dev community, or just looking to connect with fellow developers, come hang out with us at The Local Tap.

By Sacramento Developer's Collective

Notes: Inside, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

New

“Beers of a Feather”- Tech-Art & Pipelines Mixer

📅 7:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔 🍹

The Digital Pipeline Production Association (DPPA) is bringing our famous “Beers of a Feather” from SIGGRAPH straight to GDC! Step out of the convention chaos and into a low-key evening of networking. Whether you’re a Pipeline Engineer or a Technical Artist, come bond over shared stories and solutions straight from the production trenches. Join us at a no-host bar. Appetizers will be served until they are gone, so arrive early!

By Digital Production Pipeline Association

Notes: Inside, Free food, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🔗

New

Dumpling Fest 2026

📅 7:00pm - 10:00pm

📍 The Clubhaus, 255 9th St

Free 🚶 23 min

🍔 🍹 💃

DumplingFest 2026 returns to San Francisco! As GDC’s most iconic tradition, we bridge East and West with unlimited dumplings, cold beer, and high-level networking. Celebrate the Year of the Horse with the industry’s finest—eat the dumplings, close the deal, and multiply your luck. 🥟🤝

By Paymentwall, Terminal3

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

The Executive After Hours Gathering

📅 7:00pm - 11:00pm

📍 The Ritz-Carlton Club, 690 Market St

Free 🚶 9 min

🍔 🍹

An intimate gathering of select industry leaders and founders hosted by Native Darkness & Horror.Audio during GDC. Held in a private executive suite at The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco. Attendance is limited. Food and drinks provided.

By Native Darkness, Horror.Audio

Notes: Inside, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

POW: XIV

📅 7:00pm - 2:00am

📍 DNA Lounge, 375 11th St

$32 🚶 30 min

🍔 🍹 💃

8bitsf's annual GDC mega-concert POW returns for its epic FOURTEENTH year, co-presented by MAGFest! Join us for a complete sensory overload of chiptune and video-game-themed live music madness, featuring lush visuals and a celebration of indie gaming.

By 8bitSF, MAGFest

Notes: Affiliate, Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

3D Art & Indie Games Showcase + Pizza

📅 7:30pm - 10:30pm

📍 Provided on RSVP

Free

🍔 🤫 🎮

This brings together 3D artists, indie studios, and solo creators to connect over pizza and drinks in a relaxed, creative setting. Whether you're just starting your first game, freelancing, scaling a studio, or experimenting with new pipelines, you'll be among like-minded creators. Our Creative Director will be there to offer feedback. Attendees can showcase their work, ask for feedback, and explore new workflows (so bringing a laptop is encouraged!). There will also be opportunities to network and watch live demos of projects, tools, and workflows.

By Kaedim

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases, Free food

+📅 🔗

New

SVVR #100: THE VR INDUSTRY PARTY

📅 8:00pm - 11:00pm

📍 Emporium Arcade Bar, 616 Divisadero St

$20 🚶 11 min

🍔 🍹 🤫 🎮

Silicon Valley Virtual Reality — the largest and longest-running VR meetup in the world — is celebrating a milestone. Join us for SVVR #100 during GDC week at the legendary Emporium Arcade Bar in San Francisco. We're taking over The Skydeck — Emporium's private upper level with a full bar overlooking a floor packed with classic arcade games, pinball machines, and all the retro-awesomeness you'd expect from a venue built inside a 100-year-old theater. Please note this is a 21+ venue, ID required, no exceptions.

By REK PICO Spacebar Arcade DREAMPARK PortalVR

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Quiet talking area, Game showcases, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

VGM Jam

📅 8:00pm - 2:00am

📍 The Savoy Tivoli, 1434 Grant Ave

Free 🚶 30 min

🍹 🤫

Join us for a night of your favorite music from our favorite video games at the Savoy Tivoli is San Francisco's historic North Beach district! There will be a house band and multiple open jams, so feel free to bring an instrument and get ready to hop on stage.

By Game Audio Pavillion & Open Hand Temple

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Quiet talking area, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

New

Universal Music Group presents BEAT GALAXY GDC 2026 Closing Night

📅 9:00pm - 2:00am

📍 Monarch, 101 6th St

Free 🚶 13 min

🍹 💃

GDC ends. The signal gets louder. Join Universal Music Group for BEAT GALAXY — a private closing night takeover at Monarch San Francisco. Open bar. Two rooms of sound. A VIP area. A cabaret. And a headline live performance we’re not announcing (yet). Consider this your final level. RSVP required.

By Universal Music Group

Notes: Inside, Club/dancing/loud, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Friday, March 13 14 events

RunDevRun San Francisco 2026 - Friday

📅 7:30am - 8:30am

📍 5th and Market Street, SF

Free 🚶 12 min

🤫 🌲

By Indie Wolverine

Notes: Affiliate, Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Morning Audio Community Meetup Friday

📅 8:00am - 9:00am

📍 222 2nd St.

Free 🚶 5 min

The Morning Audio Community Meetup is the sound of people coming together to share their experience throughout the conference.

By Audio Communtiy

Notes: Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Warped Inputs

📅 11:00pm - 2:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), Tented Area alongside Off The Grid, 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🤫 🌲 🎮

WARPED INPUTS is a free alternative controller showcase by Warped Worlds, in partnership with IndieCade and GDC. This outdoor celebration features a curated selection of alt.ctrl games, playable installations, and experimental interfaces that push beyond the screen. With food, music, and community vibes, it’s a high-energy gathering of indie creators and beautifully weird real-world play. Let’s Get Warped.

By GDC, IndieCade

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Kaedim x GDC: Donut giveaway!! Friday

📅 11:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Moscone Center

Free 🚶 0 min

🍔 🌲

By Kaedim

Notes: Inside and outside, Free food

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

AINative GDC 2026 Hackathon

📅 11:00am - 4:30pm

📍 845 Howard St

Free 🚶 5 min

🤖

A 2-day sprint where creators, developers, designers, and founders come together to build fully AI-native games from concept to traction. This isn’t just about using AI in a game. It’s about building a game with AI as the creative engine, development partner, and infrastructure layer.

By AINative

Notes: Inside, AI

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Audio Daily Lunchtime “Behind” the Carousel - Friday

📅 12:00pm - 1:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), Behind the carousel, 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

By Audiokinetic

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

AI + Game Mixer&Showcase

📅 1:00pm - 3:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲 🤖 🎮

GDC is for game people, but also for all disciplines intersecting with game! Especially AI! For all AI experts in gaming, or gaming experts in AI, let's meet outside GDC. Come grab some soda, chat, mingle and experiment new thoughts! Booth: We plan on bringing a few folding table for startups/indie games to show case their work. If interested, please choose booth ticket and let us know you&your work as much as possible so we can plan ahead!

By SoulLink: Next-Level AI Friend

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area, Game showcases, AI

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Supporting the Games Ecosystem

📅 1:40pm - 2:45pm

📍 Moscone Center South, Room 203

free 🚶 0 min

🎮

A community focused session for people who run non profit game support services, game developers interested in charitable gaming initiatives and collaborative studio models, and anyone who wants to help shape a more accessible games industry.

By Wee Tattie Studios

Notes: GDC pass required, Inside

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

w̵͖̄h̷̛͙a̴͎͝ť̵̠ ̶̭̀i̵̘̿s̴̫̉ ̶͉̑b̷̻̎r̴̰̾g̶̖̈́

📅 3:00pm - 4:00pm

📍 Star Level

tell 5 friends 🚶 0 min

🌲

what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg what is brg

By The ORG

Notes: GDC pass required, Inside and outside

🗺️ 🔗

Concept & Game Artists: Meet & Draw

📅 3:00pm - 5:00pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲 🎮

Casual meet-up and sketch for concept and game artist (anyone welcome).

By Concept & Game Artist Group

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Students @ GDC Tourism Day Part 1

📅 4:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Outside Moscone West

$0 - $19 🚶 0 min

🍔 🤫 🌲

Come be a tourist after a busy week at GDC! We will meet at Moscone and take the historic trolley up to Ghirardelli Square for ice cream. Full schedule in the Discord event description so feel free to hop on/off if you need to leave early or come late! Our events are not restricted to current students - recent grads, faculty, and industry folks are welcome!

By EGD Collective

Notes: Inside and outside, Quiet talking area, Food for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

New

Insert Coin: Lucky Friday the 13th GDC Mixer

📅 4:30pm - 5:30pm

📍 YBG (Yerba Beuna Gardens), MLK Memorial Waterfall, 750 Howard St

Free 🚶 0 min

🤫 🌲

Lucky Friday the 13th mixer for founders, producers, Live Ops leaders, and builders shaping the future of gaming. Open-air meetup near Moscone Center. Free. Just show up.

By Aspire Agency Global Inc.

Notes: Outside, Quiet talking area

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

WikiGameJam SF 2026 Talks/Social

📅 5:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 Gray Area / Grand Theater, 2665 Mission Street

Free 🚗 12 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Free pizza and cash bar to celebrate and kick off WikiGamJam hackathon. Includes lightning talks on games and game development and opportunities to play existing "wikigames". Free to attend, please RSVP.

By BAWUG, Wikihaus, Gray Area, WMF

Notes: Inside, Game showcases, Free food, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Happy Hour at the MADE

📅 5:00pm - 9:00pm

📍 The MADE, 921 Washington, Oakland

Donation 🚗 21 min

🍔 🍹 🎮

Celebrate the end of GDC with a happy hour at the MADE, Oakland's playable video game history museum. Join us for wine, cheese, and games! Show your GDC pass to get into the museum for free.

By The MADE

Notes: Inside, Game showcases, Free food, Free alcohol

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Saturday, March 14 4 events

Worlds in Action Hackathon

📅 9:00am - 5:00pm

📍 Founder's Inc, 2 Marina Blvd B300

Free 🚗 23 min

🍔 🤫 🤖 🎮 💼

World Model, Physical AI and XR Hackathon. 🤖 40+ robots on-site. 🕶 XR + generative environments. 🧠 Autonomous systems & physical AI. 🛠 Unity / Unreal / WebXR + PICO devkits. 🏆 $10,000 Awards across multiple tracks. 🎓 Hands-on workshops + world-class mentors. If you’re building at the edge of XR, robotics, or spatial AI, we recommend you to join this hackathon! Let’s see what kind of worlds you create. 🌍

By Pico, Bytedance

Notes: Inside, Quiet talking area, Job recruitment, Game showcases, Free food, AI

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

New

Intelligence at the Frontier: Festival, Conference & Hackathon

📅 9:00am - 9:00pm

📍 Frontier Tower, 995 Market St

$150 🚶 16 min

🤖

36-hour festival, conference, and hackathon on AI governance and coordination systems. GTC and GDC bring 100k+ AI and gaming professionals to San Francisco the same week. We're hosting the conversation those conferences won't touch: what coordination systems actually help when AI changes faster than institutions can adapt? 750+ researchers, developers, founders, funders, and policymakers across multiple floors of Frontier Tower. Talks, hackathon tracks, prototyping labs, co-design sessions, live music, art installations.

By Funding the Commons

Notes: Inside, AI

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Students @ GDC Tourism Day Part 2

📅 11:00am - 4:00pm

📍 Samesun SF, 1475 Lombard St

$0 - $20 🚶 12 min

🍔 🤫 🌲

Later flight? Join us for Tourism Day 2. We'll be touring the Presidio -- starting at the Palace of Fine Arts, then heading to One Letterman (Lucasfilm HQ), the Walt Disney Family Museum, Outpost Playground, and ending at the Golden Gate Bridge! Full itinerary with times is listed in the Discord event so feel free to hop on/off if you need to leave early or come late! All events are not restricted to current students - recent grads, faculty, and industry folks are welcome!

By EGD Collective

Notes: Inside and outside, Quiet talking area, Food for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗

Recession Indicator - Convention afterparty

📅 8:00pm - 2:00am

📍 Thee Parkside, 1600 17th St

$15 🚗 11 min

🍔 🍹 💃 🌲

Get ready for Recession Indicator, a new party series for people who were too young to afford houses in high school 😎 2008 called and they want their body glitter back - get ready to throw down recession style, at legendary SF Venue, Thee Parkside. There is a $5 discount at the door for GDC Badgeholders, so well see you after the convention!

By Game Audio Pavillion, Sleepyhead

Notes: Inside and outside, Club/dancing/loud, Food for purchase, Alcohol for purchase

+📅 🗺️ 🔗