The Gamescom 2025 is one of the most important events of the summer for video game fans. The trade fair will take place in Cologne from August 20 to 24. Tickets are now available for purchase, exclusively online.
The anticipation reaches the next level: From August 20 to 24, 2025, the gaming world will meet at gamescom – live in Cologne and digitally worldwide. Thailand is the official partner country of gamescom 2025 in Cologne, the world's largest gaming event. The organizers of the gamescomKoelnmesse, game – the German Games Industry Association, and the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) signed a partnership agreement to this effect. The merger of gamescom asia with the Thailand Game Show starting this year underscores Thailand’s growing importance as a games location in Southeast Asia. The new joint event will take place in Bangkok in the future and further consolidate the country’s position as the region’s leading gaming hub. The partner country role at gamescom 2025 in Cologne builds on this development and brings Thailand’s potential even more into international focus. With an estimated market volume of around 1,3 billion US dollars in 2023, Thailand is one of the ten largest and fastest-growing gaming markets in Asia. Almost 32 million people in Thailand play video games regularly – almost half the population. Gaming is deeply rooted in everyday culture and is lived not only commercially but also creatively: with a vibrant indie scene, up-and-coming development studios and a growing infrastructure.
With the opening of the ticket shop, trade and private visitors now have the opportunity to secure their tickets. High demand is expected, especially for the public days Thursday through Sunday. Tickets and bundles are available in limited numbers and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
These tickets are available:
- Day ticket for private visitors: Entry to the entertainment area with all its areas such as cosplay village, retro & family area, indie area, cards & boards area, event arena and many more.
- Evening ticket for private visitors: This year, there is once again a limited number of discounted evening tickets available for the public days. Access to gamescom is possible starting at 16 p.m.
- FamilyThe family ticket is valid for a maximum of five people, including one or two adults and at least one to a maximum of three children aged 7-12. Personalization is available in the ticket shop.
- Wildcard for trade visitors and media day: Private visitors with the limited wildcard will receive access to the entertainment area from 20 p.m. on the trade visitor and media day (13 August).
- New bundles with early access advantage: Two exclusive bundles are now available in the official ticket shop – only while stocks last.
- Superfan Bundle Plus
Includes a ticket to the grand opening show gamescom Opening Night Live on August 19, a wildcard for the trade visitor and media day on 20 August from 13 p.m. and an overnight stay in the gamescom camp from Tuesday to Wednesday. A tent is required for overnight stays. - Superfan Bundle
For those who want to be the first to be there: The bundle includes a ticket for the gamescom Opening Night Live on 19 August and a wildcard for the trade visitor and media day on August 20, from 13 p.m.
- Superfan Bundle Plus
All tickets are available exclusively at the official Ticket shop Available. There will be no on-site sales. Purchase of tickets through unauthorized platforms or third-party sellers is discouraged.
With the optional green ticket, visitors can contribute to climate protection and offset their travel costs as part of the sustainability initiative gamescom goes green. The proceeds go to the gamescom forest near Bayreuth.
Gamescom, according to its own statements, places great emphasis on a positive experience for the whole family. To this end, measures have already been implemented in the past, such as discounted tickets for families, a comprehensive youth protection concept, and childcare for children ages 4 and up in the entertainment area. For the first time this year, there will also be childcare for children up to and including 3 years old in the business area. This is intended to support trade visitors with young children who require childcare during their visit to gamescom.
Gamescom stays in Cologne
gamescom, the world's largest and leading event for computer and video games, will remain in Cologne. This was announced today by Koelnmesse and game – the association of the German games industry. The new contract was signed in the presence of Henriette Reker, Mayor of Cologne, and Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Media of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and Head of the State Chancellery.
"Cologne and gamescom are a perfect match – a partnership that proves its success year after year," says Gerald Böse, Chairman of the Management Board of Koelnmesse. "Together, we have made gamescom the world's largest and most relevant games event and have continually set new records. The long-term contract extension is a testament to this successful collaboration. It gives us the opportunity to further expand gamescom in Cologne, together with the satellite events gamescom asia and gamescom latam, as well as devcom and gamescom LAN – and to make it a festival for diverse pop cultures that can be experienced all over the world."
Lars Janssen, Chairman of the Board of game – Association of the German Games Industry: "As a global beacon of games culture, gamescom has been setting standards for many years. We want to continue this success story with Koelnmesse in Cologne. Gamescom will remain as dynamic, innovative, and fast-growing as the games market. To this end, we have agreed, among other things, to further strengthen the diverse gamescom formats worldwide as well as to invest in the brand and international reach. We are grateful to have such a good partner in Koelnmesse for the future."
Ralf Wirsing, board member of game – the German Games Industry Association: “Our thanks go to our partner Koelnmesse, as well as to the City of Cologne and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, who have shown strong commitment to gamescom and will make an even greater contribution in the coming years to ensuring that gamescom, the heart of the games world, beats in Cologne every August.”
Success story since 2009
Since its premiere in Cologne in 2009, gamescom has developed into the world's largest event for computer and video games. Last year, it broke records again, underscoring its central role for the international games industry and its growing economic relevance for the location.
In 2024, the gamescom 1.462 exhibiting companies from 64 countries – a new record. The event attracted a total of 335.000 people from 120 countries, including approximately 32.000 trade visitors. By comparison, the first gamescom in Cologne in 2009 attracted 450 exhibitors from 31 countries and 228.000 visitors, including 17.000 trade visitors.
Consistent content development and increasing digital reach are the driving factors behind gamescom's continued growth. The number of people watching gamescom 2024 online also reached a new record last year with over 500 million video views. In addition, the organizers have further expanded gamescom's global presence through the satellite events gamescom asia and gamescom latam.
Important support from NRW and Cologne
A key factor in gamescom's success is the close collaboration with the City of Cologne and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. As part of the contract extension, both parties pledge their support and expanded funding measures for the future. Cologne and North Rhine-Westphalia have already provided significant support to gamescom in recent years – including through measures to increase visibility in the city and around the gamescom city festival, which brings gaming culture to urban areas. The city and state also make an important contribution to the event itself, for example, through investments in formats such as the gamescom congress, Europe's leading conference on the potential of games, and the gamescom invest circle, a matchmaking event for investors and games studios.
Mayor Henriette Reker: "Cologne is and will continue to be the home of gamescom. This is good news, because gamescom is a significant economic factor for our city and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It strengthens the local economy through the hundreds of thousands of people who travel to Cologne from all over the world every year, creates jobs, and consolidates Cologne's role as one of Europe's leading industry locations. But I am certain that gamescom will also continue to benefit from Cologne as a creative media metropolis."
"gamescom is committing to Cologne for the long term. This is a special recognition for Cologne and North Rhine-Westphalia as a gaming location," explains Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Media of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and Head of the State Chancellery. "The state is a strong partner behind gamescom – an international flagship, economically, culturally, and technologically. I would like to thank Koelnmesse and the game association for their comprehensive commitment here at the location and for the excellent cooperation. The state government will continue to intensively support gamescom in expanding its special position as the world's largest event for video games. Together, we are setting the tone for games as a driver of innovation and a cultural factor. We want to help shape the megatrend of gamification worldwide from Cologne and North Rhine-Westphalia."
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