Gamescom 2026 Leans Into Conservation, Accessibility, and Democracy

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Published Jun 30, 2026, 6:36 PM EDT

Ethan Krieger is an Editor at DualShockers, where he covers reviews, guides, lists, features, previews, interviews, and gaming news. He began writing professionally in 2017 as a sports writer before moving into games coverage with DualShockers in 2024.

Before joining DualShockers, Ethan wrote for the FanSided Sports Network, including 8 Points, 9 Seconds, where he covered the Indiana Pacers, and Pelican Debrief, where he covered the New Orleans Pelicans. His background in sports writing, editing, and content strategy now informs his approach to gaming coverage, especially around reviews, rankings, guides, and event reporting. Ethan studied English at Arizona State University, with a focus on writing and text editing.

Giant conventions in big cities will naturally have some pretty big footprints. There's really no avoiding that hard truth. At the same time, that's what makes it so important for the people in charge of big events to have good heads on shoulders that are willing to do their part to chip in for important causes and become greener and greener with each passing year as well.

This year, Gamescom, the world's largest gaming convention which takes place annually in Cologne, Germany, is stepping things up in a few very important areas in terms of social, accessible, and environmental outreach. Per a press release provided by Gamescom themselves, let's get into everything the event is doing this year to affect positive change.

In terms of overall accessibility at the show, Gamescom has provided exhibitors and show planners with updated and expanded guidelines to ensure as many areas of the show as possible are planned around also being as inclusive as possible. Steps had been taken in previous years for general attendee accessibility, but seeing it even more at the forefront of 2026 is commendable.

Awareness and Safer Space locations are being expanded in 2026 as well, with the addition of more awareness staff on site to ensure all patrons are feeling safe, secure, and comfortable at all times, regardless of personal needs.

This year, Gamescom... is stepping things up in a few very important areas in terms of social, accessible, and environmental outreach.

Gamescom is also aiming to cut down substantially on food waste in 2026, partnered for the first time with local organization Tafel Köln e.V., which will work with food vendors on site to repurpose excess food at the end of every day/service time.

Trash Galore, another company that Gamescom has partnered with in previous years, is back again, and specializes in repurposing materials once the show is over. Last year, they were able to salvage or reuse 2,260kg of what would've otherwise been waste, also saving 5,000kg of CO2 in the process.

Extra efforts and expansion will also be made to the Gamescom Forest, which is exactly what it sounds like. To help offset as much as they can and do their part for the environment, Gamescom has been planting and growing a literal forest in Germany, which is currently at a size of 33,500 square meters.

GDQ Brings Their Spirit of Fundraising to the Show

If you're familiar with GDQ at all, then you know the world's most popular speedrunning community has been a humongous driving force over the years for some seriously incredible fundraising that reaches into the "millions of dollars" threshold. For the first time in their histories, GDQ and Gamescom are teaming up this year for several live speedrunning events across the dates of the show.

For anyone attending that's into speedrunning, this is amazing news. Personally, I watch GDQ streams all the time, so being able to take in the action live in Germany this August is incredibly exciting. Even better, GDQ is brining their fundraising skills to Gamescom as well.

Throughout the show, GDQ and Gamescom will be raising money for Gaming for Democracy.