Future Games Show Announces First Live In-Person Event at Gamescom 2027

Future Games Show will stage its first live, in-person event on Aug. 25, 2027 in Cologne, Germany, during Gamescom, the world's largest annual video game trade fair and consumer event. The announcement marks the end of the showcase's purely digital format, seven years after it launched in 2020.

The Cologne date falls inside the Gamescom 2027 schedule, which runs Aug. 23-29. Cologne has long hosted Gamescom activities, making it the natural stage for the showcase's physical debut.

Why go in person now?

The move follows the biggest year in the show's history. The 2025 edition, hosted by "Resident Evil Requiem" stars Nick Apostolides and Angela Sant'Albano, generated more than 50 million total live views across its Aug. 26 broadcasts, according to Future.

The streams ran on Twitch, YouTube, Steam, X, Facebook, GamesRadar+, Bilibili, KuaiShou and additional platforms.

Media and publishing company Future plc runs the showcase. The company owns brands including TechRadar and PC Gamer. Since 2020, the show has served as a destination for players to discover upcoming games, connecting developers and publishers with gaming audiences worldwide.

"Future Games Show has built an incredible global community around the excitement of discovering new games," said Dan Dawkins, content director for Future Games Show and digital showcases. "Following our biggest year yet, we're excited to take the next step in the show's evolution by bringing that experience to life in person. This is an opportunity to connect players, creators and our partners in an entirely new way, while continuing to build on the momentum created by the show's track record of breaking brand new games."

What does this change for the industry?

For developers and publishers, the Cologne event adds a physical showcase slot to a week already saturated with Gamescom announcements and previews. For audiences, it promises the show's game-reveal formula delivered on a stage rather than through a stream.

What it does not yet include is a program. Additional details about the Cologne event will be announced in the coming months, according to Future, leaving format, venue and lineup as open questions ahead of the August 2027 date.