How India Gaming Show 2026 is a game changer for the international gaming industry
The Indian video game market is growing at an unprecedented pace — by 2029, its volume is estimated to reach $9.1 billion compared to $3.7 billion in 2024. This dynamic cannot be ignored by the global entertainment industry and international investors. That is why the eighth India Gaming Show 2026 is attracting the attention of professionals and enthusiasts from all over the globe. What explains the uniqueness of the 2026 exhibition, and why has India suddenly become a magnet for gaming giants and young studios?
India Gaming Show 2026 as the central event of the year for the global industry
According to a forecast by the analytical company KPMG, the Indian video game market will grow almost 2.5 times in five years. Such dynamics make India one of the fastest-growing countries in the global gaming ecosystem. Experts emphasize that IGS 2026 becomes a key platform for networking between local and international studios, investors, and representatives of new technologies.
A representative of the organizers, CII Vice President Aniket Deshpande, notes: “India Gaming Show is a window into the future of digital entertainment and a unique opportunity for experience exchange.” International analysts consider IGS comparable in scale to Tokyo Game Show, ChinaJoy, and exhibitions in Singapore, although the Indian forum stands out for its focus on innovation and inclusivity.
This year, the organizers focus on the synergy of new technologies, esports, and startups. Participants can expect not only business meetings but also premieres, shows, hackathons, and large-scale educational sessions. All this creates new challenges and opportunities for companies seeking to establish themselves in the rapidly growing market.
Chennai is turning into a strategic center of India’s gaming industry
The choice of Chennai as the venue for the exhibition appears to be a justified and strategically important step. It is here that a powerful AVGC cluster has formed — a segment uniting Animation, Visual Effects (VFX), Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (XR) technologies. Thanks to this specialization, the city has become one of India’s leaders in the number of implemented international projects, with more than a hundred already completed.
Chennai’s IT ecosystem is built around the Tidel Park and SIPCOT technology parks, as well as numerous startup incubators and research centers. Partnerships between universities, studios, and technology companies are actively developing here. As local experts note, this complex creates fertile ground for new initiatives in the gaming industry.
The authorities of Tamil Nadu provide strong support to the industry: there are government programs for the development of AVGC and XR, and a special body — the Online Gaming Authority — is responsible for regulating online games. Similarly to how Bangalore has become synonymous with an IT hub for India, Chennai is gradually turning into the national center of the gaming, animation, and XR industry.
Key thematic zones and activities of IGS 2026
The entire exhibition complex is conventionally divided into thematic spaces, each of which is focused on its own audience and objectives. In 2026, guests and participants can expect:
- Esports Arena — a platform for esports tournaments and demonstrations of top disciplines
- Industry Talks — panel discussions with market leaders and investors
- Tech & Startup Pavilion — innovative solutions, startup presentations, and technologies for the future of the gaming industry
- Entertainment Stage — show programs, performances by artists, presentations of major projects
- Aviator Zone - a zone for playing Aviator, sponsored by the Indian Aviatrix website. It offers lists of online casinos for playing Aviator, which you can find here.
- Academic Zone — educational master classes, meetings of students with representatives of universities and research laboratories
- Anime & Pop Culture Zone — events on anime, cosplay, pop culture, and media
- Cosplay — contests and parades of cosplayers
- Indie Developers Zone — a showcase of the best indie games and projects by young teams
- Tech Talks — special technology sessions for specialists and engineers
Each zone not only facilitates experience exchange but also creates a platform for finding partners, product testing, and engaging new fans. For example, at previous exhibitions, VR startup debuts took place here, joint educational courses were launched, and new markets were opened for animation studios.
Main stages of IGS development
India Gaming Show has come a long way since 2017, when more than 70,000 enthusiasts, experts, and industry representatives gathered in New Delhi. Even then, the focus was on international partnerships, including with companies from Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom.
In 2018, during the pandemic, the organizers held a virtual version of the exhibition, which made it possible to attract participants from new countries and maintain the pace of development. Each year, the program expanded: in 2019, the number of international delegates increased, in 2021–2023, the southern branch IGS-South appeared in Bangalore, with a focus on VR technologies, mobile games, and market trends.
The exhibition in Pune in 2024 confirmed India’s status as a growing center of the gaming industry, and in 2025 in New Delhi, several new directions were presented at once: e-sports, IoT, animation, fintech products, and educational initiatives. Each stage of development broadened the horizons of the event, and by 2026, IGS had grown into the largest platform for meetings of the Asian and global industry.
The role of the Confederation of Indian Industry
The organizer of India Gaming Show is the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) — an influential public organization that has participated in the country’s economic development for more than a century. The main theme of CII in 2025–2026 is “Accelerating Competitiveness: Globalization, Inclusivity, Sustainability, Trust.”
As CII representatives note, IGS 2026 becomes an instrument for achieving the set strategic goals. The forum is integrated into the overall policy for export development, attracting investment, and forming complex technological chains. CII Director of Innovation Sanjay Varma emphasizes: “India Gaming Show is not only an exhibition, but also a growth point for the entire digital industry of India.”
What IGS 2026 will bring to the global gaming industry
Experts expect that after IGS 2026, India will further strengthen its position in the global market for games and digital entertainment. Participants are confident that new partnerships and joint projects will make it possible to enter new markets, and educational initiatives will help nurture a whole generation of specialists for the AVGC and Gaming sectors.
The next steps may include the expansion of the exhibition to new cities, the expansion of international participation, and the introduction of new formats focused on metaverses, AR/VR, and artificial intelligence. Is it possible to assume that India will become the world leader in the number of gaming startups and new technologies in the coming years? The answer to this question will largely depend on the success of India Gaming Show 2026 and the changes that the exhibition will bring to the entire industry.
