The Biggest Gaming Conventions In The World

Key Takeaways

• Gaming conventions have evolved into a major entertainment sector with tech innovations and strategic investments.
• Social media has facilitated fan networking, leading to larger and more diverse gaming conventions worldwide.
• Various conventions like PAX and Gamescom attract thousands of attendees annually to showcase gaming culture.

It used to be that games and comic books were a nice interest that was confined to the corner of the local bookstore. With so much updated tech and innovative designs, along with some significant investments from big names in marketing and PR, gaming today includes everything from TTRPGs to MMOs and has become an influential part of the entertainment industry.

The rise of gaming conventions and anime expos has followed the growth of the industry, and social media has made it even easier for fans and collectors to connect. Many of these gaming conventions include anime, comic books, and tabletop gaming, since they often share the same fanbase.

Updated November 12, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: Most events have reformed or regrouped to start again as normal after the era of the pandemic, and options remain for those who would prefer a digital experience or can’t be there in person. The popularity of these events has also surged worldwide, and TTRPGs are experiencing a boost thanks to the popularity of D&D-based games like Baldur’s Gate 3. There are always more gaming conventions popping up, and as such, more have been added to this list with its latest update.

23 QuakeCon

10,000 Attendees

Although this gaming convention started as a way for id Software developers and fans to network, and it still takes the name of that company’s flagship series, its popularity now extends well beyond either of them. QuakeCon dates from 1996, the same time the titular game was developed, making it one of the oldest gaming conferences as the public now knows them.

Other big video game companies like Bethesda also help organize the event, and the BYOC LAN party that was part of the original schedule in the 1990s is still a thing. The events of 2021 and 2022 were held entirely online, but QuakeCon returned to their live events and Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) roots in 2023.

22 AVCon

13,000 Attendees

AVCon is one of the smaller conventions on a relative global scale, but it still has the numbers to be the biggest anime and gaming festival in the Southern Hemisphere. It first began in 2002 as a joint project between the University of South Australia’s Adelaide Japanese Animation Society (AJAS) and the Adelaide University Video Gamers Association (AUVGA). Hence, the union continues to this day and features a combination of anime and video games.

The festival’s events and amenities include, but are not limited to, anime screening rooms, libraries dedicated to manga, a retro media museum, and gaming rooms intended as both testing sites and to show exclusive developer previews. There’s also an AVCon After Dark for the grown-up participants, which includes alcohol, burlesque, and more racey cosplays.

21 Game Developers Conference (GDC)

17,000 Attendees

Like many other gaming conventions that took place during the days of COVID-19, the GDC was a mix of online and in-person events in 2021 and 2022. The GDC Virtual Platform was designed specifically to increase accessibility to the event, and of all the people that attended, 12,000 came in person, while about 5000 attended using virtual means.

The yearly program of GDC is always a virtual list of what’s hottest in the gaming industry and covers an impressive array of genres. The latest conferences have featured big hits like Wordle, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Clash of Clans.

20 MAGFest

20,000 Attendees

MAGFest, which is short for the Music and Gaming Festival, happens every year in Washington DC, specifically in National Harbor. It’s a convention that is wholly dedicated to the “appreciation of video game music, gaming of all types, and the gaming community.” The convention hosts panels of animators, musicians, and gaming personalities alike at the beginning of each year.

While it’s not the largest gaming convention in the world by any means, it’s one of the most intimate. Chances are, if someone goes to MAGFest, they’ll have plenty of chances to talk one-on-one with the presenters and hosts of the convention. Plus, it’s one of the few festivals that run 24 hours a day, meaning that attendees can, at least in theory, spend all four days in the convention center.

19 Electronic Game Show (EGS)

30,000 Attendees

When EGS first started more than 20 years ago in 2002, it was intended to bolster national gaming companies along with giving some big international names a local platform. Today, it’s evolved into a regular annual event that caters to both fans and industry professionals.

The main draw and top selling point of Mexico’s biggest video game convention is tournament play on the festival’s flagship game, but it also has demonstrations, panel discussions, cosplay, and merchandise options for the fans, along with some healthy networking options for professionals. The daily agenda typically includes several activities for kids, one of the features that make this a show for fans of all ages, with there being some exceptions for special evening events.

18 TwitchCon

30,000 Attendees

• Various major cities worldwide; 2024 saw the convention being held in Rotterdam

This is a different kind of convention than others in the sense that it’s specifically for Twitch, a popular live-streaming service, as opposed to focusing on the games themselves. Another important difference is that it takes place twice a year as opposed to once, and it often changes continents from Europe to the Americas.

TwitchCon still has all the usual features of a gaming convention, with celebrity appearances, panel discussions, and vast merchandising possibilities. The event was first inaugurated in San Francisco in 2015, and other locations have included Berlin, Amsterdam, and Paris, with the next North American event scheduled for San Diego.

17 BlizzCon

40,000 Attendees

BlizzCon mostly caters to Blizzard fans, which isn’t to say that this video gaming convention isn’t huge in its own right. It usually takes place at the beginning of November in Anaheim, California, attracting many fans nationwide as well as worldwide.

Here, gamers come together with devs to talk about Diablo, WoW, Overwatch, and Starcraft, as well as to find out what’s new for the upcoming year and discuss what they’d like to see in the future. Blizzcon returned to its live-action, in-person conference format in 2023 to much fanfare after a tumultuous year that included an equal amount of good and bad news for the brand.

16 E3

65,000 Attendees

• Los Angeles, California, USA

This conference was originally intended for industry professionals but was eventually opened to the public, which raised its attendance significantly. For a while, it was one of the largest continually growing expos in the world. It’s E3, along with the Tokyo Game Show, that many turn to when they want to find out top-secret deets about what’s soon to be released.

E3 gained momentum over the last few years, but then it took a blow when Sony announced they would no longer be attending. The last two shows, for 2023 and 2024, were canceled, but the dream is still alive for the future.

15 Penny Arcade Expo (PAX)

70,000 Attendees

• Various American and international locations

Believe it or not, PAX started as a small gaming event with little more than 3,000 attendees in its first year. As word on the street spread, and gamers as well as developers became interested, it has since grown into a worldwide event. PAX occurs in four different locations throughout the year: Boston, Australia, Seattle, and San Antonio.

These gaming conventions combined bring in roughly 70,000 attendees annually, although the exact number has yet to be counted. As a space for indie games, new developers, and popular game developers alike, PAX has managed to make the ranks as one of the largest gaming conventions of the year.

14 Eurogamer Expo (EGX)

80,000 Attendees

The Eurogamer Expo is a convention that takes place in London, and it’s the biggest in the UK, making it the go-to gaming event of the year for Europe. The Eurogamer Expo has something for everyone, whether they’re into anime, video gamers, or comic books.

Fans will have the chance to try new games and get the hands-on experience many know and love. It also caters to those who feature creative cosplays. It brings together gamers from all genres, catering to just about everyone in the fandom community.

13 DragonCon

85,000+ Attendees

Almost three decades ago, in 1987 to be exact, the Dragon Alliance of Gamers and Role-Players founded DragonCon. The first official festival took place on Labor Day weekend of that year, a tradition that continues into the present day. That year, 1400 fans attended, and the numbers would double for a few years after as science fiction, fantasy, and video games became more popular.

DragonCon was held exclusively online during the COVID years, but as of 2021, the live and in-person events have returned. What sets DragonCon apart from other gaming conventions is the variety of live musical performances, from big names like Blue Oyster Cult and Jefferson Starship to smaller indie artists, and it also hosts an independent short film festival.

12 The Calgary Expo Comics And Entertainment Convention

95,000 Attendees

The story of the Calgary Expo starts in 2005 when it began as a relatively small comic book convention. Since then, this has become one of Canada’s biggest and most well-attended gaming conventions, making history with high-profile events like the 25th Anniversary Star Trek: TNG cast reunion in 2012.

2012 was also the same year a spin-off convention launched in Alberta’s other major city, Edmonton, which attests to the success of the Calgary version. Two years later, yet another popped up in the neighboring province of Saskatchewan, specifically in the city of Saskatoon. However, Calgary’s remains the biggest by far, now making its official home in Stampede Park.

11 DreamHack

100,000 Attendees

DreamHack is based in several different places worldwide, but one of the largest gatherings is in Sweden. While it is a gaming convention, it does cater particularly to esports, which has a huge following in its own right.

In addition to all things esports, from gaming news to competitive tourneys, DreamHack offers much in the way of new games and cosplay as well. Not surprisingly, DreamHack also made it to the Guinness Book for throwing the largest LAN party in the world.

10 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC)

130,000 Attendees

• San Diego, California, USA

When one thinks of the biggest video game conventions, the San Diego Comic-Con isn’t the first convention to spring to mind for most. However, as time goes on, the San Diego Comic-Con has opened up its scope and had more and more of a video game presence each year. Several games get announced at SDCC every year, even though it’s not dedicated to gaming.

The San Diego Comic-Con is the biggest of its kind in the world, and it was originally dedicated solely to comics and related media. Nowadays, gamers find themselves completely at home in the gigantic convention halls of this hallowed event, though it’s only one part of the greater Comic-Con whole.

9 IgroMir

150,000 Attendees

Although IgroMir isn’t a gaming expo that’s well-known around the world, they still manage to see roughly 157,000 attendees each year. This gaming convention is a general expo that caters to all video games and genres.

Igro Mir is held every year by the Game Developers Conference of Russia and has been going on since 2006, so this is not an expo that’s new on the gaming scene. The event also caters to cosplay, which many take advantage of, as it’s not only one of the few big gaming conventions in Russia, but it’s also one of the only events of its kind nationally.

8 MegaCon Orlando

190,000 Attendees

Original attendee counts had this event at about 140,000, but more recent data puts that number much higher, making Megacon Orlando one of the fastest-growing gaming conventions in both the United States and globally. It still has a way to go before catching up to some of the bigger conventions on other continents, however.

The history of MegaCon goes all the way back to the 1970s, when comic book fans organized the original OrlandoCon, and the concept eventually evolved to include video games, movies, RPGs, and anime. The first MegaCon, at least as modern media now knows it, dates back to 1993 and has been held in various locations throughout the state of Florida.

7 Spiel

200,000+ Attendees

• Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Spiel is not a typical modern gaming convention, because video games don’t have a dominant presence. Spiel is more oriented around board games and similar real-life products. While there is a small amount of video games here, it’s mostly in the form of versions of existing board games.

It’s not a convention to miss as long as someone’s idea of “gaming” isn’t limited to video games. Board games have existed far longer than any video game, and this long-running convention is proof that real-life games are as timeless as they are fun.

6 G-Star

240,000+ Attendees

It’s one of the biggest gaming conventions in Asia and the world, with more than 200,000 attendees in 2023. The G-Star festival was held in Seoul when it was first launched in 2005, but three years later it was moved to the country’s second-busiest city, Busan, and has been there ever since. The activities not only include gaming promotions but also cosplay awards and related side events.

The event started as a way to showcase and advertise South Korean gaming companies, like Nexon and NCSoft. The focus is still on national creators but now includes big names from overseas, like Activision-Blizzard.

5 ChinaJoy

270,000+ Attendees

ChinaJoy sees roughly 100,000 more attendees each year than an event like IgroMir, which isn’t surprising considering how many huge game developers are based throughout Asia. With an attendance rating of at least 270,000, ChinaJoy also goes by the name of the China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference, but ChinaJoy is shorter and easier.

Attendance for this gaming convention usually sees visitors from at least 30 different countries and showcases over 3,500 games per year.

4 Tokyo Game Show (TGS)

270,000+ Attendees

The Toyko Game Show is one that many know and love, especially those who are constantly rooting for Square Enix despite being tortured by their delayed releases. With just over 270,000 attendees, the Tokyo Game Show is one of the biggest in the world.

It’s the go-to event for those who want news on upcoming game titles, as it’s known for announcing release dates and games that are currently in production. If fans haven’t heard something at E3, then chances are it’ll be announced during the Tokyo Game Show later in the year.