Every body knows the SPIEL in Essen, but there are a number of interesting events for game inventors and game designers which you shouldn't miss!
On one hand, we have competitions and on the other hand workshops and meetings. All dates are sorted by their deadlines.
Do you know any other workshops or competitions? Let us know and we add the dates!
International Competitions
| Deadline | Finals | Name | Details |
| 22.10.2026 (SPIEL) | 12. / 13.6.2027 | Deutsches Nachwuchs-Spieleautor:innen-Stipendium (only available in German) | Competition organised by SAZ (German Game Desginers Association) to win an internship |
| January 2027 | May 2027 | International competition in the US All game inventors get feedback on their ptich |
|
| 8.02.2027 | September 2027 |
Italian competition dedicated to Alex Randolph |
|
| August / September 2027 | April / May 2028 | Hippodice Competition |
Long-running contest by the Hippodice game club in Bochum with an expert jury including publishers in the final round |
| Still to be announced | September 2027 | Concours de Boulogne-Billancourt | Oldest competition (since 1977) in France |
International Workshops
| Deadline | Event Date | Name | Details |
| 1.6. - 15.12.2026 |
5.2.2027 |
International Game Inventors Convention during the Nuremberg Toy Fair, DE |
Game designers pitch prototypes at their own tables to editors, publishers and agencies during the Nuremberg Toy Fair |
| open | 22.11.2026 | Prototype testing day in Haar near Munich, DE | Game designers test their prototypes with the experts from the Bavarian Games Archiv |
| open |
19.-21.2.2027 |
Protospiel STL in St. Louis, US |
Three-day playtest event where designers test each other's prototypes in a cooperative setting; publishers may attend. |
| open | 4.-6.6.2027 |
UK Games Expo 2027 – Publisher-Designer Track, Birmingham, UK |
Playtest Zone (Playtest UK) with bookable slots, 5-minute speed-dating pitches to publishers, a game design masterclass and networking. Entry ticket required. |
| Already fully booked | 12.-13.6.2027 | Game designers pitch prototypes at their own tables to editors, publishers and agencies |
