GDEX 2026
About GDEX 2026
GDEX is the Midwest's premier gaming expo and game-developer conference, located in or near Columbus, Ohio. GDEX 2026 will take place October 15-18, 2026 at the Cherry Valley Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, and is the event's 14th year.
GDEX is a weekend-long celebration of games combining a public expo showcase with a professional game-development conference. The schedule runs as follows:
- GDEX Dev Day: Thursday, October 15, 2026 (conference / no expo floor)
- GDEX Expo: Friday through Sunday, October 16-18, 2026 (Fri-Sun public expo)
What to expect
- Nearly 100 game developers showcasing new, unreleased, and indie games, VR, and creative technology.
- A large artist alley featuring illustrators and creative works.
- Educational sessions, workshops, and panels led by game-industry professionals.
- Publisher and investor round tables, plus publisher pitch competitions.
- The GDEX Underworld free-play and tournament area with arcades, pinball, retro games, and prize giveaways.
- The GDEX Awards Ceremony celebrating the best of the show.
- Charity raffles and community events throughout the weekend.
Attendance modes
GDEX serves both game developers (professional, hobbyist, and student) and players, offering networking, speaking sessions, tournaments, and one of a kind showcases in the Midwest. Tickets are sold via Eventeny, and exhibitor, speaker, sponsor, and donor applications are available on the official site.
Source: official GDEX website (thegdex.com), verified August 2026.
Register for entry or booths
Venue Map and Hotels Around
Columbus - Cherry Valley Hotel, Ohio, United States