Loading Screen is a monthly round-up of free and paid game events, both online and in person. It brings together community meetups, talks, showcases, and festivals all in one place. Got an event coming up? Email loadingscreenjournal@gmail.com.

January Events 2026

9th January Bafta Games meetup, London (members)

14th January Game Republic - Team Special, Location TBD (paid event)

14th January Women in Games Monthly Social Network (free ticket/Donation)

19th -20th January Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026, London (paid event)

20th January Not At Pocket Gamer London, London (free)

28th January Game Republic - Trends and Opportunities for 2026, Manchester (paid event)

31st January Get into Games Festival: Birmingham, Birmingham (free)

January Monthly Meetups

IGDA, London (free)

January Game Jams

26th Jan - 1st Feb Global Game Jam (online)

26th Jan - 1st Feb Global Game Jam (online)

January 30th Global Game Jam 2026 @ Goldsmiths X GDL (free)

Game Dev Opportunities

New Game Plus showcase (Deadline 12th January)

Debug Indie showcase (free to exhibit)

Game Anglia Festival showcase (Deadline 23rd January)

Yorkshire Games Festival showcase 

GDC Festival of Gaming scholarship program (Deadline 16th January)

Future Events

6th February  Game Anglia Festival

11-22nd February  Yorkshire Games Festival, Yorkshire

20th February Guildford Games, Guildford

23rd February – March 2, 2026 Steam Next Fest, online

March 9-13th GDC , San Francisco

13th April -19th April London Games Festival

16th April Games meets Music -the B- Side, London

25th April Debug Games Festival, Norfolk Showground

14th-16th July Brighton Develop, Brighton

26th-30th August, gamescom, Cologne, Germany

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