SPIEL Essen 2026 sold out completely and welcomed 230,000 people across its four days in Essen, Germany, organizers announced on Sunday, October 25, 2026, beating the previous record of 220,000 visitors set in 2025.
- Event: SPIEL Essen 2026
- Organizer: Merz Verlag
- Dates: Thursday, October 22 to Sunday, October 25, 2026
- Venue: Messe Essen, Essen, Germany
- Attendance: 230,000 people
- Tickets: Sold out, online only, no on-site sales
- Link: SPIEL Essen official news page
How many people came to SPIEL Essen 2026?
230,000 people attended SPIEL Essen 2026, according to the organizers. In their October 25 news update, the organizers said that by Sunday afternoon even the last ticket had been sold out, and that SPIEL welcomed 230,000 people to the venue. The 2026 fair used all 8 halls of Messe Essen for the first time, covering 81,200 square meters, with 921 exhibitors from 53 countries.
| Year | Attendance | Exhibitors | Countries | Exhibition space |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 220,000 | 948 | 50 | 77,500 square meters |
| 2026 | 230,000 | 921 | 53 | 81,200 square meters |
Is 230,000 a new record for SPIEL Essen?
Yes. SPIEL Essen 2025 closed with 220,000 visitors, which the organizers called a new visitor record at the time, beating the previous record from 2019. Before the 2026 fair, the organizers said a maximum of 230,000 gaming enthusiasts would be able to attend and that SPIEL Essen 2026 was expected to set a new attendance record. The 230,000 reported on Sunday matches that maximum. Saturday tickets sold out first, on Friday, October 2, 2026, and Friday tickets followed on Friday, October 16, 2026. Full dates, ticket prices and hall details are in our SPIEL Essen 2026 guide.
What else happened at SPIEL Essen 2026?
The fair also hosted the Golden Demon painting competition, where Maxime Penaud won the Slayer Sword, and the first TCG Awards, where Star Wars: Unlimited won Game of the Year.
Source: SPIEL Essen official news and the SPIEL Essen 2025 closing press release.
Image: SPIEL Essen / Merz Verlag.
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