NZGDC 2026, the New Zealand Game Developers Conference, runs 30 September–3 October 2026 at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) in Auckland, themed 'Shaping Our World'. Organised by the NZGDA, it returns to Auckland after nearly a decade in Wellington.
The New Zealand Game Developers Conference (NZGDC) 2026 runs from 30 September to 3 October 2026 at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) in Auckland, under the theme "Shaping Our World". It is New Zealand's premier gathering for the game development industry and, after nearly a decade of editions in Wellington, marks the conference's return to Auckland.
NZGDC is produced by the not-for-profit New Zealand Game Developers Association (NZGDA), with Joy Keene as Executive Director; the 2026 edition is supported by Auckland Council. The theme "Shaping Our World" frames the programme around intentional creation, collaboration and the human process of building games that matter.
The conference is aimed at game developers, studios, publishers, investors and students across the local and international games industry, spanning talks, an NZGDA pitch event, investor and publisher sessions, and an industry AI Hui. Its flagship Kiwi Games Zone showcases more than 100 New Zealand-developed games across the three conference days, with a public open day on the Saturday welcoming players, families and students. It anchors the wider Auckland Games Week programme.
The NZICC is Auckland's purpose-built convention centre in the central city, placing delegates within walking distance of the city's largest concentration of hotels, dining and transport. Its CBD location offers ready access to Auckland's public transport network and is roughly a 40-minute drive from Auckland Airport, easing movement for domestic and international attendees. NZGDC directs delegates to flight and accommodation guidance via its "Fly + Stay" page.
NZGDC is a marquee technology-sector business event for New Zealand, drawing an international creative-industries audience to Auckland at a time when the country's games sector is valued at around NZ$1bn. Its return to Auckland and move into the newly operational NZICC underscore the venue's role in anchoring high-value knowledge-economy conferences and the broader visitor economy around them.
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