October 8–9 Thursday, October 8 — Friday, October 9
Palace of Culture and Science (PKiN), Warsaw
Warsaw Becomes the Global Capital of Young Game Creators: Student Games Festival at the PKiN on October 8–9
Featuring 22 of the best student games from 10 countries, creators and experts from around the world, representatives from top game studios, debates on the future of education and the job market, and the ceremonial Best Student Game Awards gala—on October 8 and 9, the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw will transform into an international celebration of young game developers. This marks the second edition of the Student Games Festival, an event bridging the worlds of gaming, science, education, culture, and business. Admission to the entire festival is free.
Warsaw will soon once again serve as a gathering place for young game creators from all over the globe. The event is designed not only to showcase the most interesting student productions, but also to provide two days of networking, workshops, lectures, debates, and portfolio consultations with industry representatives. Organizers aim to create a space where young creators can present their projects while gaining the knowledge, connections, and skills needed to launch a career in gamedev.
22 Games from 10 Countries
A special festival zone will feature 22 top student games from 10 countries, selected from 192 submissions across 32 nations. The authors will be on-site, allowing the public, industry representatives, and fellow creators to meet the teams behind the nominated titles.
Additionally, the CV and Portfolio Zone will enable students to have their experience evaluated by experts from renowned game studios.
“This festival is for students and about students, which is why this year they are co-creating the event program with us. They know best what knowledge and support they need,” says Ewa Maria Szczepanowska, Director of the Festival.
A Program Developed in Collaboration with Universities
A major emphasis of this year’s edition is co-creating the festival alongside students themselves. The conference program is developed in cooperation with 12 student research circles from leading Polish universities that train future game developers and game studies scholars. As a result, workshops, lectures, and panel discussions directly address the real-world needs and challenges faced by newcomers to the industry.
Discussions will cover topics such as employer expectations, game production financing, and the relationship between education and a rapidly evolving industry. Panels will bring together representatives from the gaming sector, public institutions, academia, and culture. Furthermore, academics from Poland, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands will debate the challenges of educating future game creators.
Guests from Poland and Abroad
The Student Games Festival will offer opportunities to meet acclaimed creators and international experts. Special guests include Rami Ismail, a prominent independent developer and global indie scene expert, and Jakub Dvorský from the iconic Czech studio Amanita Design (creators of signature adventure games).
Creators behind major titles such as The Blood of Dawnwalker and The Witcher series will share insights into AAA development. Representatives and developers from companies like Bloober Team, CD Projekt RED, Larian, and festival patron 11 bit studios will also participate.
Polish-Czech Video Game Education and Culture Forum
A key highlight of this year’s edition is the Polish-Czech Video Game Education and Culture Forum, dedicated to strengthening collaboration between the Polish and Czech gaming sectors.
“To further boost international integration, this edition is organized in partnership with the Czech gaming community, whose history can be explored through the interactive ‘Infinite Universes’ exhibition,” notes Paweł Miechowski, Festival Organizer and game developer known from 11 bit studios.
The exhibition highlights the history of Czech gamedev and its key achievements. The forum operates under the honorary patronage of the Ambassador of the Czech Republic, in cooperation with the Czech Centre Warsaw, EUNIC (European Union National Institutes for Culture), and the Czech Game Developers Association (GDACZ).
Best Student Game Awards Gala
The festival will culminate in the ceremonial Best Student Game Awards gala on October 9 at 6:00 PM. Attendees will include public officials, cultural institution leaders, academics, industry professionals, and student creators.
Awards will be presented across four categories, alongside a special Amnesty International Award for the best game addressing human rights themes. The gala will be enhanced by a live performance from the music duo DVA.
Organizers: Fundacja Kultura Interaktywna, Capital City of Warsaw, Mazovia Voivodeship Self-Government. Co-financing: Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (Creative Sectors Development program) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland (Polish-Czech Forum 2026).
