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Dubai Esports & Games Festival is Back — And It’s Going Bigger Than Ever

The citywide gaming takeover returns from May 8 to 24, 2026, with GameExpo, cosplay battles, and major family-friendly action.

  • Publish date: since 12 hour Reading time: 1 min read Last update: since 3 hours
Dubai Esports & Games Festival is Back — And It’s Going Bigger Than Ever

Clear your calendar. The Dubai Esports & Games Festival (DEF) is coming back from May 8 to 24, 2026 — and this is set to be its biggest edition yet.

Now in its fifth year, the festival has grown fast since launching in 2022, turning into one of the region’s major esports and gaming events. In 2025 alone, it pulled in over 45,000 fans, families, and industry pros across 12 events in just 17 days.

What’s Happening This Year

DEF 2026 is leaning into youth culture and family fun, in line with the UAE’s “Year of the Family.” Expect multi-generational vibes — whether you’re a hardcore gamer, a casual player, or just there for the energy.

Fan favorites are making a comeback, including:

  • GameExpo

  • GameExpo Summit powered by PG Connects

  • Play Beyond

  • Dubai Cosplay Championship

On top of that, new large-scale interactive experiences are being added to keep things fresh for students, creators, and gaming communities.

GameExpo Takes Over DWTC

The headline event, GameExpo, runs from May 22 to 24 at Dubai World Trade Centre, Zabeel Halls 2 and 3.

Think 10 themed zones, more than 100 gaming consoles, live tournament stages, and interactive areas where you can compete, spectate, or just jump in and play. It’s basically a full-on gaming playground under one roof.

How to Join

Registration is now open for fans, students, teachers, and industry players who want updates on DEF 2026.

Tickets for GameExpo are already up on Platinumlist — so if you’re planning to go, it’s probably smart to lock that in early.

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