Region’s biggest event Dubai Esports & Games Festival 2026 welcomes more than 43,000 people in a celebration of gaming, esports and digital innovation
Visitors
43,000+
Duration
17 Days
Tournaments
66 Esports
Prize Pool
AED 1 Million
A citywide celebration of gaming, esports, creativity and digital culture.
- ► Fifth edition welcomed fans, families, creators and professionals across 17 days
- ► 66 esports tournaments and the region’s biggest Cosplay Championship
- ► Prizes worth up to AED 1 million up for grabs
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 17 June 2026: The Dubai Esports & Games Festival (DEF) 2026 wrapped up its most ambitious, dynamic and expansive edition to date, welcoming more than 43,000 people as gamers, families, creators, students and entrepreneurs united for a citywide celebration of gaming, esports, creativity and digital culture.
Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the 17-day festival transformed Dubai into a vibrant destination where people could play, compete, learn, create and connect, while prizes worth up to AED 1 million were up for grabs.
From tournaments to playing iconic and retro games, to the inaugural DEF Education & Gaming Summit to spectacular Cosplay competitions, there was no shortage of activities — with the festival showcasing the popularity of gaming and how it’s bringing different communities and generations together in Dubai.
“The unprecedented scale and success of Dubai Esports & Games Festival 2026 reflects the continued evolution of gaming as a powerful force for entertainment, creativity, education and economic opportunity. As we continue to support the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, DEF remains an important platform for strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub for gaming, esports and digital innovation.”
Ahmed Al Khaja · CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE)
Ultimate Gaming Playground for Families, Friends and Fans
DEF’s flagship event GameExpo showed why it’s the ultimate gaming playground, delivering three days of non-stop entertainment, competition and immersive experiences for fans of all ages. Across the entire 36 hours of GameExpo, Dubai World Trade Centre welcomed visitors of over 100 different nationalities to experience the best of gaming and culture.
It became a powerful meeting point for gaming culture and creative expression. Among the names present were content creator AboFlah, UAE international footballer Yahya AlGhassani, Bahraini professional gamer Maryam Meher, Amjad “AngryBird” Al-Shalabi, and Evo champion Adel “Big Bird” Anouche, helping amplify the festival’s energy on the ground and online.
Enhancing the visitor experience were 12 immersive zones. The all-new Neo Tokyo District brought a full cinematic anime-meets-arcade atmosphere, the Amazon Battle Arena delivered a live-action competitive experience, and the Jetour Velocity Garage offered high-intensity racing simulations. Returning favourites such as the Gaming District housed more than 120 gaming machines, while 12,000 people visited the Just Dance stage and a further 12,000 played laser tag. To celebrate the UAE’s Year of Family, DEF’s first collaboration with LEGO introduced interactive building activities with 100,000 LEGO blocks sold throughout the event.
Competitive Gaming, Community Celebration and Prizes
A total of 66 esports tournaments were staged during the festival. People battled for glory in popular games from Valorant, Dota 2 and SIMR Racing Finals by TechXHub, while the high-energy finals on the du Main stage were cheered on by a passionate crowd.
Prizes with a total value of AED 1 million were claimed across a variety of tournaments, games and challenges. The Mystery Locker proved to be a big hit — visitors collected tickets by completing tasks and chose a door to receive a random reward, including gaming accessories, Funko Pops and Panini World Cup 2026 trading cards. DEF 2026 also created unforgettable fan moments through major prizes, including the Jetour T2 Luxury Plus giveaway, courtesy of Elite Group Holding.
GameExpo 2026 also provided an important platform for Emirati female gamers, giving them the opportunity to compete on the du Main Arena stage. Among the highly-anticipated matches was the Valorant female showcase between University of Wollongong and HCT College’s esports team, bringing Pixel Perfect’s Campus Masters Collegiate Esports League to a thrilling close — highlighting the expanding role of women in esports and reinforcing DEF’s commitment to a more inclusive platform for future talent.
Creativity, Cosplay and Local Talent Take Centre Stage
Creativity and self-expression were central to DEF 2026, with cosplay emerging as one of the festival’s most vibrant experiences. Over the weekend, more than 200 cosplayers took part in community catwalks, parades, meet-and-greets, performances and competitions, reflecting the continued growth of cosplay culture across the UAE and wider region.
At the heart of the celebrations was the Cosplay Village, a dedicated gathering space for fans, creators and performers. The programme culminated with the return of the Dubai Cosplay Championship, the region’s largest cosplay competition, where participants showcased exceptional craftsmanship, storytelling and stage performance.
Meanwhile, The Narrows, supported by Dubai Culture, spotlighted local and Emirati artists, designers and small businesses, with 80 SMEs in attendance offering artwork, collectibles and merchandise inspired by gaming, anime and pop culture. Members of the Dubai Gaming Committee visited GameExpo to explore the scale of the gaming scene, while Dubai Police previewed its Fortnite map.
Advanced Technology of Tomorrow
Innovation and what the future looks like was also in the spotlight. Dancing Unitree robots wowed visitors with their moves, performing 180 dance sets, while the Future Lab zone showcased the latest advancements in AI, robotics, VR and smart technology — including holographic gaming laptops and Tesla gaming technology. Visitors were also in awe of what gaming looks like through the powerful ASUS ROG XREAL R1 gaming glasses.
Future-Ready Learning and Career Development
The inaugural Education & Gaming Summit connected students, graduates, universities and industry leaders through networking opportunities, workshops, mentorship sessions and career-focused learning experiences. Alongside wider educational programming, DEF engaged students, graduates and educators, helping young people explore future pathways in gaming, technology and the creative industries.
City-Wide Celebration Across Dubai
Before GameExpo, the festival brought competitive gaming activations and Eid celebrations directly to some of Dubai’s most loved malls. As well as school tournaments, TechXHub took its professional sim racing machines to Nad Al Sheba and Nakheel Malls as part of the SIMR Challenge: Race to DEF — an official qualifier for the Grand Finals at GameExpo — while Red Bull hosted its iconic Gaming Ground at Dubai Festival City Mall with a “house rules” EAFC 26 tournament, Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart.
“DEF 2026 demonstrated exactly why gaming has become such a powerful force in Dubai. We witnessed parents and children playing side by side, creating lasting memories, while the Education & Gaming Summit saw students gain direct access to recruiters who could shape their future careers.”
Muna Al Falasi · Director of Esports and Games Strategy, DFRE
Aligned with the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the festival continues to connect entertainment, education, creativity and economic opportunity while contributing to the long-term growth of Dubai’s gaming and digital entertainment ecosystem. Next year’s DEF will return for its sixth edition from 9 to 25 April, with GameExpo taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre.
About Dubai Esports & Games Festival
Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the Dubai Esports & Games Festival (DEF 2026) takes place from 22 May to 7 June 2026. Launched in 2022, the annual festival aims to set and influence trends across the global and regional gaming industry, while bolstering Dubai’s position as a global hub for esports and interactive, tech-driven entertainment. DEF features a diverse mix of experiences, including flagship gaming events, esports tournaments, educational initiatives, and industry-led platforms that connect communities, talent and businesses from around the world.
About Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment
Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), is responsible for developing Dubai’s retail and festival sectors and supporting the positioning of Dubai as a world-class tourism destination with year-round family entertainment, shopping and events.
Media & Contact
Media inquiries: DFRE@sevenmedia.ae
Dubai Economy and Tourism: mediarelations@dubaidet.ae
Phone: +971 600 55 5559
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