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BitSummit 2026 shattered all attendance records in Kyoto. The indie festival's 77% surge marks a massive post-pandemic comeback for Japan's gaming scene.
This year, approximately 68,208 attendees turned up in Kyoto to witness BitSummit. Its schedule has also been interesting.
In 2025, around 58,065 people visited BitSummit, which means a 17% growth in audience. It's another year of growth since 2024, when 38,333 attended.
Foreign visitors greatly contribute to the festival's attendance count. In 2023, Japan kept tight control of its border in the post-COVID era. Therefore, the old edition attracted only about 24,000 visitors.
BitSummit 2026 had a total of 496 exhibitors. Furthermore, 125 general exhibitors were handpicked from 548 submissions made to the BitSummit.
The 2026 edition of the festival was held in May instead of its usual June dates. However, the next edition will likely take place on May 21, 2027, in Kyoto.
Game Festival Galore Awaits Fans in June 2026
BitSummit isn't the only game festival taking place in the summer this year. In June 2026, at least four game events are going to be held. The first is PlayStation's State of Play, kicking off on June 2, 2026.
Fans can expect brand new footage from the upcoming Marvel's Wolverine game by Insomniac Games. The showcase is set to be an hour-long and filled with interesting announcements.
Right after State of Play, the Summer Games Fest will set off on June 5, 2026. Several new games are expected during the Geoff Keighley-hosted event.
The summer schedule continues with several other showcases. The Xbox Games Showcase will air on June 7, 2026. Xbox's team has assured fans they'll get a new look at Gears of War: E-Day.
Finally, the June lineup will likely end with Nintendo Direct sometime in mid-June. However, a date is yet to be revealed.
Read more at Gaming Community by Max Level!
Written by
Prit Chauhan
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi