GEIW 2026 in Cologne to focus on attendee value

Global Esports Industry Week (GEIW) 2026 runs June 18–21 in Cologne alongside the IEM Cologne Counter‑Strike Major. The Esports Leaders conference takes place June 18–19 at the Hyatt Regency. The event is a joint initiative of The Esports Radar and the Esports Integrity Commission, with operational leadership from Sam Cooke, CEO of The Insights Group.

Organisers built the programme around dealmaking, strategy sessions, learning and networking timed to coincide with the IEM finals week. The main industry conference days are Thursday and Friday, June 18–19, with additional sessions and activities continuing through June 21. The schedule targets established esports executives and representatives from brands, agencies and public bodies preparing for the Esports World Cup in Paris.

Conference content at the Hyatt Regency will include Main Stage presentations and smaller roundtable sessions led by subject-matter experts. Confirmed speakers and session leads include Ralf Reichert, Perla Bloom, Raul Faria, Kristelle Lavallee and Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka. Workshops from WIPO and IGET are scheduled, and the Esports Leaders Honours will form part of the programme.

Organisers listed a range of confirmed attendees from consumer brands and hardware makers to teams and tournament operators. Names announced include adidas, Porsche, Expedia, Logitech G and ZOWIE; teams such as G2, Team Vitality, Team Liquid and FURIA; and operators including ESL FACEIT Group, BLAST, NODWIN and StarLadder. The event will host agencies, destination representatives, government delegations, investors and media. A GEIW mobile app will support scheduling and networking, and a dedicated networking area called The Hangout at the Hyatt Regency will provide exhibitors, catering and meeting space.

Sam Cooke described the event’s support for smaller companies and startups and pointed to past showcases that helped firms such as Shikenso, G‑Science and UNEVN expand their market positions. Cooke advised prospective attendees to be proactive in arranging meetings and networking, adding: “Attend, be enthusiastic and polite, and hustle for those meetings.” He also emphasised practical details that organisers expect to affect attendee experience:

We’re obsessed with ensuring the event is money and time well spent for everyone who walks through the door… The quality of the coffee matters just like it does the app and the ability to connect with others and know what’s on, where and when.

Organisers noted the event’s timing as an opportunity for organisations preparing for the Esports World Cup in Paris, which has a reported $75 million prize pool, and pointed to rail links between Paris and Cologne of under 3.5 hours. Commercial partners confirmed so far include title partner Runestone, host partner ESL FACEIT Group and supporting partners such as ZOWIE and Abios. Organisers said limited sponsorship inventory remains and that the full GEIW agenda and ticketing information are available on the event website, with the mobile app released to help attendees schedule meetings in advance.