✈️ When to Book Conference Tickets
Save money by booking at the right time. Early bird discounts can save you 20-40% on passes, and booking hotels early is crucial for popular conferences.
🎟️ Free
🎟️ Budget ($0-200)
🎟️ Mid ($200-800)
🎟️ Premium ($800+)
PAX East
May 22-25, 2026
🎟️ Price
$30 - $250
⏰ Early Bird
6+ months
📅 Best Time
5+ months before
PAX West
Aug 29 - Sep 1, 2026
🎟️ Price
$50 - $260
⏰ Early Bird
6+ months
📅 Best Time
5+ months before
Game Developers Conference (GDC)
Mar 17-21, 2026
🎟️ Price
$549 - $2499
⏰ Early Bird
5+ months
📅 Best Time
4+ months before
Reboot Develop Blue
Apr 23-25, 2026
🎟️ Price
€625 - €1745
⏰ Early Bird
4+ months
📅 Best Time
3+ months before
Devcom
Aug 17-18, 2026
🎟️ Price
€89 - €1799
⏰ Early Bird
4+ months
📅 Best Time
3+ months before
Nordic Game Conference
May 20-23, 2026
🎟️ Price
€199 - €449
⏰ Early Bird
4+ months
📅 Best Time
3+ months before
Develop:Brighton
Jul 8-10, 2026
🎟️ Price
£100 - £1270
⏰ Early Bird
3+ months
📅 Best Time
2+ months before
Gamelab Barcelona
Jun 25-27, 2026
🎟️ Price
$200-800
⏰ Early Bird
3+ months
📅 Best Time
2+ months before
Gamescom
Aug 20-24, 2026
🎟️ Price
€15 - €64
⏰ Early Bird
3+ months
📅 Best Time
2+ months before
D.I.C.E. Summit
Feb 11-13, 2026
🎟️ Price
$3350
⏰ Early Bird
3+ months
📅 Best Time
2+ months before
Unite
Sep 22-24, 2026
🎟️ Price
€799
⏰ Early Bird
3+ months
📅 Best Time
2+ months before
GCAP (Game Connect Asia Pacific)
Oct 7-9, 2026
🎟️ Price
A$200 - A$599
⏰ Early Bird
3+ months
📅 Best Time
2+ months before
The Game Awards
Dec 11-11, 2026
🎟️ Price
$251 - $1506
⏰ Early Bird
2+ months
📅 Best Time
2+ months before
Taipei Game Show
Jan 23-26, 2026
🎟️ Price
NT$500
⏰ Early Bird
2+ months
📅 Best Time
1+ months before
BitSummit
Jul 18-20, 2026
🎟️ Price
¥1000 - ¥20000
⏰ Early Bird
2+ months
📅 Best Time
1+ months before
Unreal Fest
May 6-8, 2026
🎟️ Price
Free
⏰ Early Bird
2+ months
📅 Best Time
1+ months before
Tokyo Game Show
Sep 25-28, 2026
🎟️ Price
¥1500 - ¥10000
⏰ Early Bird
2+ months
📅 Best Time
1+ months before
Brasil Game Show
Oct 8-12, 2026
🎟️ Price
R$218 - R$2199
⏰ Early Bird
2+ months
📅 Best Time
1+ months before
IndieCade
Oct 10-12, 2026
🎟️ Price
$45 - $155
⏰ Early Bird
2+ months
📅 Best Time
1+ months before
| Conference | Date | 🎟️ Price | Early Bird | Best Time to Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAX East | May 22-25, 2026 | $30 - $250 | 6+ months | 5+ months before |
| PAX West | Aug 29 - Sep 1, 2026 | $50 - $260 | 6+ months | 5+ months before |
| Game Developers Conference (GDC) | Mar 17-21, 2026 | $549 - $2499 | 5+ months | 4+ months before |
| Reboot Develop Blue | Apr 23-25, 2026 | €625 - €1745 | 4+ months | 3+ months before |
| Devcom | Aug 17-18, 2026 | €89 - €1799 | 4+ months | 3+ months before |
| Nordic Game Conference | May 20-23, 2026 | €199 - €449 | 4+ months | 3+ months before |
| Develop:Brighton | Jul 8-10, 2026 | £100 - £1270 | 3+ months | 2+ months before |
| Gamelab Barcelona | Jun 25-27, 2026 | $200-800 | 3+ months | 2+ months before |
| Gamescom | Aug 20-24, 2026 | €15 - €64 | 3+ months | 2+ months before |
| D.I.C.E. Summit | Feb 11-13, 2026 | $3350 | 3+ months | 2+ months before |
| Unite | Sep 22-24, 2026 | €799 | 3+ months | 2+ months before |
| GCAP (Game Connect Asia Pacific) | Oct 7-9, 2026 | A$200 - A$599 | 3+ months | 2+ months before |
| The Game Awards | Dec 11-11, 2026 | $251 - $1506 | 2+ months | 2+ months before |
| Taipei Game Show | Jan 23-26, 2026 | NT$500 | 2+ months | 1+ months before |
| BitSummit | Jul 18-20, 2026 | ¥1000 - ¥20000 | 2+ months | 1+ months before |
| Unreal Fest | May 6-8, 2026 | Free | 2+ months | 1+ months before |
| Tokyo Game Show | Sep 25-28, 2026 | ¥1500 - ¥10000 | 2+ months | 1+ months before |
| Brasil Game Show | Oct 8-12, 2026 | R$218 - R$2199 | 2+ months | 1+ months before |
| IndieCade | Oct 10-12, 2026 | $45 - $155 | 2+ months | 1+ months before |
💡 General Booking Tips
🎟️ Conference Passes
Early bird discounts typically save 20-40%. Sign up for newsletters to get notified when registration opens. Some conferences (like PAX) sell out within hours.
✈️ Flights
Book 6-8 weeks before for domestic, 2-3 months for international. Use Google Flights to track prices and set alerts.
🏨 Hotels
Conference hotels sell out fast, especially for GDC and Gamescom. Book as soon as dates are announced, even if refundable. Consider staying slightly further out for better rates.
📅 Combo Trips
Some conferences are close in time/location: Devcom + Gamescom (Cologne, August), Nordic Game + Reboot Develop (Europe, spring). Plan multi-conference trips to save on travel.
🎟️ Price Range Guide
🎟️ Free
$0
- Usually requires registration
- May have limited capacity
- Often B2B/trade focused
Examples: Unreal Fest, Taipei Game Show (B2B)
🎟️ Budget
$0-200
- Consumer-friendly events
- Day passes available
- Often sell out quickly
Examples: PAX, Gamescom, Tokyo Game Show
🎟️ Mid-Range
$200-800
- Developer-focused events
- Good networking opportunities
- Multi-day passes common
Examples: Develop:Brighton, Nordic Game, Reboot Develop
🎟️ Premium
$800+
- Major industry events
- Multiple pass tiers
- Significant early bird savings
Examples: GDC, D.I.C.E. Summit
📚 Getting the Most from Conferences
📋 Before You Go
- Book early - Most conferences offer early bird rates 3-6 months ahead
- Plan your schedule - Review the agenda and prioritize must-see talks
- Set up meetings - Use the conference app to schedule networking
- Prepare your pitch - Have a 30-second intro ready
🎯 At the Conference
- Arrive early - Beat the crowds and get good seats
- Take notes - Capture key insights and follow-up items
- Network actively - Talk to people in lines and at booths
- Visit the expo - Discover new tools and meet vendors
✅ After the Conference
- Follow up quickly - Connect on LinkedIn within 48 hours
- Share learnings - Write up key takeaways for your team
- Apply insights - Implement at least one new idea immediately