gamescom latam programs
gamescom latam programs consist of initiatives designed to establish strategic collaborations with organizations, institutions, and companies within the gaming and technology ecosystem, with the intention of providing scholarships, financial support, and additional benefits to the developer community.
These programs aim to expand access to education, encourage and foster emerging talent, and promote professional development in the gaming industry through incentives offered by gamescom latam, BIG Festival, and its partner network.
How to Apply to the Programs?
Interested individuals must apply directly through the various open calls, some managed by gamescom latam and others by partner organizations. Each partner has its own eligibility criteria, selection processes, and deadlines.
gamescom latam BIG Festival and BIG Starter Program
The BIG Festival offers a series of benefits for the best independent games selected as finalists. Around 100 games are chosen each year.
Each selected game receives:
- A complete booth with all the equipment, artwork, internet, and electricity. Fully ready for the final audience to play the game;
- Installation and games setup;
- A team of staff members providing support for the Festival area;
- B2B passes for one of the team members to do business with leading game industry professionals from around the world through our exclusive matchmaking platform integrated with gamescom biz;
- B2C passes for the game’s team to attend the event and celebrate the game’s presence;
- Participation in the BIG Awards, with prizes in multiple categories.
The BIG Starter Program offers an additional opportunity for Brazilian games that were not selected for the BIG Festival:
There are two participation options:
- Option 1 (Remote): a complete booth with all equipment, artwork, internet, and electricity. Fully ready for the final audience to play the game.
- Option 2 (On-site): a complete booth with artwork, internet, and electricity, but without equipment, which must be provided by the selected team. In return, financial support of BRL 2,000 is offered.
- B2B passes for one of the team members to do business with leading game industry professionals from around the world through our exclusive matchmaking platform integrated with gamescom biz;
- B2C passes for the game’s team to attend the event and celebrate the game’s presence;
Initiatives with the Games Industry
Call for Speakers – Opportunity to share your journey, teach relevant knowledge to other professionals, or highlight career-related topics within the games industry;
Rodadas de negócios – Here is where the magic of business happens! In 2025, our Business Meetings generated an estimated value of over USD 150 million. We provide B2B passes for select initiatives at gamescom latam, connecting studios with key players in the national and international games industry, and creating genuine opportunities for partnerships, networking, and new business development.
Latin American Meeting with Publishers – We offer a coffee break for Latin American finalists of the BIG Festival and invite publishers to promote networking, collaboration, and the strengthening of the LATAM games industry.
gamescom latam Content Guide – Inclusion of all the event games in the gamescom latam Content Guide, which is distributed to accredited influencers, press, and media partners shortly before the event, aiming to encourage gameplay, promotion, and media exposure;
Pitch@gamescom latam – Opportunity to present your game to a group of publishers and investors;
Abragames Pitch Arena – The Abragames Pitch Arena is a game pitch competition focused on showcasing games from Brazilian studios to investors and publishers;
Press – We invite over 300 national and international media outlets, providing a dedicated workspace and opportunities for interviews and special features with gaming industry icons and unique stores from independent developers;
Invitation to International Buyers by Brazil Games – Through the Buyer Project, the Brazil Games Sectorial Project invites and supports the participation of investors, publishers, and international media representatives – with strategic profiles and financial capacity – to visit Brazil and interact directly with Brazilian and Latin American studios. This initiative aims to foster business opportunities, partnerships, and international publications, contributing to the strengthening of the regional games ecosystem and enhancing the competitiveness of the nation’s industry in the global market. Invited buyers and media representatives are selected by a curatorial board composed of Abragames member entrepreneurs.
Fast Travel by Brazil Games – Fast Travel is an initiative of the Brazil Games Sectorial Project, expanding the regional reach of internationalization activities linked to the event. Leveraging the presence of international buyers invited and brought to gamescom latam by the Project, this initiative takes these professionals to other regions of Brazil, promoting connections with local developers through business meetings, mentoring sessions, and cultural immersion. The goal is to strengthen emerging studios outside the Southeast axis and increase their integration into global markets.
Empregos e Carreiras – Opportunity to find a job or a freelance position within the Brazilian and international games industry through direct contact with studios and other companies;
Brasil Direct, in partnership with regional associations – Brasil Direct is an initiative led by the Brazilian collective of state-level video game associations, with institutional support from Abragames. The program highlights games in the final stages of development from all regions of the country. The final stage takes place during gamescom latam, where the selected studios present their pitches to a specialized jury. Brasil Direct finalists also participate in the BIG Awards ceremony, where the winners receive the gamescom latam trophy, further enhancing their national and international visibility.
Influencers – A partnership program with 2K gaming influencers, including a dedicated lounge for content creators and networking;
Speed Meetings by Brazil Games – Complementing the opportunities offered at gamescom latam, the Brazil Games Sectoral Project is organizing an exclusive round of quick meetings between Brazilian companies and international buyers, divided into thematic sessions: External Development and Publishing. Each presentation lasts up to 3 minutes, facilitating quick connections, generating new business opportunities, and increasing visibility for participating studios. This initiative is limited to companies affiliated with the Brazil Games Project.
Latam Video Games Federation – Distribution of 60 passes for the federation members who wish to attend the event.
Discounts for Strategic Partners
Intending to facilitate access for game developers from Latin America and all around the world, gamescom latam offers an extensive discount program on tickets:
Abragames
(Brazilian Association of Game Developers)
35% discount on all tickets for members (except the Welcome Mixer);
Developers or delegations from Latin American countries
20% discount on all tickets for members (except the Welcome Mixer) + promotion of the games from Latin American delegations to the gamescom latam audience.
XRBR
(Brazilian Association of Extended Reality Companies and Professionals)
20% discount on all tickets for members (except the Welcome Mixer);
Traditional Audiovisual Associations
(Apaci, API, Bravi, Cinema do Brasil, Siaesp)
10% discount on all tickets for members (except the Welcome Mixer);
game association
(German Games Industry Association)
35% discount on all tickets for members (except the Welcome Mixer);
Regional Game Developer Associations
(more than 20 associations, including: SPJogos, ADJogosRS, ACJOGOS-RJ, ABRING, ACJogos-MG, AMAGames, ASCGAMES, ASCENDE Jogos, BIND, Playnambuco, Associação Game Dev ES, GameDevs Pará, PONG, Gameco, entre outros)
20% discount on all tickets for members (except the Welcome Mixer);
Abranima
(Brazilian Association of Animation Companies)
15% discount on all tickets for members (except the Welcome Mixer);
Education
Partnership with public schools of the São Paulo City Hall and the São Paulo State Government, providing free access to over 3K students from public schools. Students can play games and enjoy the event. They are also introduced to the various professional opportunities available.
Universities and Game Courses
- Members of partner courses and universities can purchase the regular ticket price to obtain the Start Pro ticket, which grants access to the B2B stages (excluding Business Meetings) and includes programming with leading professionals from the global gaming industry.
- Opportunity to be part of the event staff, with a certificate of participation;
Become a partner! Contact us
Social Initiatives
GRAACC
Partnership between GRAACC and the BIG Festival. The children act as the jury for the Best Game for Kids category of the Festival.
29 April - 3 May 2026 | Anhembi District, São Paulo, Brazil
Olavo Fontoura Avenue, 1209 – Santana, São Paulo