Deadlines for events
All upcoming (and past) deadlines for showcase sessions, awards, expo, festival, competition, networking and other events targeted towards indies, studios & individuals. Some of the listed entries are part of a bigger events, conferences or summits and they require valid registration (conference / event pass).
Subscribe to the calendar to be reminded about upcoming deadlines and get notifications 2 and 7 days before the deadline. Reminders are automated. Only events with set deadlines are included in the calendar. For calendar of events and conferences follow this link.
Missing an event? Submit it, or reach out! Looking for past events / deadlines? Delete “open” from the search box.
| DEADLINE | EVENT | SUBMISSION FEE | EVENT DATE | STATUS | TYPE | REGION | LOCATION | WEBSITE | DESCRIPTION | STATUS | TYPE | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A |  | Black Game Developer Fund | Free | N/A | CLOSED | Funding | North America | Worldwide | https://blackgamedevfund.com/apply/ | Once an application has been completed, the BGDF committee conducts a thorough review based on an evolving set of considerations, including existing BGDF projects, current trends, team composition and capabilities for completing the project, and likelihood of critical and commercial success. | CLOSED | Funding | |
| N/A |  | SideQuest X Creature Indie VR Fund | Free | N/A | CLOSED | Funding | North America | Worldwide | https://www.creature.page/developer-fund | The SideQuest X Creature Indie VR Fund is a collaboration built to empower indie VR developers and supplement other funding sources. If you’re interested in having your game evaluated for possible funding and access to Creature’s label services. | CLOSED | Pitching, Funding | |
| 6 Jan |  | Games Finance Market | £325 (After Acceptance) | 8 – 9 Apr | CLOSED | Funding | Europe | London, United Kingdom | https://festival.games.london/gfm/registration | The Games Finance Market is the UK’s largest curated B2B initiative, taking place every year during the London Games Festival. This event connects established games businesses and new games start-ups with investors, publishers and platforms. The 2025 Games Finance Market takes place on 8 – 9 April. | CLOSED | Pitching | |
| 6 Jan |  | New Game Plus @ London Games Festival | N/A | 2 – 13 Apr | CLOSED | Onsite Showcase | Europe | London, United Kingdom | https://festival.games.london/profile/find | Seeking the best upcoming games from around the world. Games must be unreleased but can be on any platform. Every selected game gets an exhibition slot at our new expo New Game Plus. | CLOSED | Showcase | |
| 15 Jan |  | BIG Festival @ gamescom LATAM EXTENDED | Free | 30 Apr – 4 May | CLOSED | Awards Showcase Steam Showcase | South America | São Paulo, Brazil | https://latam.gamescom.global/en/big-festival-en/ | Every year, we select the 100 best and most innovative games from around the world, making them available first-hand for the public to play. Since 2024, the BIG Festival takes place inside gamescom latam. | CLOSED | Showcase, Awards, Steam Showcase | |
| 16 Jan |  | European Game Showcase | Free | 17 Mar | CLOSED | Onsite Showcase | North America | San Francisco, California | https://europeangameshowcase.com/the-european-game-showcase-will-return-to-gdc-in-2025-in-a-new-location/ | The European Game Showcase will be back at GDC in 2025. On Wednesday (!), March 19, we will host our annual showcase with fresh games from Europe, first time at (!) the Children‘s Creativity Museum in San Francisco, right next to the GDC venue, to help developers with great connections. | CLOSED | Showcase | |
| 24 Jan |  | DevGAMM Showcase + Digital Vikings Awards | Free | 27 – 28 Feb | OPEN | Onsite Showcase Steam Showcase Awards | Europe | Gdańsk, Poland | https://devgamm.com/gdansk2025/game-activities/ | For the third time, this competition for game developers from the Baltic region is bringing together the most anticipated games from the area. Submission form covers Steam Event, Showcase and Pitching activities during DevGAMM Gdansk. | OPEN | Awards, Pitching, Showcase | |
| 24 Jan |  | Game Anglia Festival Showcase | Free | 6 Feb | OPEN | Onsite Showcase | Europe | Ipswich, United Kingdom | https://www.gameanglia.co.uk/festival/ | This year’s event on February 6th will feature a showcase area dedicated to game developers – students and indies. There is a limited number of slots available, the more polished your game is, the higher the chance it will be showcased. | OPEN | Showcase | |
| 31 Jan |  | A Maze Award | 50€ | 16 May | OPEN | Awards | Europe | Berlin, Germany | https://2025.award.amaze-berlin.de | A MAZE./ is looking for works pushing the medium of playful arts – fully finished works, demos, experiments, interactive performances, installations, immersive theater or prototypes are welcome! Submissions are 50€ (35€ early bird until Jan 31). | OPEN | Awards | |
| 31 Jan |  | Games For Change Awards NEW | Free | TBA Summer | OPEN | Awards | North America | N/A | https://festival.gamesforchange.org/2025-awards | The annual G4C Awards celebrates the year’s best games and immersive experiences that transcend traditional entertainment, championing social impact, fostering learning, and pushing the boundaries of interactive media. Following an expert-led evaluation process, 3 titles will emerge as finalists in each of the 12 competitive award categories and will be highlighted at the Games for Change Festival. | OPEN | Awards | |
| 31 Jan |  | TactiCon 2025 | Free | TBA Jul | OPEN | Steam Showcase | Europe | Steam | https://www.tacticon.games/ | TactiCon is a digital convention hosted on Steam celebrating strategy video games. TactiCon highlights the brilliant and creative minds who develop strategy games and gathers the players who love them. | OPEN | Showcase | |
| 3 Feb |  | Courage XL NEW | 200€ After Acceptance | 16 Mar | OPEN | Onsite Showcase | North America | San Francisco, California | https://courage.events/event/courage-xl-2025/ | The most informal and friendly Indie Showcase, happening just before GDC. Over 50 indie developers will present their work at the Great Northern in San Francisco on Sunday evening, right before GDC begins. It’s the perfect place to break the ice for a week full of networking, mingling, and partying. | OPEN | Showcase | |
| 7 Feb |  | MIX Spring Showcase NEW | $600 (After Acceptance) | 17 Mar | OPEN | Onsite Showcase Steam Showcase | North America | San Francisco & Steam | https://mediaindieexchange.com/showcases/spring-game-showcases-2025 | The Spring Game Showcase for GDC week continues the partnership from last Spring. We’re working together to help raise visibility for developers and publishers from around the world through online and in person formats, including Steam event page. Online + OnSite Showcase & Live Interviews | OPEN | Showcase | |
| 28 Feb |  | Bitsummit | ¥2,750 | 18 – 20 Jul | OPEN | Onsite Showcase | Asia | Kyoto, Japan | https://bitsummit.org/en/entry-to-bitsummit-the-13th-summer-of-yokai-is-now-open/ | BitSummit the 13th Summer of Yokai will be held on 18 (Fri), 19 (Sat) and 20 (Sun) July 2025 at the Kyoto Municipal Industrial Exhibition Hall, Miyakomesse. | OPEN | Showcase | |
| 28 Feb |  | International Serious Play Awards | $250 – $400 | TBA Aug | OPEN | Awards | North America | Rochester, NY | https://www.judgify.me/SeriousPlayAwards2025 | International Serious Play Awards honor outstanding learning products that incorporate game elements to further education or training. Entries can be submitted by professional studios, in-house training teams, consultants, universities, and/or students. | OPEN | Awards | |
| 13 Mar |  | NYX Game Awards 2025 | $290 | 9 May | OPEN | Awards | North America | Virtual | https://nyxgameawards.com/game-awards.php | A prestigious international competition that recognizes unmatched creativity and technical excellence in the gaming industry! The NYX Game Awards recognizes and celebrates the contributions of professionals who are passionate about the gaming world. | OPEN | Awards | |
| 21 Mar |  | Indie Blast & Awards @ Games Gathering Lviv NEW | Conference Pass | 3 – 6 Apr | OPEN | Awards Onsite Showcase | Europe | Lviv, Ukraine | https://www.ggconference.com/en/conference/games-gathering-2025-lviv/indie-blast-en/ | Are you an indie developer and do you have a game? Then Indie Blast is the best opportunity for you to showcase your game at your personalized booth! | OPEN | Awards, Showcase | |
| 31 Mar |  | Cerebral Puzzle Showcase NEW | Free | 29 May – 5 Jun | OPEN | Steam Showcase | Europe | Steam | https://www.cerebralpuzzleshowcase.com | The Cerebral Puzzle Showcase is returning on May 29th – June 5th 2025. Use the form to submit your games for inclusion in the showcase. Please note that the showcase is highly curated. | OPEN | Steam Showcase | |
| 18 Apr |  | GameDevHeroes NEW | Free | TBA Jul | OPEN | Awards | Europe | Brighton, UK | https://gamedevheroes.co/nominations-2025/ | This is your chance to recognize the incredible individuals who make game development possible—from coders and designers to artists, producers, QA testers, and every unsung hero in between. Nominate your heroes and let their hard work, creativity, and dedication be celebrated. | OPEN | Awards | |
| 31 May |  | ChinaJoy x Game Connection GAME Awards NEW | Free | TBA Aug | OPEN | Awards | Asia | Shanghai, China | https://www.game-connection.com/indie-game-development-awards-chinajoy/ | The contest is open to console, mobile, social, casual, and online games with no restriction on genre, platform, or distribution method. All submissions are assessed by the Judging Committee of international experts. | OPEN | Awards | |
| 30 Jun |  | ChinaJoy x Game Connection GAME Festival NEW | Free | TBA Jul | OPEN | Steam Showcase | Europe | Steam | https://www.game-connection.com/chinajoy-x-game-connection-indie-game-festival-2025/ | ChinaJoy x Game Connection GAME Festival aims to promote new, entertaining, creative, and high-quality games having market potential to players and media worldwide, and will be presented online on Steam & Steam China. The event is expected to take place on Steam and Steam China from August. | OPEN | Showcase | |
| 6 Jun |  | PitchYaGame | Free | 6 Jun | OPEN | Pitching Showcase | Europe | Twitter / X | https://pitchyagame.com | #PitchYaGame is a voluntary movement showcasing independent video games all across the world; pitched live twice a year, in June and November. | OPEN | Pitching, Showcase | |
| 7 Nov | | PitchYaGame | Free | 7 Nov | OPEN | Pitching Showcase | Europe | Twitter / X | https://pitchyagame.com | #PitchYaGame is a voluntary movement showcasing independent video games all across the world; pitched live twice a year, in June and November. | OPEN | Pitching, Showcase | |
| N/A |  | Outersloth Funding | Free | N/A | OPEN | Funding | Europe | Worldwide | https://www.innersloth.com/outersloth/ | Outersloth is for indie developers looking for funds to get their game off the ground or some extra money to finish it. This is a recoup and revshare model, and we’ve consulted with others to ensure it’s at a competitive rate that keeps your sustainability in mind. | OPEN | Funding | |
| N/A |  | MENA Hero Project | Free | N/A | OPEN | Funding | Asia | MENA | https://www.playstation.com/en-sk/mena-hero-project/?country-selector=true | The MENA Hero Project is fueled by this commitment and our belief in the MENA gaming market. The MENA Hero Project will support game developers based in the following countries: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia. | OPEN | Funding | |
| N/A |  | India Hero Project (IHP) | Free | N/A | OPEN | Funding | Asia | India | https://www.playstation.com/en-in/local/india-hero-project/ | “India Hero Project (IHP)” is a new incubator program focused on identifying and supporting emerging talent from the region. This India-centric program was launched by Sony Interactive Entertainment for Indian game developers. Applicants can apply for a minimum of 100,000 US dollars. | OPEN | Funding |