The UK’s games industry is gearing up for a significant gathering as Pocket Gamer Connects London prepares to host an estimated 3,000 attendees on and . The event, positioned as the first major industry conference of the year, will bring together a diverse mix of game makers, investors, and industry leaders to discuss the future of gaming and related technologies.
This year’s conference boasts a particularly strong representation from both established giants and emerging studios. Companies like Supercell, Tencent, Rovio, Meta, Google, Duolingo, TikTok, Scopely, King, Amazon, NetEase, EA, and PlayStation are all expected to be present, alongside a multitude of smaller developers and publishers. The breadth of representation highlights the event’s appeal across the entire games ecosystem, encompassing mobile, PC, console, AI, HTML5, XR, and even applications extending beyond traditional gaming.
Pocket Gamer Connects London isn’t solely focused on game development itself. The event aims to facilitate connections across all facets of the industry, including publishers, investors, platform holders, service providers, and tool developers. Structured networking sessions and expert-led talks are designed to refine strategies and foster potential partnerships. The event’s organizers emphasize its role in enabling “business-changing decisions” for attendees.
A key component of the conference is its speaker lineup, currently numbering 290 individuals. These speakers represent a wide range of expertise, including platform leadership, game studio management, monetization strategies, and industry advocacy. Notably, the lineup extends beyond traditional gaming companies to include leaders from transmedia and prominent application developers like Duolingo and TikTok. This inclusion reflects the increasing convergence between gaming and other digital entertainment sectors.
The event’s scope has expanded for 2026, with capacity increased to accommodate over 1,000 attendees. New features include “The Retreat,” designed to provide a more exclusive networking environment, as well as dedicated vertical forums and a more structured meetings program. These additions suggest a deliberate effort to enhance the quality and efficiency of networking opportunities for attendees.
The Business of Apps London conference, taking place on at The Brewery, is also shaping up to be a significant event for the app industry. With over 70 speakers planned across more than 30 sessions, the conference will focus on app growth, product development, and revenue generation. The event aims to bring together leaders from a variety of sectors, including fintech, eCommerce, media, subscription services, and retail.
The Business of Apps London conference has also recently confirmed additional speakers. The event will feature a larger capacity of over 1000 attendees this year.
Alongside Pocket Gamer Connects London and Business of Apps London, the BITC Member Conference is also scheduled to take place in London in 2026. Speakers at this conference include Kirstie Mackey OBE and Rebecca Mear, CEO at Voscur. The conference is scheduled for .
The increasing number of industry events scheduled in London during the first quarter of 2026 underscores the city’s growing importance as a hub for the technology and gaming sectors. These conferences provide valuable opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and deal-making, and are likely to play a significant role in shaping the future of these industries.
Pocket Gamer Connects London, in particular, appears to be positioning itself as a central meeting point for the global games industry. With its diverse attendee base, comprehensive speaker lineup, and expanded networking opportunities, the event is well-placed to facilitate the conversations and collaborations that will drive innovation and growth in the year ahead. The event’s focus on emerging technologies like AI and XR suggests a forward-looking approach, recognizing the potential of these technologies to transform the gaming landscape.
