Expo Gamers 2026 Program Announced

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On May 29 and 30, Opatija will become the center of the European gaming world. The third edition of the leading regional conference and entertainment fair, Expo Gamers, has released its official and richest-ever schedule.

An impressive lineup of international guests, video game industry legends, and representatives of today’s most powerful gaming companies – such as Larian Studios, Electronic Arts (EA), Supercell, and Housemarque, as well as regional giants like Nanobit, Outfit7, Mad Head Games, and Croteam – is arriving at the sunny Adriatic riviera, specifically the Marino Cvetković sports hall, confirming this event’s status as a key gamedev gathering in the region.

Over two days, Expo Gamers brings together the industry and fans through a unique blend of a conference program for both the general public and industry professionals, a series of top-notch workshops for students and professionals alike, as well as the indispensable fair area featuring games, competitions, tournaments, exhibitors, and fun zones. Visitors can also enjoy the beer garden and craft beers.

Exclusive “Baldur’s Gate 3” Spectacle and Meet & Greet

The biggest attraction of this year’s edition is undoubtedly the arrival of key creatives behind the massively popular and multi-award-winning game “Baldur’s Gate 3”. Arriving in Opatija are Tim Downie (Gale), Andrew Wincott (Raphael), and Borislav Slavov, the award-winning composer responsible for the game’s unforgettable soundtrack.

Visitors will be able to hear them speak on several panels, with the highlight for fans being the Meet & Greet Area, where they can take photos with them and get autographs on exclusive posters on Friday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM and Saturday from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Detailed Conference Program Overview

On Friday, May 29, on the Creative Track stage, open to all ticket types, the program opens at 11:00 AM. Key presentations include panels on regional cooperation titled “The Alps-Adriatic: Building Giants in the Heart of Europe,” a discussion on the gamedev evolution of domestic giants “From Garage to Millions,” and a lecture on financing games and films through EU funds. Acting star Tim Downie will talk about the experience of building the character Gale, and Borislav Slavov will teach about the role of music in video game storytelling. The day ends with a large gaming quiz organized by quiz masters from the Rijeka quiz scene.

On the Business Track stage, intended for industry professionals, the program includes panels on investing and revenue diversification for small studios, a lecture on unconventional approaches to success, and how to find and approach the right publishers. Discussions will also cover the burning topic of artificial intelligence, outsourcing as a business model, global success strategies from small ecosystems, and video game design for a global audience.

Saturday, May 30, on the Creative Track stage, also offers a rich program: a conversation with honorary guest Andrew Wincott and a joint mega-panel with three honorary guests on the theme “The Voice & Music of a Masterpiece – Baldur’s Gate 3.” For all young people, pupils, and students, those wanting to enter the video game industry, a key panel is “So, You Want My Job? Breaking into the giants of industry,” featuring leading regional and world experts. The day ends with another large gaming quiz.

The Business Track program on Saturday focuses on scaling game design for global markets, strategies for mass success, and a lecture on inclusivity: “No diversity, No games: Why inclusion is no longer optional.” Important topics on Saturday also include curriculum preparation and educational programs in gaming education, workshops on music in video games, as well as a workshop on credits and acknowledgments for developers and collaborators in video games. The program is rounded off by a panel of top speakers on visualizing and structuring combat in video games.

Professional Workshops for the General Public

This year, Expo Gamers offers six professional workshops by top experts, delivered in English, four of which are open to the general public – students, hobbyists, and professionals are all welcome. Esha Lovric leads the workshop “Thinking behind Success: Mindset, Culture, and Intelligence for Women in Tech & Business,” which is exclusively for women.

Nick Sweetman leads a practical and interactive workshop, “Target Your Game Art Portfolio and Get Hired,” on improving portfolios according to the current expectations of AAA studios. Julie La’Bassiere, Executive Director of BAFTA New York, and Marketing Director for Tribeca Enterprises, leads the workshop “Brand like a Pro: Building a Resonating Presence / Identity,” offering an exclusive opportunity to learn about creative strategy and branding from an entertainment industry veteran.

The workshop “Building a Strong Illustration Portfolio (What Matters from an Art Director’s View)” is led by Iga Oliwiak, offering advice on creating a portfolio that wins over employers.

Entertainment Fair, Exhibitors, and Esports Tournaments

The entertainment part of the fair offers all-day activities: tournaments in Valorant and League of Legends on PCs, and tournaments in FC26 and Tekken 8 on PlayStation consoles. Računala.hr Esports Zone brings 1v1 challenges in Trackmania against influencer Pabs, and the popular title Fortnite 1v1 challenge against well-known influencer Galle Sandalla.

The fair also brings a Retro Zone where it will be possible to try out old consoles and retro games, and visitors can have additional fun through various games and activations, at the fun booths of exhibitors, and in the outdoor area.

This year’s Expo Hall offers a rich selection of exhibitors connecting gaming with technology, education, esports, and geek culture. Visitors can expect VR and racing simulators brought by Unreal89 VR Experience, as well as formula cars and simulation systems from Rijeka’s RiTeh Racing Team.

Algebra Bernays University, the only Croatian university with gaming study programs, is also arriving at the event, while Gauss Development represents the local IT scene. The gaming and esports segment is further enhanced by Računala.hr with its tournament and sales zone, and Trinity Airsoft is preparing a special airsoft challenge.

For fans of geek and gaming merchandise, Puna kolica and Chichi’s Emporium ANIME SHOP are present, while Fanta and Kviki will present their gaming-oriented brand activations and content for the audience. The program is further enriched by Sabers Croatia with lightsabers, the Baldur’s Gate 3 Fan Zone, and Adricom with the presentation of the board game Banda.

In the indispensable and largest-ever international Indie Zone, a large number of independent studios and developers are presenting their video games. With the support of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, from Croatia come Artor Games with the game Bartalk I The Mask of the Red Death, Better Plan with the title Arrowman, Eksperimental Games with the game Jancer, GameGlis with the project Covert Koalas: Phasco, Downtown Game Studio with the title Dark Queen of Samobor, and Mad Cat Entertainment with the game Project Nevera.

Additionally, participating in the Indie Zone are Mikrokozmos with the game Undercurrent, studio I have hobbies with the title Project ULTRA, then Chunky Pixel Games x Stellar with the title Ore you serious?, ControversialGamingStudio with a demo version of Make YOUR Way, Team Blanc with the game Masked Revenge (who are also this year’s winners of the Global Game Jam competition in Rijeka), New Can from Austria with the game Feed the Gods, and Label This from Slovenia with the title Menace Shrimp.

Tickets and the complete program schedule are available on the official website www.expogamers.com. Don’t miss being part of the strongest gaming weekend in Opatija!