Summary
It used to be that games and comic books were a nice interest that was confined to the corner of the local bookstore. With so much updated tech and innovative designs, along with some significant investments from big names in marketing and PR, gaming today includes everything from TTRPGs to MMOs and has become an influential part of the entertainment industry.
The rise of gaming conventions and anime expos has followed the growth of the industry, and social media has made it even easier for fans and collectors to connect. Many of these gaming conventions include anime, comic books, and tabletop gaming, since they often share the same fanbase.
Updated August 10, 2025, by Kristy Ambrose:Most events have reformed or regrouped to start again as normal after the era of the pandemic, and options remain for those who would prefer a digital experience or can’t be there in person. The popularity of these events has also surged worldwide, and TTRPGs are experiencing a boost thanks to the popularity of D&D-based games like Baldur’s Gate 3. There are always more gaming conventions popping up, and as such, more have been added to this list with its latest update.
23QuakeCon
10,000 Attendees
Although this gaming convention started as a way for id Software developers and fans to network, and it still takes the name of that company’s flagship series, its popularity now extends well beyond either of them.QuakeCondates from 1996, the same timethe titular game was developed, making it one of the oldest gaming conferences as the public now knows them.
Other big video game companies like Bethesda also help organize the event, and the BYOC LAN party that was part of the original schedule in the 1990s is still a thing. The events of 2021 and 2022 were held entirely online, but QuakeCon returned to their live events and Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) roots in 2023.
22AVCon
13,000 Attendees
AVConis one of the smaller conventions on a relative global scale, but it still has the numbers to be the biggest anime and gaming festival in the Southern Hemisphere. It first began in 2002 as a joint project between the University of South Australia’s Adelaide Japanese Animation Society (AJAS) and the Adelaide University Video Gamers Association (AUVGA). Hence, the union continues to this day and features a combination of anime and video games.
The festival’s events and amenities include, but are not limited to, anime screening rooms, libraries dedicated to manga, a retro media museum, and gaming rooms intended as both testing sites and to show exclusive developer previews. There’s also an AVCon After Dark for the grown-up participants, which includes alcohol, burlesque, and more racey cosplays.
21Game Developers Conference (GDC)
17,000 Attendees
Like many other gaming conventions that took place during the days of COVID-19, theGDCwas a mix of online and in-person events in 2021 and 2022. The GDC Virtual Platform was designed specifically to increase accessibility to the event, and of all the people that attended, 12,000 came in person, while about 5000 attended using virtual means.
The yearly program of GDC is always a virtual list of what’s hottest in the gaming industry and covers an impressive array of genres. The latest conferences have featured big hits likeWordle,Baldur’s Gate 3,andClash of Clans.
20MAGFest
20,000 Attendees
MAGFest, which is short for the Music and Gaming Festival, happensevery year in Washington DC, specifically in National Harbor. It’s a convention that is wholly dedicated to the “appreciation of video game music, gaming of all types, and the gaming community.” The convention hosts panels of animators, musicians, and gaming personalities alike at the beginning of each year.
While it’s not the largest gaming convention in the world by any means, it’s one of the most intimate. Chances are, if someone goes to MAGFest, they’ll have plenty of chances to talk one-on-one with the presenters and hosts of the convention. Plus, it’s one of the few festivals that run 24 hours a day, meaning that attendees can, at least in theory,spend all four days in the convention center.
19Electronic Game Show (EGS)
30,000 Attendees
WhenEGSfirst started more than 20 years ago in 2002, it was intended to bolster national gaming companies along with giving some big international names a local platform. Today, it’s evolved into a regular annual event that caters to both fans and industry professionals.
The main draw and top selling point ofMexico’s biggest video game conventionis tournament play on the festival’s flagship game, but it also has demonstrations, panel discussions, cosplay, and merchandise options for the fans, along with some healthy networking options for professionals. The daily agenda typically includes several activities for kids, one of the features that make this a show for fans of all ages, with there being some exceptions for special evening events.
18TwitchCon
This is a different kind of convention than others in the sense that it’s specifically for Twitch, a popular live-streaming service, as opposed to focusing on the games themselves. Another important difference is that it takes place twice a year as opposed to once, and it often changes continents from Europe to the Americas.
TwitchConstill has all the usual features of a gaming convention, with celebrity appearances, panel discussions, and vast merchandising possibilities. The event was first inaugurated in San Francisco in 2015, and other locations have included Berlin, Amsterdam, and Paris, with the next North American event scheduled for San Diego.
17BlizzCon
40,000 Attendees
BlizzConmostly caters to Blizzard fans, which isn’t to say that this video gaming convention isn’t huge in its own right. It usually takes place at the beginning of November in Anaheim, California, attracting many fans nationwide as well as worldwide.
Here, gamers come together with devs to talk aboutDiablo,WoW,Overwatch, andStarcraft,as well as to find out what’s new for the upcoming year and discuss what they’d like to see in the future. Blizzcon returned to its live-action, in-person conference format in 2023 to much fanfare after a tumultuous year that included an equal amount of good and bad news for the brand.
16E3
65,000 Attendees
This conference was originally intended for industry professionals but was eventually opened to the public, which raised its attendance significantly. For a while, it was one of the largest continually growing expos in the world. It’sE3, along with the Tokyo Game Show, that many turn to when they want to find out top-secret deets about what’s soon to be released.
E3 gained momentum over the last few years, but then it took a blow when Sony announced they would no longer be attending. The last two shows, for 2023 and 2024, were canceled, but the dream is still alive for the future.
15Penny Arcade Expo (PAX)
70,000 Attendees
Believe it or not,PAXstarted as a small gaming event with little more than 3,000 attendees in its first year. As word on the street spread, and gamers as well as developers became interested, it has since grown into a worldwide event. PAX occurs in four different locations throughout the year: Boston, Australia, Seattle, and San Antonio.
These gaming conventions combined bring in roughly 70,000 attendees annually, although the exact number has yet to be counted. As a space for indie games, new developers, and popular game developers alike, PAX has managed to make the ranks as one of thelargest gaming conventionsof the year.
14Eurogamer Expo (EGX)
80,000 Attendees
TheEurogamer Expois aconvention that takes place in London, and it’s the biggest in the UK, making it the go-to gaming event of the year for Europe. The Eurogamer Expo has something for everyone, whether they’re into anime, video gamers, or comic books.
Fans will have the chance to try new games and get the hands-on experience many know and love. It also caters to those who feature creative cosplays. It brings together gamers from all genres, catering to just about everyone in the fandom community.
