Foundations of Digital Games 2026
Workshops. Keynotes. Masterclasses.
AUGUST 10-13, 2026 at the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen
CONFERENCE THEME
The special theme for FDG 2026 is “Research through Games; Research for Games.” This theme highlights a core strength of FDG: bridging the gap between scientific and humanistic approaches to games research by exploring the dual role of games as both objects of study and powerful tools for discovery.
Schedule: https://fdg2026.org/schedule/
Masterclasses: https://fdg2026.org/keynotesmasterclasses/
Registration: https://fdg2026.org/registration/
CONFERENCE TRACKS
Technical Game Development: For research that advances game development practices, including engines, graphics, rendering, animation, networking, and novel interaction techniques (VR/AR).
Game Design, Studio Practices, and Novel Player Experiences: For research that furthers the practice of game design and development through scholarly examination of game making practices, patterns, mechanics, dynamics, or aesthetics.
Game Analytics and Visualization: For research related to data science, game analytics, game data visualization, and analysing player behaviour. This track directly engages the conference theme by treating games as data-rich environments to understand human activity.
Game Artificial Intelligence: Focuses on the applications of AI to the playing, design, development, and testing of games, including game-playing AI, procedural content generation, believable agents, and AI-assisted design.
Game Criticism and Analysis: Calls for papers that approach games from humanities-informed perspectives such as cultural studies, critical theory, and narrative or visual studies.
Games Beyond Entertainment: For research on games where the primary goal is not entertainment, including serious games, educational games, games with a purpose, and gamification.
Games Pedagogy: Concerned with the teaching of games, game development, and game-related concepts at all levels of education.
Generative AI: Concerned with the use of generative AI for game development, analysis, and as subject of study.
FDG 2026 is made possible by the support of
