Addis Games Week 2026 brings game development, esports and XR into focus
The programme covered game development, esports, XR, careers and education
Addis Games Week 2026 brought Ethiopia’s games industry together in Addis Ababa in January, with three days of game development, esports, education and networking activities aimed at strengthening the country’s growing gaming ecosystem.
The event officially ran from January 23rd to 25th, following a virtual launch on January 21st. Its programme combined an expo and job fair with industry talks, a game development hackathon, masterclasses, esports competitions and an awards ceremony.
The opening day featured the AGW Expo & Job Fair, keynote sessions and the launch of the AGW-IDEEZA Hackathon, a 48-hour game development competition. A PUBG Mobile championship also formed part of the programme.
Building local talent
The second day focused more heavily on education and industry development, with sessions covering game development studios as a business, tournament organisation and streaming production, and esports as a career. There was also a session on extended reality and a debate around educational games versus entertainment games.
The event concluded with the IDEEZA Hackathon, which offered a $30,000 prize pool, alongside a Women Tekken Championship qualifier for the East African Tekken Championship in Kampala. The AGW Awards then recognised individuals, communities, institutions and studios across Ethiopia’s games industry.
Following the event, Addis Games Week said the three-day gathering brought together developers, gamers, creatives, speakers, volunteers and newcomers, while creating space for discussions around careers and the future of gaming in Ethiopia.
The organisers also said the 2026 edition generated increased visibility and industry engagement, alongside future investment commitments and strategic partnerships aimed at supporting Ethiopia’s gaming and esports ecosystem.
You can learn more about the show from the Addis Games Week event page.
