Games Done Quick will be present at gamescom, the massive gaming event taking place in Cologne, Germany, for the very first time.
The new partnership between the speedrunning charity and German event marks the first time a GDQ event will hit European shores, and includes three days of events. The Games Done Quick gamescom 2026 event will kick off on August 28 at 10 am CEST and run until 8 pm CEST each day.
All funds raised during gamescom GDQ will benefit Games for Democracy, an initiative that uses gaming culture to help support democratic values and civic engagement. Games for Democracy was created by BertelsmannStiftung, a foundation that centers common good and strengthens society, and Stiftung Digitale Spiele Kultur, which highlights ways games can contribute to society. Runners will be able to put in their submissions on May 4.
Owner and Business Director at GDQ, Ashley Farkas, had this to say about the new partnership: “We’re thrilled to expand Games Done Quick globally and to bring a live event to gamescom in Germany, an opportunity that’s incredibly meaningful to our team. This partnership not only supports an amazing initiative, but also creates space for more runners to participate, especially those who haven’t previously had the opportunity to travel to the US.”
GDQ has raised more than $60 million since its inception in 2010, helping charities the world over through the magic and community of speedrunning. Gamescom Head Stefan Heikhaus highlights the same special sauce, saying, “Games Done Quick and gamescom are a perfect match: Here, it becomes clear what makes gaming so special: the sense of community, the passion, the competition, but also simply the joy of playing games and creatively pushing the boundaries of the rules. Added to this is the social commitment. gamescom GDQ is therefore the ideal complement to the gamescom program.”
Gamescom Games Done Quick will be available for viewers to watch in person, but it’ll also be streamed on GDQ’s YouTube and Twitch channels. gamescom runs from August 26-30, with gamescom GDQ happening August 28-30.
