Madeira Games Summit 2026: Event Highlights
After a successful first-year debut, Madeira Games Summit returned to Funchal on May 7-8, 2026, with 120+ decision-makers from 20 countries.
Hosted by DevGAMM, eGamesLab, and ACIF, the Summit gave them two days of high-level discussions and side events on the island of eternal spring.
The theme of Madeira Games Summit 2026 was Collaboration: the New Structure of Game Development. It shaped the whole program, including fireside chats, investment discussions, roundtables, and workgroups.
01.Key takeaways
- Madeira Games Summit returned to Funchal on May 7-8, 2026, with 120+ decision-makers from 20 countries.
- The program included fireside chats, roundtables sponsored by Mellow, workshops, and a new workgroup format.
- GamesIndustry.biz published three features on the workgroups and workshops, between June 29 and August 4, 2026.
- The next Summit takes place on May 13-14, 2027 at Savoy Palace, Funchal.
02.Sunset Soirée powered by Epic Games Store
The Summit experience started on May 6 with the Sunset Soirée powered by Epic Games Store at Vista Balancal Restaurant, set within the scenic surroundings of Palheiro Golf.
With panoramic views over Funchal Bay, a buffet, music, and relaxed networking, it was the first gathering of the Summit.
03.Opening & Fireside Chats
The official program opened on May 7 at Savoy Palace Hotel with a welcome speech by Mr. Miguel Albuquerque, the President of the Regional Government of Madeira.
Across two days, the Main Hall hosted a series of fireside chats focused on the evolving structure of the games industry. The conversations featured studios, platforms, publishers, investors, and creative partners shaping the industry today.
The stage brought together experts from Bethesda Game Studios, Dukaj Games, MythoWorks, Agora Gaming Partners, Oakfyn, Krafton, Yalla Group, GSC Game World, GamesIndustry.biz, and more.
The fireside chats explored how collaboration is changing game development – from building large-scale studio pipelines and creative teams to adapting stories across games, film, and TV. The discussions also covered how digital entertainment ecosystems are growing in MENA, with a focus on platforms, communities, regional audiences, and new ways companies connect content, technology, and players.
Panel discussions covered the new role of investment capital as creative infrastructure and the strategic choices studios face in 2026. Topics included what studios should stop doing, choosing between different funding models, and building sustainable, independent businesses.
04.Roundtables sponsored by Mellow
One of the key formats of Madeira Games Summit returned this year: roundtable discussions.
Sponsored by Mellow, these sessions gave attendees the opportunity to discuss focused industry topics in smaller, more personal groups.
The discussions were moderated by industry leaders from Epic Games, Curve Games, Kwalee, Abylight, Anshar Studios, Agora Gaming Partners, and more.
Across two roundtable sessions, participants discussed the hard business choices studios face in 2026: whether publishers are still the right financing path, how rising development costs are changing studio structures, where co-development ends and outsourcing begins, and whether self-publishing is worth the risk.
The conversations also touched on AI ownership within studios, platform funding, investor pressure on the creative side, and how leaders make decisions when every option feels imperfect.
05.Gala Dinner powered by Xsolla
The evening of May 7 continued with the Gala Dinner powered by Xsolla.
With a four-course dinner, signature wines, elegant atmosphere, and plenty of time for conversations, the Gala Dinner became one of the most memorable networking moments of the Summit.
06.Workshops & Workgroups
Alongside the main program, attendees joined hands-on workshops designed for deeper learning and practical exchange.
Led by experts from Nordeus and Level Up Gaming, the sessions gave attendees a chance to strengthen their expertise in AI and explore practical approaches they could apply to their own work.
07.Workgroup questions and results
The final touch of the Summit was a brand-new format: workgroups shaped by the attendees themselves.
On the first day, we asked participants one question: 5 years from now what is the one thing we’d wished we’d fixed this week in the game industry?
Based on their real-time answers, the final workgroups explored exactly that, focusing on three areas:
- Why money isn’t reaching the games that need it (funding, economics & risk)
- Great games exist. Nobody can find them (taste & discoverability problem)
- We’re moving fast and losing what made us good (creativity, craft & the future)
GamesIndustry.biz has since published three features by Lewis Packwood, its Features Editor, from the Summit’s workshops and workgroups. They are listed on its Madeira Games Summit 2026 page.
| GamesIndustry.biz feature | Published |
|---|---|
| “I literally built an investment firm that wouldn’t have funded my own pitch”, on why the money isn’t reaching the games that need it | June 29, 2026 |
| “The games industry is stifled by a culture of fear” | July 24, 2026 |
| “The industry makes great games, but nobody can find them” | August 4, 2026 |
08.Madeira Wine Experience powered by Madeira Gaming Hub
The final official gathering of the Summit took place at Blandy’s Wine Lodge, one of Madeira’s best-known wine destinations.
Powered by Madeira Gaming Hub, a space being built in Madeira just for game developers, the experience included a guided tour through the history of Madeira wine. A networking session in the Max Römer Room followed, with a tasting and light snacks.
09.Thank You
We want to thank everyone who joined Madeira Games Summit 2026 and helped make this year’s edition so special.
A special thank-you goes to our main partners at eGamesLab and ACIF, as well as to our sponsors, speakers, and every attendee who contributed to the discussions, shared ideas, joined side events, and helped shape the collaborative spirit of the Summit.
Madeira Games Summit returns for its third year on May 13-14, 2027 at Savoy Palace, Funchal. See the Madeira Games Summit 2027 page.
