Play - the Games Festival has seen growth in visitor numbers, cultural engagement and civic involvement. The 17th edition of Play has become a manifesto for inclusivity; publishers and associations are delighted, with all pavilions sold out.
Now in its second year at its new venue in Bologna, Play has reaffirmed its appeal: with over 35,000 unique visitors, it recorded a rise in attendance (+2.95 per cent) compared with the already exceptional 2025 edition, cementing its position as the leading event in the sector in Italy and an international benchmark.
Whilst the figures underpin the event’s structural success (with 43,000 square metres of covered space, 4 pavilions and over 3,000 free gaming tables), what left an indelible mark on the 2026 edition was its strong cultural focus and commitment to social responsibility. The festival chose to celebrate a key historical milestone: the 80th anniversary of women’s suffrage in Italy. This gave rise to the hashtag #LaPLAY, a veritable manifesto for an edition with a female focus that placed female authors, innovators and game designers – who are making a decisive mark on the global gaming industry – at the centre of the event.
Against this backdrop of growth, the extraordinary participation of the education sector stands out: over 1,700 pupils and 210 teachers took part in the festival’s activities. A young and enthusiastic audience arrived not only from Bologna and across Emilia-Romagna, but from all over Italy, with entire classes organising proper school trips and educational visits from cities such as Fermo, Campobasso and Benevento, testifying to the educational and formative value – now recognised at a national level – of the event.
