The Scottish indie scene is leveling up this summer. The Glasgow Independent Games Group CIC has officially announced the return of the Glasgow Independent Games Festival, scheduled to take over the iconic Barras Art and Design (BAaD) building on July 11th and 12th, 2026.

Now in its third year, the festival serves as a primary hub for developers from Scotland and further afield to showcase their craft. Whether you’re a veteran coder or a curious newcomer, the event is designed to pull back the curtain on the creative and technical diversity of the independent gaming world.

Fergus Coyne, Co-Director of GIGG, described the festival:

“There is no better place to be than the Glasgow Indie Games Festival. This is the home for the weird, the outrageous and utterly unique. A place to bring together the community and the industry under one roof for an unforgettable weekend to celebrate indie games.

“With the rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence, it’s essential and important that the festival stands as a strong example of human-made creativity and effort.

“Never before seen games, talks from the experts and the artistes of development and extraordinary performances from musicians and poets alike – there is no other festival in the world like the GIGF.”

What to Expect

This year’s schedule introduces a more expansive format, taking place over two days:

• Showcase & Talks: A platform for developers to present their latest projects and share industry insights.
• Saturday Night Live: On the evening of July 11th, the festival will feature live entertainment, though the games remain the stars of the show and will stay accessible throughout the night.
• Inclusive Environment: The festival aims to bridge the gap between industry insiders and the general public, offering an exploratory space for anyone interested in the future of game development.

Gamer Social Club was lucky enough to attend the event last year, and it was an absolute blast; with a huge amount of amazing games to try out. We’re looking forward to diving in again this year to discover some wonderful titles.

Get Involved

The festival is open for submissions, taking applications for games to be showcased, as well as talks, panels and workshops – links for these can be found here. Submissions close on May 1st.

Event Details

Date: Saturday 11th July, 12 PM – 10 PM, and Sunday 12th July: 12 PM – 5 PM

Location: Barras Art and Design Building, 54 Calton Entry, Glasgow

Tickets available at: https://glasgowindiegamesfest.org/links/