Charity speedrunning event Games Done Quick is coming to Gamescom 2026

Games Done Quick is heading to Europe for the first time this summer, bringing a three-day charity speedrunning marathon to Gamescom 2026 in Germany.

The details:

• The special event, titled Gamescom GDQ, will run from 28 to 30 August 2026, with on-stream content planned to take place from 10am to 8pm CEST each day. Attendees at Gamescom will be able to watch the runs live at the venue in Cologne, while online viewers can tune in via Games Done Quick’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.
• As with other GDQ events, Gamescom GDQ will feature a lineup of speedruns from top players around the world across various games. No official list of games present at the event has been released as of yet, but the event usually includes a mix of popular, bizarre, and sometimes hilariously bad retro and modern titles.
• The event will raise money for Gaming for Democracy, an initiative created with Bertelsmann Stiftung and Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur that promotes civic engagement and democratic values through gaming culture. Previously, GDQ has raised tens of millions for various charities such as Doctors Without Borders, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Race Forward, and the Malala Fund.