Photo: Koelnmesse GmbH / Google Mapsgamescom 2027: Dates and Hotels
gamescom 2027 runs 26 to 29 August at Koelnmesse, Cologne. 335,000+ attendees
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Where to stay for gamescom 2027: the closest hotels to Koelnmesse are in Deutz and Altstadt (Old Town), with Neustadt-Nord a short ride away. Rooms near the venue sell out first, so book a free-cancellation rate early. Add your company name and tax number at checkout for an itemised company invoice.
gamescom 2026 takes over Koelnmesse from 26 to 30 August, and it is the largest games event in the world by a wide margin, with attendance north of 335,000. It is really two events sharing one fairground: a consumer festival where fans queue for unreleased titles, esports and cosplay, and a serious industry gathering, with the devcom developer conference beforehand and a business area where publishers, studios and platform holders take meetings all week. Attendees range from teenage fans on day tickets to executives flying in for the Opening Night Live showcase. Koelnmesse sits in Deutz, directly across the Rhine from Cologne's cathedral, and the compact city centre means hotels in Deutz and the Altstadt disappear fastest of any German fair we track. This page carries live, bookable rates sorted by real distance to the halls, so you can see what is genuinely left for gamescom week and secure it before the annual scramble.
Popular areas for attendees: Deutz · Altstadt (Old Town) · Neustadt-Nord.
- Hotels ranked by actual distance to Koelnmesse, from walkable Deutz to one-stop S-Bahn options
- Live 4-5 star rates for gamescom week in your currency
- Free-cancellation priority, handy while ticket drops and business-area plans are still settling
- Instant invoice for studio, publisher and creator business expenses
Event at a glance
- Dates
- 26 Aug to 29 Aug 2027
- Venue
- Koelnmesse
- City
- Cologne, Germany
- Airport
- CGN
- Attendance
- 335,000+
Live rates near the venue
Hotels near Koelnmesse for gamescom 2027
Free cancellation first
Flexible rooms prioritised so plans can change without penalty.
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Itemised invoice billed to your company, emailed the moment you book.
Stay close to the venue
Hotels ranked by walking distance to the halls.
Lock today's rate
Reserve at the current price and book several rooms for the team.
Plan your stay
Rates shown for a 3 night stay, Wed, Aug 25 → Sat, Aug 28, arriving the day before the fair opens, or choose your own dates above.
Hotel rates near major event venues rise as the dates approach and the closest hotels sell out first. Booking a free-cancellation rate early locks the price with no downside.
On the map
The venue, your hotel options and where to eat, all in one view. Tap the map to explore it full screen.
Booking hotels for a team or company?
Book several rooms near Koelnmesse, keep every stay on a free-cancellation rate, and add your company name and tax number at checkout to receive an itemised invoice for your accounts, emailed the moment you book.
- Itemised company invoice, emailed instantly
- Bills to your company name and ABN / VAT / tax number
- Free-cancellation rates prioritised for changing plans
- Book multiple rooms for the team in one place
Send this page to colleagues so everyone books their own room near the venue, all at today's rate.
Exhibiting or sending a team? Tell us how many rooms you need and we will send a personalised quote within 24 hours, with the distance from every hotel to Koelnmesse. If the closest hotels are nearly full, we split your team across neighbouring hotels a few minutes apart. Corporate accommodation for gamescom
Free gamescom Insider Guide
Do gamescom the easy way. Get our curated guide, plus first access to near-venue rooms before they sell out.
- The best hotels within walking distance of the venue
- Where to host clients for dinner near the halls
- How to beat the sold-out fair-week rooms
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Need to expense this trip? Business invoices available at checkout.
Where should you eat during gamescom?
gamescom and Anuga swamp Deutz: Lommerzheim fills within an hour of the halls closing. Reserve the crane-house dinner early and learn the Kölsch coaster rules before you go.
Photo: Ox&Klee / Google MapsOx & Klee
Creative tasting menus
Rheinauhafen, 12 min taxi across the Rhine from Koelnmesse
Daniel Gottschlich's two-star flagship inside one of the iconic crane houses on the Rhine: Cologne's top room for impressing key accounts.
Tip: Tasting only, 3+ hours: reserve before gamescom or Anuga sell it out.
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Photo: Sahila - The Restaurant / Google MapsSahila
Globally inspired fine dining
Altstadt-Süd, 10 min taxi from Koelnmesse
Julia Komp, once Germany's youngest starred chef, runs this one-star culinary world tour. Relaxed and conversation-friendly for client dinners.
Tip: Evenings only; the adjoining mezze bar Yu*lia is a good walk-in plan B.
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Photo: Sebastian Koch / Google MapsLommerzheim
Kölsch tavern · legendary
Deutz, 15 min walk from the Koelnmesse south entrance
The legendary 'Lommi': a deliberately unpolished corner pub pouring Päffgen Kölsch with its famous massive pork chop. The closest genuine Cologne institution to the fairgrounds.
Tip: No small-group reservations; closes mid-afternoon. Arrive at opening during gamescom. Cash.
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Photo: Brauerei Päffgen / Google MapsPäffgen Brauhaus
Brauhaus · brewed on site
Friesenviertel, KVB from Bf Deutz
Unfiltered Päffgen Kölsch brewed on site and carried out in wreaths by brusque Köbes waiters: the full Cologne initiation for visiting colleagues.
Tip: Coaster on top of the glass to stop the refills. Cash.
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Photo: katie laswell / Google MapsBei Oma Kleinmann
Schnitzel house · 70+ years
Kwartier Latäng, tram 9 from Bf Deutz
Plate-sized schnitzels and a lively Kölsch-fueled room serving into the late evening: the unfussy team dinner after tear-down.
Tip: A few tables held for walk-ins: try early or late during fairs.
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Photo: THE COFFICE DEUTZ / Google MapsKaffeesapiens
Specialty coffee
Deutz: at Köln Messe/Deutz station, 10 min walk to the halls
Third-wave espresso bar right beside the trade-fair complex: rotating single-origin filters and the best pre-badge-scan coffee upgrade over hall catering.
Tip: Weekdays ~08:00-17:30. On the way in, not after the reception.
Open in Google MapsAfter the halls close: Cologne
Client dinner, team night out or a free day after gamescom: bookable experiences in Cologne, same account, same checkout.
While you're in Cologne
Cologne pairs its huge Koelnmesse trade-fair calendar with passionate Bundesliga football, one of Europe's busiest arenas and the legendary Carnival.
1. FC Köln (Bundesliga)
Back in the Bundesliga, FC Köln's RheinEnergieStadion delivers one of Germany's most passionate football atmospheres.
Find ticketsCologne Carnival
The 'fifth season' climaxes with the Rose Monday parade, when the whole city becomes one giant street party.
Find ticketsLanxess Arena concerts
One of Europe's highest-attendance arenas, Lanxess Arena hosts major world tours, shows and sport almost every week.
Find ticketsKölner Haie (DEL ice hockey)
The Cologne Sharks regularly draw some of Europe's biggest ice hockey crowds to Lanxess Arena on winter evenings.
Find ticketsFixtures recur each season; exact dates for your fair week are confirmed at ticket search.
How do you get to gamescom?
From Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)
- The S-Bahn S19 runs directly from the airport station to Köln Messe/Deutz, right beside the fairground, in about 12-15 minutes
- Trains continue to Köln Hauptbahnhof one stop further if your hotel is on the cathedral side of the river
- A taxi from CGN to Deutz or the city centre takes 15-25 minutes, with fares typically in the EUR 30-40 range
- CGN is well served by European carriers and low-cost routes; long-haul visitors usually arrive via Frankfurt or Düsseldorf
From Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) or by rail
- DUS offers more long-haul connections; trains from its station reach Köln Messe/Deutz or Köln Hbf in roughly 50-70 minutes, often with one change
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is a further option, with direct ICE trains to Cologne in about an hour on the high-speed line
- Köln Messe/Deutz station itself is served by S-Bahn, regional trains and some ICE services, so you can often arrive by rail literally at the fairground
- Cologne Hauptbahnhof is one stop or a 15-minute walk across the Hohenzollern Bridge from the Messe, so either station works
How do you get around during gamescom?
Getting to Koelnmesse daily
- Köln Messe/Deutz station and the Koelnmesse tram stops (lines 1, 3, 4 and 9 serve Deutz) put the entrances within a short walk; from the Altstadt you can simply cross the bridge on foot in about 20 minutes
- gamescom day tickets have typically included free VRS public transport in the Cologne region on the day of validity; check the conditions on your ticket
- Trams and S-Bahn get extremely full between 09:00 and 10:30 on consumer days, with Saturday the peak; walking from central hotels is often faster
- Ride-hailing and taxis into Deutz face road closures and crowd management around the Messe during gamescom, so set pickup points a few streets away
Around Cologne
- The KVB network of trams and buses covers the compact centre; buy tickets in the KVB or DB Navigator apps
- The Deutschland-Ticket covers all local transport nationwide and pays off if you also visit Düsseldorf or Bonn during the trip
- The Altstadt, Belgian Quarter and Ehrenfeld nightlife areas are all tram-or-walk distance; late trams run but fill with gamescom crowds
- Expect the Deutz side of the Rhine to be pedestrian-dense all week, and allow extra time for any appointment near the venue
Do you need a visa for gamescom?
Visa-free / visa on arrival
- Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and around 60 other countries enter Germany visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- EU/EEA and Swiss nationals travel on a national ID card or passport
- For August 2026 the EU's ETIAS authorisation is not yet required, with launch expected later in 2026 and a grace period after that; the biometric EES border registration does apply to non-EU visitors
eVisa / visa required
- Nationals of China, India, Turkey, South Africa and most African and Middle Eastern countries need a Schengen type C visa to attend
- Apply through the German mission or visa centre in your country as early as possible; late-summer slots are busy across Europe
- Trade visitors and exhibitors can request supporting documents through gamescom's organiser channels or a German business partner
Documents to carry
- Your gamescom ticket or trade badge confirmation, and the invitation letter if one supported a visa application
- Proof of accommodation and return or onward travel for border checks
- Schengen visa holders must carry travel medical insurance with at least EUR 30,000 cover
Entry requirements change; confirm the current rules with the German embassy or the Federal Foreign Office before booking travel.
First time at gamescom?
- Buy tickets the moment they go on sale; gamescom day tickets, especially Saturday, sell out well before the event, and popular game demos then sell out on site by mid-morning
- Wednesday is trade and media focused with limited public access, so read your ticket type carefully; Thursday and Friday are the calmer public days, Saturday is the crush
- Arrive at the halls before opening and go straight to your single most-wanted game, since headline titles can carry multi-hour queues by 11:00
- The entertainment area and business area are in different parts of Koelnmesse with separate access rules; industry visitors should plan meetings around the walk between them
- Deutz and Altstadt hotels sell out months ahead, so book as soon as dates are announced, and consider Bonn or Düsseldorf on a rail line as a fallback
Insider tips from repeat attendees
- Repeat visitors treat Friday morning as the sweet spot: full exhibitor line-up, shorter queues than Saturday, and staff not yet exhausted
- The industry networking that matters happens at evening events across the Altstadt and Belgian Quarter and at the hotel bars around Dom/Hbf, not on the show floor
- Hall food is standard fair fare with long queues; locals cross to the food stalls and brauhaus options in Deutz or pack snacks, and water fountains beat buying bottles all day
- If you only have a day ticket, the indie area rewards time better than queuing three hours for one AAA demo, and it is where developers actually talk to players
gamescom travel FAQs
Where is gamescom held?
gamescom is held at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany. The nearest airport is CGN.
When is gamescom 2027?
gamescom 2027 week runs from 23 to 29 August 2027 at Koelnmesse in Cologne. It starts with gamescom dev on 23 and 24 August and gamescom Opening Night Live on the evening of 24 August. Wednesday 25 August is the Business and Media Day, and from Thursday 26 August gamescom is open to everyone until Sunday 29 August.
What are the gamescom 2027 opening hours?
For private visitors: Thursday 26 and Friday 27 August 10:00 to 20:00, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 August 9:00 to 20:00. On Wednesday 25 August only a limited number of private visitors with a Wildcard are admitted, from 13:00 to 19:00. Trade visitors can enter from 9:00 every day; the business area is open Wednesday to Friday and closed at the weekend.
How do I get gamescom tickets?
Tickets are sold only through the official gamescom ticket shop, which for 2027 has not opened yet; you can sign up to the official newsletter to be told when sales start. Age rules apply: children under 4 are not admitted, children aged 4 to 6 enter free, and children aged 4 to 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Trade visitors register separately for the business area.
Which station is closest to gamescom?
Köln Messe/Deutz station is about 300 m from Koelnmesse and the South Entrance is roughly a three minute walk; it is served by S-Bahn, regional and long distance trains. Stadtbahn lines 1 and 9 stop at Köln Messe/Deutz, and lines 3 and 4 stop at Koelnmesse for the East, West and North entrances. According to the official arrival page, your admission ticket also comes with a VRS public transport ticket (sent by separate email, not valid on IC, EC or ICE trains).
Is there a gamescom hall plan (map)?
Yes. The official gamescom hall plan page offers a downloadable overview PDF and an event areas map. At the moment it shows the 2026 hall allocation; the 2027 plan will replace it closer to the show. The exhibitor list is published on exhibitors.gamescom.global.
Where should I stay for gamescom?
Deutz is the prize, within walking distance of Koelnmesse, and it sells out first. The Altstadt across the river is the best all-round base, a 20-minute walk or one S-Bahn stop away, with Neustadt-Nord close behind. Bonn and Düsseldorf are realistic rail-commute fallbacks once Cologne fills.
How much do hotels cost during gamescom?
Cologne rates during gamescom are among the city's highest of the year, frequently two to three times normal levels near the venue, and simple properties price like business hotels. Rates drop noticeably one S-Bahn stop out and again in Bonn or Düsseldorf.
How early should I book hotels for gamescom?
Book six to nine months out for Deutz or the Altstadt; industry regulars book for next year as soon as this year's edition ends. Free-cancellation rates make it sensible to reserve before tickets are even on sale.
Which airport do I fly into for gamescom?
Cologne Bonn (CGN) is the local airport with a 12-15 minute direct S-Bahn to the fairground. Düsseldorf (DUS) has more long-haul routes and is about an hour away by train, and Frankfurt (FRA) works too via the one-hour ICE connection to Cologne.
Do I need a trade badge for gamescom or can anyone go?
Public day tickets cover the entertainment area from Thursday to Sunday, while Wednesday is primarily for trade and media visitors. The business area requires a trade badge with industry accreditation, so studios, publishers and content professionals should apply through the official trade registration rather than buying consumer tickets.
gamescom: Fragen und Antworten auf Deutsch
Wann ist die gamescom 2027?
Die gamescom 2027 findet vom 23. bis 29. August 2027 in der Koelnmesse in Köln statt. Den Auftakt macht die gamescom dev am 23. und 24. August, gefolgt von der gamescom Opening Night Live am Abend des 24. August. Am 25. August ist der Business und Medientag, ab dem 26. August ist die gamescom für alle geöffnet.
Wie sind die Öffnungszeiten der gamescom 2027?
Für Privatbesucher: Donnerstag, 26., und Freitag, 27. August, 10 bis 20 Uhr, Samstag, 28., und Sonntag, 29. August, 9 bis 20 Uhr. Am Mittwoch, 25. August, haben nur wenige Privatbesucher mit Wildcard ab 13 Uhr bis 19 Uhr Zutritt. Fachbesucher kommen täglich ab 9 Uhr rein, der Businessbereich ist von Mittwoch bis Freitag geöffnet.
Wie bekomme ich gamescom Tickets?
Tickets gibt es nur im offiziellen gamescom Ticketshop, der für 2027 noch nicht geöffnet ist. Über den offiziellen Newsletter erfahren Sie, wann der Verkauf startet. Kinder unter 4 Jahren haben keinen Zutritt, Kinder von 4 bis 6 Jahren sind frei, Kinder von 4 bis 12 Jahren nur mit einem Erwachsenen.
Wo ist die gamescom und welcher Bahnhof ist der nächste? (Anfahrt)
Die gamescom findet in der Koelnmesse in Köln Deutz statt. Der Bahnhof Köln Messe/Deutz liegt rund 300 m entfernt, der Eingang Süd ist etwa drei Gehminuten entfernt. Die Stadtbahnlinien 1 und 9 halten an Köln Messe/Deutz, die Linien 3 und 4 an der Haltestelle Koelnmesse für die Eingänge Ost, West und Nord.
Gibt es einen gamescom Hallenplan?
Ja. Auf der offiziellen Seite zum Hallenplan gibt es eine Übersicht als PDF und einen Plan der Eventflächen. Derzeit ist dort noch die Hallenbelegung 2026 zu sehen, der Plan für 2027 folgt. Die Aussteller stehen auf exhibitors.gamescom.global.
Register for your attendee badge
Your entry badge is separate from your hotel. Get it from the official gamescom portal before you travel. We handle the travel; the event handles the badge.
Related trade fairs
Other fairs where we cover the hotels, by the same venue, city or industry.
Also in Cologne
More to plan and book around Cologne, all on Event Escapes.
Which hotels are closest to Koelnmesse?
The closest hotels to the venue with the distance, the walk or ride time and an indicative nightly rate, refreshed weekly. Live prices for your exact dates are in the booking section above. Last checked 2 November 2026.
Cheap and 3 star hotels near Koelnmesse
| Hotel | Distance to venue | Walk or ride | From per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eden Hotel Früh am Dom★★★ | 1.9 km | ~8 min ride | €367 |
| Trip Inn Hotel Ariane★★★ | 2.4 km | ~9 min ride | €285 |
More hotels close to Koelnmesse
| Hotel | Distance to venue | Walk or ride | From per night |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Deutz, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel★★★★ | 0.6 km | ~9 min walk | €561 |
| Hyatt Regency Cologne★★★★★ | 1.2 km | ~6 min ride | €989 |
| Hotel Viktoria★★★★ | 1.2 km | ~6 min ride | €316 |
| Mercure Hotel Köln Belfortstraße★★★★ | 1.5 km | ~6 min ride | €543 |
EventEscapes is an independent travel platform and is not affiliated with gamescom or its organizers. Dates and venues can change. Verify with the official event site before booking travel.