Which Gaming Events Should We Not Miss This Autumn?
A veil of RGB pixels
Adorned my desktop,
LAN cables
Warmed my GPON.
As autumn arrives, the weather cools and outdoor excursions become less frequent. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't leave the house at all! This autumn is full of important events dedicated to the gaming industry and community in Romania, and the coming months bring all sorts of events to showcase local games and more!
Gaming Marathon Back to School
The first event of autumn is Gaming Marathon, which returns on 5 September with its Back to School edition. Over 30 of Romania's most famous content creators, including Jaxi, iSilent, Antonia Nuckle, Loore, Mădălin, Reddysh and Palash, will meet online with their communities for a day full of gaming, challenges and prizes. With the start of school and university, education returns to the forefront, but time for play and personal passions remains just as important. Gaming Marathon aims to remind young people that studying, video games and spending time with friends can all be part of a balanced schedule. The event takes place at www.gaming-marathon.ro.
The event starts on Saturday at 10 AM, and throughout the day, gamers will be able to join their favourite creators in tournaments, challenges and special activities in popular games such as Counter-Strike 2, Fortnite, Minecraft, Brawl Stars, EA Sports FC 24, PUBG or GTA V. In addition to the chance to play alongside streamers, participants will be able to win numerous prizes offered by the event's partners. One of the coolest challenges at Gaming Marathon sends gamers directly into GTA Online, in search of the AGON BY AOC gaming monitor. They will enter the game and have to help streamer Mario Robert find his monitor in the chaotic world of GTA. The gamer who proves most helpful in this mission will go home with the coveted monitor.
“Gaming Marathon Back to School is the moment we choose to officially launch play.smart, a 100,000 Euro project fully funded, not by public money, but by our own resources – DBO, Gaming Marathon and Bucharest Gaming Week. We wanted messages about responsible gaming to reach young people exactly where they spend their time, alongside the creators they follow daily, and when they play. That's why, from this edition, participants can earn extra points by correctly answering questions about the risks of gambling addiction. It's the first step in a long-term project that we are undertaking with our own resources, because the education of young people in the gaming community is one of the most vulnerable. And we have not only the power, but also the responsibility to communicate with this very large audience,” said Tudor Dăescu, co-organiser of Gaming Marathon.
Gaming Marathon will also return in December with its traditional edition dedicated to a social cause. Streamers and their communities will once again join forces to transform their passion for video games into a concrete gesture of solidarity.
DracuLAN Brings International-Level Counter-Strike 2 to Bucharest
Between 19 and 23 October, Nexus Esports Hub in Bucharest hosts DracuLAN Season 7, an international Counter-Strike 2 tournament organised by Digital Crusade. The competition is open to up to 24 teams from around the world and will have the largest prize pool in the history of regular DracuLAN seasons. Depending on the number of registered teams, prizes can reach 35,000 dollars.
Participating teams include Team Liquid, MOUZ NXT, Alliance and BC.Game. BC.Game features s1mple, considered one of the best players in Counter-Strike 2 history.
Gaming Industry Representatives Meet at Gaming & Esports Summit.
The Gaming & Esports Summit takes place on 27 October at ARCUB and brings together representatives of the video game industry, esports competition organisers, brands, public institutions, education professionals, content creators and professional players.
Topics proposed for this edition include public policies, investments and talent development that can support the growth of the Romanian industry, transforming Bucharest into a European gaming hub, building a national esports team for the IESF and ENC international competitions in 2027, and developing new revenue streams beyond traditional sponsorships.
The Best Gaming Videos and Campaigns are Awarded at the Gaming Video Awards.
On 28 October, at ARCUB, the Gaming Video Awards 2026 gala will take place, an event that awards the best video materials created by content creators in Romania, as well as the best gaming campaigns developed by brands and agencies.
The competition covers the main communities and content formats in Romanian gaming, from videos dedicated to games such as Fortnite, Minecraft, GTA, League of Legends or sports titles, to tech content, short videos, live broadcasts and projects carried out by emerging creators.
A distinct section is dedicated to communication campaigns, brand activations and special projects that have used gaming to build relevant connections with the audience. Winners are selected by juries made up of content creators and professionals from gaming, media, marketing, communication and creative industries. The gala can also be watched online, live, on gamingvideoawards.ro.
Christopher Judge Comes to the Anniversary Edition of Bucharest Gaming Week
On 21 and 22 November, at Romexpo, Pavilion B1, the tenth edition of Bucharest Gaming Week, the largest and most anticipated gaming event in Romania, will take place.
The special guest of the anniversary edition is Christopher Judge, the actor known worldwide for his portrayal of Kratos in God of War and God of War Ragnarök. Christopher Judge will meet fans in extensive meet & greet sessions.
The anniversary edition will also bring to Romexpo competitions in the most popular games, meetings with content creators, a cosplay showcase, activations prepared by the most important brands in the industry and numerous prizes for participants.
One of the main attractions will be Grand Theft Auto VI, which will be playable at Bucharest Gaming Week, just two days after its worldwide launch.
Next Play Romania Seeks the Next Big Romanian Video Game
This autumn also sees the first edition of Next Play Romania, the national competition dedicated to Romanian video games still in development. The project aims to discover and promote the next Romanian game with potential for success.
Nine projects will be selected to go through an approximately 12-week programme. Three content creators will form teams and support the games throughout the competition, and the public will be able to follow how they evolve, from the first versions presented to the implementation of new functionalities.
Through live broadcasts, feedback from professionals and voting sessions, Next Play connects the gaming community with independent studios and teams in Romania. At the end of the competition, one of the nine projects will be named the winning game of Next Play Romania.
