Magfest
MAGFest, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2001 that operates Super MAGFest, a four-day, 24-hour video game music and gaming festival at Gaylord National (National Harbor, MD) drawing 20,000+ attendees, alongside regional events MAGWest, MAGStock, MAGLabs, and BitGen. It serves the VGM/gaming community via badge sales, donations, merchandise, and a juried marketplace.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersBaltimore, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Magfest does
MAGFest, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2001 and headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, that operates a portfolio of video game music and gaming festival events. The flagship Super MAGFest is a four-day, 24-hour event held annually at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, MD, drawing 20,000+ attendees, alongside regional and format variants including MAGWest (West Coast), MAGStock (camping), MAGLabs (technology focus), and BitGen. The organization runs almost entirely on volunteer staff organized into specialized departments (Arcade, LAN, Chipspace, Marketplace, Cosplay, Broadcast Operations, Indie showcases, etc.) and is governed by a board of directors and Staff Operations (STOPS).
MAGFest's product surface spans live programming (LAN tournaments seating 500+, indie game showcases MIVS/Indie Arcade/Indie Retro, Chipspace chiptune venue, Arena dance venue, Makerspace, cosplay), digital infrastructure (Swadges electronic festival badges, magTV custom hotel Channel 51, VRChat virtual attendance with spatial audio via ARC DSP, multi-channel Twitch/YouTube streaming, the open-source Tuber volunteer management tool), and attendee services (Guidebook schedule app, SmugMug photo archive, Discord community). It partners with Child's Play as a long-standing charity beneficiary.
The revenue model is a hybrid of one-time badge sales, tiered tax-deductible Superstar donations ($30, $420, $1,337 capped at 10 donors), merchandise pre-orders (Buster, BIGMA $200, invite-only Crazy Tier), juried marketplace vendor table fees, and charity-stream proceeds. Pricing is not publicly disclosed for badges. Go-to-market is event-driven, relying on direct registration, community word-of-mouth, and an extensive multi-platform social presence. The target audience is the VGM/gaming-culture enthusiast community, with secondary segments including indie game developers, marketplace vendors, families (via MAGScouts), and donors.
Magfest firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Magfest
- Legal name
- MAGFest, Inc.
- Website
- https://super.magfest.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- MAGFest, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2001 that operates Super MAGFest, a four-day, 24-hour video game music and gaming festival at Gaylord National (National Harbor, MD) drawing 20,000+ attendees, alongside regional events MAGWest, MAGStock, MAGLabs, and BitGen. It serves the VGM/gaming community via badge sales, donations, merchandise, and a juried marketplace.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Magfest industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Gaming and Video Game Music Festival Events
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers (THAHABAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Beauty, Fashion & Pop-Culture Conventions (MPAGAFAG), Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO), Retail, Consumer Goods & Lifestyle Shows Organizers (THAHABAJ)
Keywords
Where Magfest is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baltimore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Magfest business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Badge Sales: Core revenue from event attendance badges for Super MAGFest and related events. Badges can be purchased with optional Superstar donation add-on.
- Superstar Donations: Tax-deductible donations at three tiers ($30, $420, $1337) that provide perks including name on jumbotron, discord role, ribbon, pet photos, thank you cards, Twitch VIP status, custom emoji, and graffiti banner.
- Merchandise: Pre-order merch packs (Buster Tier, BIGMA Tier) and on-site merchandise booth sales. Crazy Tier ($200+) is invite-only with exclusive items including custom leather jackets, satin robes, woven blankets, whiskey glass sets.
- Marketplace Vendor Tables: Juried marketplace selling spaces for artists, vendors, and creators. Each table space measures 6ft by 3ft. Sellers must comply with marketplace rules including no AI-generated art.
- Charity Activities: 100% of charity proceeds (minus operating costs) go to Child's Play charity. Includes auctions, Table Flipping for Charity, magFAST speedrun marathon, and tabletop charity streams.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One time | $30 Superstar Donation - Basic Tier |
| Subscription | One time | $420 Superstar Donation - Mid Tier |
| Subscription | One time | $1337 Superstar Donation - Elite Tier |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Children's Badges - Age-based Discount |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | BIGMA Merch Pack |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels12 records
Magfest product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MAGFest, Inc. operates multi-day gaming and video game music festival events, with Super MAGFest as the flagship annual four-day, 24-hour event at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, MD. The organization sells event badges granting access to consoles, arcades, tabletop, LAN, live VGM cover bands, chiptunes, vendor marketplace, indie showcases (MIVS, Indie Arcade, Indie Retro), cosplay, makerspace, and charity programming. It also runs regional sub-events (MAGWest, MAGStock, MAGLabs, BitGen), operates donation and merchandise programs (Superstar tiers, Crazy Tier merch packs), and channels proceeds to Child's Play charity.
Product overview
MAGFest operates a portfolio of video game music and gaming festival events, with Super MAGFest as the flagship annual four-day event held at Gaylord National in National Harbor, MD. The organization also runs regional events including MAGWest, MAGStock, MAGLabs, and BitGen. Core offerings include gaming activities (LAN tournaments, Indie Arcade, MIVS indie game showcase, Indie Retro homebrew), music programming (Mainstage concerts, Chipspace chiptune venue, Jampods), interactive spaces (Arena dance/social venue, Makerspace crafts area, Cosplay activities), and attendee services (Marketplace vendors, MAG ID registration system, Guidebook schedule app). Special programs include Swadges electronic badge devices, the Superstars donor program, MAGScouts youth activities, and charity events (magFAST speedrun marathon, Charity Auction). Digital infrastructure includes magTV custom hotel channel, Twitch/VRChat streaming, and Tuber volunteer management tool. MAGFest is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Super MAGFest: The flagship four-day event dedicated to video game music, gaming, and the gaming community held annually at Gaylord National, National Harbor, MD.
- MAGWest
- MAGStock
- MAGLabs
- BitGen
- MAGFest Superstars
- MAGFest Indie Arcade
- MIVS (MAGFest Indie Video Game Showcase)
- Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase
- Arena Dance Parties
- Chipspace
- magFAST
Products and services
- Super MAGFest The flagship annual four-day, 24-hour gaming and video game music festival held at Gaylord National, National Harbor, MD. Offers consoles, arcades, tabletop, LAN, live VGM cover bands, chiptunes, vendors, guest speakers, indie showcases, charity programming, cosplay, makerspace, and an in-hotel magTV broadcast channel. Audience of approximately 20,000 attendees annually.
- MAGWest Regional gaming and music festival event held in the western United States, extending the MAGFest video game music and gaming festival experience to a separate geographic region.
- MAGStock Camping and outdoor-format gaming and music festival held under the MAGFest umbrella.
- MAGLabs Technology and innovation-focused division of MAGFest exploring gaming, music, and community technology projects.
- BitGen (BitGen Gamer Fest) Gamer-focused festival event held under the MAGFest umbrella.
- MIVS (MAGFest Indie Video Game Showcase) Juried showcase for modern indie video games on desktop, console, and mobile platforms. Accepted developers receive a 10'x10' booth space, 2 badges, 2 tables, 2 chairs, and power, with exposure to an audience of approximately 20,000 attendees.
- MAGFest Indie Arcade Juried showcase for independently-made arcade cabinets, alt-control games, and physical game installations. Accepted participants receive 2 event badges and a reserved hotel room in the Gaylord block.
- Indie Retro Homebrew Showcase Hardware-only showcase for new homebrew titles and classic retro games on platforms including NES, Atari, and DOS, displayed on CRT televisions with cozy couch seating.
- MAGFest Marketplace (Juried Vendor Tables) Juried vendor and artist selling space at Super MAGFest featuring original artwork, fan art, handmade items, and commissioned works. Each table measures 6ft x 3ft. Strict policy prohibits AI-generated art; sellers must comply with marketplace rules and Maryland sales tax requirements.
- Superstars Donation Program Tax-deductible donor recognition program for MAGFest, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Tiered perks at $30 (Superstars page, jumbotron name, Discord role, ribbon), $420 (adds thank you card, Twitch VIP, name drop at closing), and $1337 (adds individual jumbotron acknowledgment, custom Twitch emoji, personalized graffiti banner, limited to 10 donors).
- MAGScouts Youth Program Self-guided youth program introducing attendees ages 5-12 (50% discount badge) and under 5 (free) to age-appropriate MAGFest content, with a Junior mascot, activity sheets, and family-friendly content tagged in the Guidebook app.
- LAN Gaming Tournaments PC gaming tournament space seating over 500 attendees with nearly two dozen tournaments annually. Includes the LAN Theater with livestreamed tournaments and live commentary. Games include CS:GO, Hearthstone, Warcraft 3, Starcraft 2, Heroes of the Storm, DotA 2, and more.
- magFAST Charity Speedrun Marathon Live speedrun marathon broadcast at Super MAGFest with viewer donations, raising money for Child's Play charity.
- MAGFest Charity Auction Live charity auction event at Super MAGFest with non-stop fundraising activities. 100% of proceeds (minus operating costs) benefit Child's Play charity.
- Swadges Electronic Festival Badges Electronic festival badge hardware created by the MAGFest Swadges team. Functions as a wearable game device with embedded custom games and interactive features, combining hardware design, firmware programming, and digital artwork.
- Crazy Tier Merch Packs Invite-only exclusive merchandise tier ($200+ BIGMA threshold) including custom leather jackets, satin robes, woven blankets, and whiskey glass sets. Eligible via purchase of the BIGMA merch pack by September 30th.
- magTV Hotel Broadcast Channel State-of-the-art custom in-hotel TV channel broadcasting on Channel 51 at the Gaylord National during the event. Streams live event highlights, interviews, and attendee-submitted video content.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20,000+ attendees annually at Super MAGFest
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Magfest
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Magfest technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature3 records
Magfest partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Child's PlaycoreMAGFest donates 100% of charity proceeds (minus operating costs) to Child's Play, a game industry charity that improves lives of children with toys and games in over 70 hospitals worldwide. MAGFest has been supporting this charity for multiple years through auctions, speedruns, and tabletop charity streams.
- Steam (MAGFest Official Curator List)minorMAGFest maintains an official Steam curator list featuring showcased indie games, providing additional visibility for MIVS participants.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Magfest competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TwitchCon: Annual community convention for the Twitch streaming ecosystem with creator meet-and-greets, esports tournaments, and cosplay. Comparable in gaming community focus, live streaming integration, and badge-driven attendance model.
- VidCon: Annual convention for online video creators and fans featuring panels, meetups, and live performances. Comparable in community-driven creator/attendee format and 24/7 multi-track programming.
- EVO (Evolution Championship Series): Premier fighting game tournament series with community-driven programming and competitive gaming focus. Comparable in esports tournament integration and dedicated gaming community audience.
- Anime Expo (SPJA): Largest anime and pop-culture convention in North America, featuring panels, marketplace, concerts, and cosplay. Comparable in niche fan convention format, badge-based admission, and community-first operating model.
- DreamHack: Global gaming lifestyle festival featuring LAN tournaments, esports, cosplay, live music, and indie showcases. Highly comparable 24/7 festival format, LAN gaming focus, and music + gaming combination.
- Comic-Con International: Iconic pop-culture convention featuring panels, cosplay, marketplace vendors, and fan community programming. Comparable in operating multi-day fan convention model, vendor marketplace, and badge-based admission.
- Otakon: Long-running fan convention focused on anime and East Asian pop culture. Comparable in non-profit community organization structure, single-venue hotel-based event format, and marketplace/vendor programming.
- PAX (Penny Arcade Expo): Premier multi-city gaming convention series (PAX East/West/South/Unplugged) with similar attendee scale, indie showcase programs (Pax Rising), LAN tournaments, and community-focused programming — MAGFest's closest direct comparable.
Emerging players
- IndieCade: Festival dedicated to independent game developers with showcases, awards, and curated programming. Comparable in indie game showcase focus (MIVS equivalent) but smaller scale and less music-driven.
- BitSummit: Japan-based independent game festival showcasing indie titles to press and community. Comparable in indie game showcase focus (MIVS/Indie Arcade equivalent) and curated community audience, though regional and smaller scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Magfest social profiles
Digital presenceMagfest compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Magfest financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Magfest leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Magfest subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Magfest funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Magfest M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Magfest
What does Magfest do?
MAGFest, Inc. operates multi-day gaming and video game music festival events, with Super MAGFest as the flagship annual four-day, 24-hour event at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, MD. The organization sells event badges granting access to consoles, arcades, tabletop, LAN, live VGM cover bands, chiptunes, vendor marketplace, indie showcases (MIVS, Indie Arcade, Indie Retro), cosplay, makerspace, and charity programming. It also runs regional sub-events (MAGWest, MAGStock, MAGLabs, BitGen), operates donation and merchandise programs (Superstar tiers, Crazy Tier merch packs), and channels proceeds to Child's Play charity.
Is Magfest a public or private company?
Magfest is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Magfest founded?
Magfest was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Magfest based?
Magfest is headquartered in Baltimore, United States, in the North America region.
How does Magfest make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Badge Sales are the primary driver. The others are superstar Donations, merchandise, marketplace Vendor Tables and charity Activities.
Who are Magfest's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TwitchCon, VidCon, EVO (Evolution Championship Series), Anime Expo (SPJA), DreamHack, Comic-Con International, Otakon and PAX (Penny Arcade Expo). Emerging players are IndieCade and BitSummit.
Does Magfest have an API?
No public API is recorded for Magfest.
What industry is Magfest in?
Magfest's product category is Gaming and Video Game Music Festival Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHABAN, Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers, with a secondary code of MPAGAFAG, Beauty, Fashion & Pop-Culture Conventions. Its NAICS code is 711310 and its SIC code is 7900.