Big Festival

What Big Festival does

Big Festival is the indie game festival and competition program operating inside gamescom latam, the largest B2B gaming industry event in Latin America. Per firmographic data it was founded in 2012, with its current structure as an initiative within gamescom latam dating to 2021. The program is co-organized by Koelnmesse (a German trade fair organizer) and Game (the German Games Industry Association), with Omelete Company as the local producer. The annual event is held at the Anhembi District in São Paulo, Brazil, and the 2026 edition was scheduled for April 29 – May 3. Reported scale figures for the broader gamescom latam event include 154,000+ visitors, 175 exhibitors, 13,000 facilitated business meetings, 500 speakers, and representation from 59 countries.

The product surface spans three core sub-brands — BIG Starter (for emerging indie developers), BIG Highlight (for notable indie titles), and the BIG Festival Awards (annual juried recognition across categories including Best Game, Best Gameplay, Best Art, Best Sound, Best Narrative, Innovation, and BIG Impact), complemented by an official mobile app, a B2B Meetings scheduling platform, and an integrated online store. Revenue is generated through four streams: B2B ticket and package sales, tiered sponsorships (Diamond, Master, Gold, Silver), exhibitor fees, and merchandise/digital service sales. Major exhibitors and supporters include Electronic Arts, Nintendo, Xbox, Riot Games, Roblox, Supercell, Warner Bros. Games, Square Enix, Remedy Entertainment, Devolver, Kepler Interactive, Skybound Games, 11Bit Studios, Whitethorn Games, and Shueisha Games. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Big Festival is not a standalone legal entity but a branded program within gamescom latam; organizational headcount is reported at 11–50 employees. Distribution is event-based and regionally focused on Latin America, supported by multi-channel social media (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, YouTube) and content marketing through the gamescom latam website. Strategic partnerships with Abra Games (Brazilian games industry association), Roblox, Xsolla, FastSpring, IGDA, 80.lv, Discord, Apex Brasil, and CONMEBOL eLibertadores provide local industry connectivity, payment and commerce infrastructure, media reach, and an esports extension. Pre-sale registration for the 2027 edition is already open, signaling forward event continuity.

Name

Big Festival

Legal name

BIG Festival

Website

https://bigfestival.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Big Festival is the indie game competition and festival arm of gamescom latam, Latin America's largest B2B gaming industry event held annually in São Paulo, Brazil. It serves indie developers, publishers, and B2B gaming professionals through juried awards, structured networking, and tiered sponsorship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Show and B2B Gaming Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAFAA

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Exhibitions, Fairs & Expos (Consumer/Public)

SECONDARYTHAHABAC

Consumer & Public Shows (B2C) Organizers

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Exhibition & Trade Show Organizers

Keywords

• Indie game festival
• B2B gaming event
• Games industry networking
• Video game awards
• Game developer competition

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. B2B Tickets and Packages: Sale of business area tickets and B2B packages for industry professionals attending the event
2. Sponsorship: Sponsorship tiers including Diamond, Master, Gold, and Silver support levels, with various branding and visibility benefits
3. Exhibitor Fees: Fees collected from exhibitors including publishers and game developers showcasing products at the event
4. Online Store: Integrated e-commerce platform offering exclusive products, services, and merchandise related to the festival

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BIG Festival is an indie game competition and festival program within gamescom latam, Latin America's largest B2B gaming event held in São Paulo, Brazil. It connects independent game developers with publishers, investors, and industry professionals through dedicated programs (BIG Starter for emerging developers, BIG Highlight for notable titles) and the annual BIG Festival Awards. It also operates a B2B Meetings Platform for business networking and an e-commerce online store for merchandise and exclusive products.

Product overview

Big Festival operates as the indie game competition and festival component within the larger gamescom latam B2B gaming event in Latin America. The main product is BIG Festival, which encompasses sub-programs including BIG Starter (for emerging indie developers) and BIG Highlight (for notable indie game recognition). BIG Festival Awards provides jury-based recognition for winning games. The broader gamescom latam platform offers complementary services including an Official App for event navigation, a B2B Meetings Platform for business networking, and an integrated e-commerce Online Store. The event attracts industry giants and indie developers alike, positioning BIG Festival as a gateway for independent developers to gain visibility within the Latin American gaming industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BIG Starter: A program within BIG Festival aimed at supporting emerging independent game developers in Latin America.
• BIG Highlight
• BIG Festival Awards

Products and services

• BIG Festival Annual indie game festival and competition held within the gamescom latam event, featuring programs BIG Starter and BIG Highlight to showcase and support indie game development in Latin America. Targeted at independent game developers, publishers, and gaming industry professionals.
• BIG Starter Program within BIG Festival aimed at emerging independent game developers in Latin America, providing visibility and support opportunities for new indie talent through the gamescom latam event platform.
• BIG Highlight Program within BIG Festival showcasing notable independent game titles selected for special recognition, designed to amplify selected indie games' visibility to publishers, investors, and gaming media.
• BIG Festival Awards Annual awards program within BIG Festival recognizing the best games and developers, with jury-selected winners across categories including Best Game, Best Gameplay, Best Art, Best Sound, Best Narrative, Innovation, and BIG Impact (diversity, education, social matters).
• gamescom latam Official Online Store Integrated e-commerce platform offering exclusive products, services, and merchandise related to the gamescom latam event for global online buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 154,000+ visitors attended gamescom latam
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• KoelnmessecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Global trade fair organizer and co-organizer of gamescom latam. Provides event management expertise, international reach, and logistics infrastructure for the gaming exhibition.
• Abra GamescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Brazilian games industry association and co-organizer of gamescom latam. Provides local industry connections, Brazilian developer network, and regional market expertise.
• Game (German Games Industry Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026German games industry association and brand owner of gamescom. Provides global brand licensing, international network, and industry credibility.
• Omelete CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Brazilian entertainment media company that performs/produces gamescom latam. Provides media production expertise and local entertainment industry connections.
• RobloxflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Major gaming platform and Diamond supporter of gamescom latam 2026. Provides exhibitor presence, platform promotion, and cross-marketing opportunities.
• XsollaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Payment platform partner providing payment solutions for game developers and publishers at the event.
• FastSpringminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026E-commerce platform partner for digital product sales and merchant services.
• IGDA (International Game Developers Association)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Media partner providing coverage and support for game developers attending the event.
• 80.lvminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Game development media outlet and media partner for gamescom latam.
• Apex BrasilminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Brazilian trade and investment promotion agency, Diamond supporter. Promotes Brazilian exports and investment opportunities.
• CONMEBOL eLibertadoresminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Esports tournament partnership where CONMEBOL eLibertadores 2026 Finals were held at gamescom latam in São Paulo, featuring EA SPORTS FC Pro competition.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• IndieCade: U.S.-focused international indie games festival with awards, juries, and showcases. Directly comparable as a curated indie game festival with awards programming, though smaller in consumer attendance.
• DreamHack: Global gaming festival brand combining esports, LAN, indie showcases, and B2B programming. Comparable in its multi-format festival structure and its acquisition/affiliation model within larger industry holding companies.
• PAX (Penny Arcade Expo): Major family of gaming expos (West, East, South, Unplugged) with a strong indie game focus and structured B2B/developer programs. Comparable in combining consumer reach, indie showcases, and industry programming.
• Game Developers Conference (GDC): Premier B2B event for the global games industry, organized by Informa. Comparable in delivering deal-making, conference programming, and a developer/jury ecosystem, though without a consumer-facing expo floor.
• Brasil Game Show (BGS): Brazil's largest gaming event, also held in São Paulo, targeting both consumers and industry. BGS is the most direct domestic competitor for LATAM gaming audiences and exhibitor spend, with overlap in date windows and target segments.

Regional players

• Tokyo Game Show: Asia's largest gaming event, run by CESA. Comparable in size, exhibitor mix (majors, indies, hardware), and structured business meeting area, but serves a different geography.
• ChinaJoy: Asia's largest gaming and digital entertainment expo, held in Shanghai. Comparable in scale, exhibitor mix, and B2B/consumer split, but serving a different regional market.
• Nordic Game: Regional B2B games industry conference in Malmö, Sweden. Comparable as a structured B2B games event with matchmaking, conference tracks, and indie support programs, though smaller in scale.

Broad incumbents

• gamescom (Koelnmesse / Game): Global flagship gaming event owned by Koelnmesse and Game, the same partners behind BIG Festival. BIG Festival is effectively the LATAM extension of the gamescom brand, making the Cologne event the closest global analog and the brand parent.

Others

• Omelete Company: Brazilian entertainment media company that produces gamescom latam. Included as an ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, illustrating the domestic media-production layer that anchors event execution in the region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/big_festival
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@latamgamescom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gamescomlatam
• Instagraminstagram.com/gamescomlatam
• TikToktiktok.com/@gamescomlatam
• Facebookfacebook.com/BIGBIGFESTIVAL

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Festival