The Play Aotearoa Summit, New Zealand's largest annual gathering of game developers, will return to Wellington on 17–19 September 2026, organisers confirmed today — moving to a larger waterfront venue after last year's edition sold out in under a week.
The 2026 programme leans practical: production tracks on shipping with small teams, a business day focused on export publishing deals, and workshops on accessibility design that proved the surprise hit of last year's schedule.
New this year is a student showcase floor, giving graduate teams from across the country a public stage — and, organisers hope, a shortcut into an industry that added several hundred roles nationally over the past two years.
ZoneRespawn will be attending all three days. If your studio is showing something, our inbox is open — and as always, we will publish our floor report the following week.
