Develop:Brighton 2027

Develop:Brighton is the UK's leading conference for game developers, held every July by the sea in Brighton. The 2027 edition runs from Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 July at the DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, with the Develop:Star Awards on Wednesday 14 July. For three days, game designers, artists, programmers, producers and business people from the UK and abroad meet for talks, roundtables and a busy social programme.

The 2026 edition celebrated the conference's 20th anniversary and drew more than 5,800 attendees from all over the world, a record for the event.

About Develop:Brighton

Develop:Brighton was founded in 2006 and has grown alongside the UK games industry, which includes many studios in Brighton and the south of England. The conference is known for practical, honest talks by working developers, a strong indie community and a relaxed seaside atmosphere. Over twenty editions it has hosted keynotes from some of the best-known names in games while keeping plenty of space for first-time speakers.

What to Expect at Develop:Brighton

• Conference tracks: the 2026 programme had tracks for Art, Audio, Business, Coding, Design, Discoverability, Games:Edu, Indie, Indie Power-Up, Mobile and Performance, plus Roundtables, Keynotes and free sessions
• Expo: tools, services, studios and recruiters
• Develop:Star Awards: honouring the game makers behind the best games of the previous year
• Indie Showcase: a competition for unpublished indie games, with winners announced around the conference
• Networking: evening parties and meet-ups across Brighton

Develop:Brighton for Artists and Designers

The Art and Design tracks are the core of the event for creative developers. Art sessions cover concept art, characters, environments, technical art, animation and art direction; Design sessions look at systems, levels, narrative and player experience. Speakers tend to share real production material and lessons learned, which makes the talks useful whether you work in a large studio or a two-person team.

The Indie and Indie Power-Up tracks focus on independent development, from funding and publishing to marketing and discoverability. If you are making your own game, they are some of the most practical sessions of the year.

Who Is It For?

• Game designers, artists and animators
• Indie developers and small studios
• Students and educators on game courses (the Games:Edu track is made for them)
• Programmers, audio designers and producers
• Publishers, investors and recruiters

Passes and Registration

Develop:Brighton sells several pass types, from full conference passes to more limited options, and some sessions are free. 2027 prices are announced on the official Develop:Brighton website; booking early is usually cheaper.

Tips for Visiting

Choose a track that matches your role, but drop into others: some of the best talks are outside your own discipline. Roundtables are a good way to meet peers and ask questions. Bring a portfolio on a tablet or phone and business cards, as recruiters and studios attend the expo.

If you have an unpublished indie game, keep an eye on the Indie Showcase call for entries on the official website.

Planning Your Visit

The Hilton Brighton Metropole is on the seafront, a short walk from Brighton station, which has frequent trains from London and Gatwick Airport. July is peak season in Brighton, so book accommodation early. Many evening events take place in bars and venues along the seafront and in the town centre.

Things to Know

• Dates: 13–15 July 2027.
• Awards: Develop:Star Awards on 14 July 2027.
• Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole, on the seafront.
• Travel: direct trains from London and Gatwick.
• Accommodation: book early; it is summer high season.

Attend Develop:Brighton 2027

Planning a visit?

Visit Develop:Brighton

Passes, the programme and award details are on the official Develop:Brighton website.

Looking for more to see? Browse all events, festivals and exhibitions on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 27, 2026