Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) has confirmed that the Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF) will return for its sixth edition from 9 to 25 April 2027, building on a 2026 run that drew more than 43,000 visitors and distributed AED 1 million in prizes across gaming, esports, and cosplay competitions.
The 17-day festival will expand its citywide footprint, adding Dubai Games Week to its programme alongside broader education, esports, and industry-focused content.
The closing event, GameExpo, returns to Dubai World Trade Centre from April 23 to 25, 2027, bringing together competitive play, community experiences, and industry engagement over three days.
“The Dubai Esports & Games Festival has established itself as an important platform for Dubai’s growing gaming and esports ecosystem. Its return from 9 to 25 April 2027 gives us another opportunity to showcase how gaming connects entertainment, education and economic opportunity across the city. Building on the success of the fifth edition, DEF 2027 will further expand opportunities for players, fans, students, talent and industry professionals to engage, in line with the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and our continued efforts to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for gaming, esports and digital innovation. “Organisations and brands have played a big role in the success of previous DEF editions and 2027 will be no different. We invite companies to be part of DEF 2027 and help boost the growth of the gaming industry in Dubai,” Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment said in a statement.
Sponsors and exhibitors interested in joining the festival can register their interest through DFRE ahead of the April start.
