More than 16,000 people have now visited the first SAGA Barcelona Game Fest, which ends tomorrow

The second day of the event today (Saturday) has attracted members of the public of all ages. Numerous videogame competitions have got under way and there have been activities with international figures, such as the Japanese composers Miki Higashino and Manami Matsumae

After a Friday focusing on education, the event has begun its big family weekend with more than 500 gaming points, 150 classic arcade machines, 200 independent videogames and an official Nintendo space

Tomorrow (Sunday) the finals of several competitions will be held, Barça eSports will play, and it will be the last chance to enjoy the full range of leisure activities on offer at the festival

Road To Jukai by Endflame Games wins the «Best Game of the Fair» award at this year’s Indie Dev Day Awards, which recognise the best videogames from the studios present at the SAGA Barcelona Game Fest 

 

Barcelona, 10 October 2026. More than 16,000 people have now visited the Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc trade fair complex today and yesterday for the first SAGA Barcelona Game Fest – the big videogame event in southern Europe. After a first day designed especially for students and professionals from the sector, today has been the big day for the general public and families, with large numbers of visitors, the beginning of many tournaments and competitions and a busy cultural, educational and leisure programme. Tomorrow will be the closing day of the event, with the finals of different competitions, also featuring the Barça eSports team. Tickets are on sale here.

Today has turned the Fira de Barcelona pavilions into the big meeting point for videogame fans, families and lovers of digital culture. During the day, thousands of visitors have been to the different areas of the trade fair complex and taken part in the scheduled activities, combining competition, outreach, industry and entertainment.

After a Friday particularly orientated towards professionals and students, with the participation of more than 2,000 students and teachers, today the focus has been on the general public, who have filled the gaming areas, exhibition spaces and the event’s main stages.

Tina Font, spokesperson for the SAGA Barcelona Game Fest, celebrated the great reception this first edition is getting from both visitors and participating studios. Font added that the event is becoming the meeting point for the videogame industry and the general public: “We see the success of this fair when an idea becomes a contract, a studio finds funding and a family buys the console they’ve been looking for for so long.”

Competitions and awards have been the main attraction on this second day

One of the main features of the day has been competitive activity, with the start of different tournaments which will culminate with finals tomorrow (Sunday). Competitions in Mario Kart 8, Virtua Tennis 2 and Taiko no Tatsujin have been held throughout the day in a programme that has filled the event’s stages with excitement. Sunday will decide the winners of the Street Fighter 6, Mario Strikers and Pokémon Champions competitions and round off the weekend’s tournaments.

The Indie Dev Day Awards were also presented this afternoon, recognising the best videogames at the SAGA Barcelona Game Fest across different categories. The winners were announced at a ceremony that brought together the creators of the 200 independent videogames that took part in the awards:

Best Game of the Fair: Road To Jukai by Endflame Games. 

Best Horror Game: Bottled by Bears by Monoii Studios. 

Most Addictive Game: Wilderings: The Lost Spring by Herobeat Studios. 

Best Art: Un Sant Jordi de Paper by Narvalian Games. 

Best Design: Hull rupture by Konfa Games. 

Best Gameplay: Fugue Shot: Minigame Roguelike by Rare Dialect. 

Best Sound: The Midnight Barber by Omaet Games. 

Best Academic Game, 1st prize: AUBAC by 64Studios (ENTI) 

Best Academic Game, 2nd prize: BoBOTs by Holy Carrot (UTAD) 

Best Academic Game, 3rd prize: White noise by Zarza Games (URJC) 

Daniel Santigosa, co-director of the SAGA Barcelona Game Fest, said he was “surprised by the talent coming to the fair. This year we should also highlight the large number of academic projects that have taken part in the competition.” 

A Saturday that created great excitement among visitors

Saturday’s programme also featured the presence of international figures linked to the history of videogames. One of the most anticipated activities was the public interview with the Japanese composers Miki Higashino and Manami Matsumae, moderated by Luis García, and their meeting with fans. The two are leading creative forces in videogame music and their participation was part of Japan’s presence as guest country for this first festival. 

The day also included a concert by Sebastià Pou with performances of pieces by the two composers, as well as activities related to creativity, musical composition, the development of videogames, Catalan talent and technology outreach.

As part of Japan’s participation in the SAGA Barcelona Game Fest, visitors have also been able to experience the Nintendo Area, an official stand where the Japanese multinational has presented its most outstanding new games and offered gaming points so visitors could try its most recent launches. This is one of the few events in Spain where the brand has a presence. 

An event for playing, discovering and learning

Beyond the competitions, visitors have been able to enjoy the main permanent attractions of the SAGA Barcelona Game Fest. Throughout the weekend, the event is offering more than 500 gaming points, more than 150 classic arcade machines, more than 200 independent videogames, a big LAN area, virtual reality and simulation spaces and cultural and educational activities. The offer is completed with activities by the Videogame Museum of Catalonia (MUVIC), the Gaming enFemení exhibition, the Famicase Collection display, and various talks and round tables aimed both at fans and at industry professionals.

Sunday: finals and presence of Barça eSports

The third and final day of the SAGA Barcelona Game Fest tomorrow will be marked by the finals of various competitions and will feature the participation of Barça eSports. Visitors will also be able to continue enjoying all the event’s gaming areas, exhibitions, themed zones and cultural activities in what will be the last chance to visit the festival, which has brought together videogame companies, talent, competition and culture in a single space. Tickets for tomorrow (Sunday) are still available on its official website.